Time established: October 1995

Total area: 3,720 ha

Administrative region: Jincheng Township, Jinhu Township, Jinsha Township, Jinning rural Township, Lieyu rural Township

Landscape and Geology

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Both Kinmen and Lieyu islands, where the Kinmen National Park is located, are small subtropical islands  with ancient wave-shaped hills, red-clay plateau and coastal lowlands. The granite hills are  surrounded by lower plateau, and the peak of  Taiwu Mountain, the highest hill on the island, is merely 253m above sea level. Most part of the island’s western half is a well-preserved red-clay plateau, but certain parts of it are badlands due to a partial cleft. Aggravated by seasonal precipitation, rivers on the islands lack base flow, and arroyos are found everywhere on the plateau. In some of the arroyos, traces of ancient human activities can still be found today.　

Flora and Fauna

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Birds are the most eye-catching creatures in the sky of Kinmen. There are over 280 species, including endemic species, such as the oriental magpie robin and the pied kingfisher. There are also rare species, such as the hoopoe, collared crow and the white-breasted kingfisher that can be found both in Kinmen and Taiwan. From autumn to the end of spring every year, large flocks of migratory birds nest and feed by the brook, forming a carefree and relaxing painting of nature.

Historical and Cultural Sites

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When the KMT retreated to Taiwan in 1949, the Communist Army assembled and landed on Guningtou on 25 October 1949 and engaged with the Nationalist Army. The Communists were defeated after a dreadful battle that lasted for 56 hours. The battle is called the Victory of Guningtou. On 23 August 1958, the Communist Army launched another strike and bombarded Kinmen for 44 days, which is later known as the August 23 Bombardment. In the following years, battles of various scales continued in the area, and the Communist Army fired nearly one million cannon rounds. As a result, Kinmen created island-wide defense works, leaving indelible marks on the island. The defense works include the underground combat tunnels in Cyonglin Settlement, the Jhaishan Tunnels built for logistics transportation, a large amount of anti-landing and anti-air poles, and the Beishan Building is covered with bullet holes. Today, time has changed. The historic sites of these battles and various military facilities have been included in the protected areas of the national park. Visitors can experience the history  and sentiment of war in these relics.