10 Best Things to Do in Kinmen Island You Haven’t Heard Of
When people ask me about the best things to do in Kinmen, trust me, I’ve got answers.
Kinmen Island is an hour-long flight from Taipei and is actually so close to mainland China you can see the skyline of Xiamen across the water.
If you’re visiting Taiwan and considering a trip to Kinmen, props to you, because few foreign tourists visit. Heck, I’ve met many Taiwanese who have never been either. It’s really a distant place in time and space, it seems.
And as someone who used to live there, I’m genuinely excited to share the unique things to do in Kinmen with people so they can make the most of their trip. Let’s get into it.
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
My Experience Living in Kinmen
My life in Taiwan actually started on Kinmen, where I taught English at a bushiban for 1 year. People thought I would be bored because when you think about what to do in Kinmen, it’s easy to assume there’s not much.
But as someone who loves history, abandoned spaces, and deep stories behind a place, Kinmen was a delight to get to know. I am so grateful I lived there and wouldn’t change it for anything.
It’s also where I started my YouTube channel to share my life and the best things to do in Kinmen, from where to eat to hidden tunnels.
And I owe it to Kinmen for a lot. I even picked up Mandarin there, which helped me become closer to Taiwan over the years and feel more at home.
I’m an absolute nerd for Kinmen, and I love sharing this special island with everyone. I hope I can take you from being curious to motivated to actually visit.
If you ever have questions about Kinmen, feel free to reach out, because I can talk about this beloved island for days!
Where to Stay in Kinmen Island
When it comes to where to stay on Kinmen, I’m gonna recommend any traditional Minnan-style homestay, or a stay in an old Western-style building.
Kinmen is architecturally stunning, with unique stays that stand out from Taiwan’s more modern architecture.
Here are a few personal suggestions, along with a map you can browse.
Yong Le Homestay: Traditional stay, 5-minute walk from Jincheng Bus Station
序室 Narrative: Beautiful traditional building stay in Qionglin Village
八八金歐王金城洋樓古厝民宿: Western-style home in a quiet part of Kinmen, with breakfast.
How to Get Around Kinmen Island
To enjoy the best things to do in Kinmen, a plan for getting around makes the biggest difference.
There are options like public transit, but having your own wheels makes the biggest difference.
Rent a Car or Scooter
If you can, rent a car or a scooter. Even as a foreigner with only a US car license, I rented an e-scooter while living on Kinmen. I rented from KMFun, and the scooter was very reliable for the months I rented it.
Be sure to check out KMFun for car and e-scooter options and ask about the rental rules if you have a foreign license, just in case anything has changed! You can visit the KMFun website, or shoot them a message on Taiwan’s messaging app LINE at @kmfun
Bus
Kinmen has a pretty reliable bus system when going between towns, but it doesn’t stop everywhere. And you may have to walk quite a bit from the stops.
There’s a Bus Tracker Taiwan app where you can search routes and see live bus progress. With that said, it takes some getting used to and I’m not sure how exact it is on Kinmen.
I typically relied on buses to stop in villages or small towns, where there’s usually a printed timetable. I know…old school. Truly, check with KMFun about scooter rentals first, because relying solely on buses will force you to miss a lot of the unique things to do in Kinmen.
Hire a Driver
If you can’t or don’t feel confident renting an e-scooter and plan to get around by bus, that’s fine. But in that case, I would hire a driver for at least one day to explore harder-to-reach destinations on Kinmen.
This service lets you create a Kinmen Itinerary & charter a car to take you where you’d like.
Best Unique Things to Do on Kinmen Island
Now that we’ve covered the basic Kinmen logistics (where to stay/getting around), let’s get into what to do on Kinmen Island.
Hike Taiwu or Caicuo Trails
One of my favorite regular things to do in Kinmen was to go hiking. As Kinmen is a granite island, hiking here is quite boulder-y.
Despite Kinmen not being that big, there are a few main trail options (& many hidden ones!).
The most popular and easy hike is Taiwu Shan, where you can hike up to viewpoints and historic sites along the trail. I usually end the hike at Haiyin Temple before turning around and heading back down.
The Taiwu hike is more like a long paved path, so if you want a more immersive hiking feel, Caicuo might be more your type.
Caicuo was my favorite hike on Kinmen: it was challenging, and the rocky path is surrounded by nature. It’s an especially great idea to go up an hour or so before sunset. But be sure to come back down the same way before it’s too dark, as there aren’t any lights on the trail.
Make Kaoliang Red Tortoise Cakes
Red Tortoise cakes are a Chinese pastry made from glutinous rice flour and filled with things like mung bean or peanut.
I first got to do this when a student’s family invited me, and the soft, sweet pastry was fun to make and try for the first time.
There’s a Red Tortoise cake workshop with a Kinmen twist, infusing local sorghum into the sticky rice shell. The workshop is in Mandarin, but if you love cultural culinary lessons, I’d still give it a shot, even if there may be a language barrier.
Go Western Mansion Hunting
Kinmen is famous for its well-preserved Fujian Minnan-style architecture, but its Western-style mansions and buildings are also impressively beautiful.
Many of the Western buildings were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, often owned by wealthy families that worked abroad and sent money home.
Today they’re still all over the island, but most are either historical sites, B&Bs, or abandoned.
The most famous Western building to visit on Kinmen is Chen Jinglan Mansion, overlooking Chenggong Beach.
If you want to see some beautiful abandoned Western Mansions on Kinmen, my favorites are Chen Qizai 陳期宰洋樓 and Chen Qing Ji Yang Lou 陳清吉洋樓. Both of these mansions belonged to Kinmenese who left to build wealth abroad.
Clam Digging & Fishing
Coastal life is deeply intertwined with everyday life in Kinmen. There’s fishing, clams, and loads of oyster farms (hence why the oyster omelet is a special Kinmen must-try).
I often went to the beaches, and almost every time you’ll catch someone digging in the sand, looking for clams.
One day my student’s Grandma invited me to go with them, and I got to experience it myself. Go during low tide with a pail and a small shovel, and dig away.
You can even join a clam digging experience, although the the tour is labeled as in Mandarin. With that said, you never know, it’s possible the guide might also speak English. This just happens to be a tour on Kinmen Taiwanese travelers are more likely to join, but even if you go with a language barrier, it’s bound to be a unique experience.
Another idea is to hang with a local fisherman and go conch catching or fishing.
Dress in a Hanfu or Qipao & Take Photos
If there’s anywhere to dress up in a Hanfu or Qipao in Taiwan, it’s on Kinmen.
Visiting Kinmen, you’ll notice there’s so much history and tradition seeped into the everyday. The variety of architecture in Kinmen, with its historical origins, makes for one of the best photo backdrops.
You can rent a Qipao or Hanfu in several places on Kinmen, but I recommend the traditional dress shop in Jinsha. Jinsha is a beautiful village with some of the best traditional architecture in Kinmen.
There’s also a traditional dress rental shop in Jincheng, so if you’re staying closer to there, it might be easier to rent at this shop instead.
Klook.comGranite Hospital
Kinmen has plenty of spooky places, including abandoned military tunnels and family homes left behind due to war.
I’ve explored plenty of old tunnels, many sprawling deep into Kinmen’s granite terrain. You could get lost and definitely need a headlamp!
But I want to share the Granite Hospital, which was a military hospital that opened in 1980. Kind of recent, actually. It’s built inside Kinmen’s massive granite hillsides, making it a fortress of a hospital.
It later opened to the public but closed in the early 2000s.
I don’t recommend going inside as it’s very creepy and quite big. But as one of the more unique things to do in Kinmen, it’s easy to stop by and take a look deep into the hospital’s dark tunnel of an entrance.
Little Kinmen Shaved Ice
If you love taro like I do, then be sure to save this for your trip to Kinmen.
On Little Kinmen, taro is a popular crop, so you can go straight to the source for it.
Every time I’m on Little Kinmen, I stop at Jianianhua Ice Shop 嘉年華冰菓室, which is a nostalgic dessert parlor with the BEST taro shaved ice. The taro paste is not too sweet, creamy, and simply amazing.
There’s also a balcony seating area overlooking the old street, which I’ll always take when a seat’s open.
Spot Peacocks
My favorite fun fact about Kinmen is that peacocks roam the island.
And the way I found out was the last way I’d guess.
I was scootering along on a small road in a wooded area when suddenly, a peacock flew overhead. I was amazed but also so confused. Like, did that actually happen?
So, the story behind the peacocks.
Kinmen used to have a zoo, and when a typhoon damaged the peacock enclosure, they escaped. They’ve been reproducing ever since and, unfortunately, pose a threat to the environment.
Get yourself familiar with the call of a peacock and keep an eye out, as you might see them in the brush. Even after a full year on Kinmen, I struggled to get footage of a peacock because as soon as you see one, it’s gone.
Maestro Wu Knife Shop
Maestro Wu crafts quality knives from Kinmen’s history.
Due to wartime bombardments, Kinmen has a supply of shell casings to create with. That’s how Maostro Wu was born and has been in business since 1937.
The steel is strong and resistant, and if you love a quality blade, then Maestro Wu is one of the best to add to your collection.
There’s also a knife keychain metal working workshop if you want a hands on activity.
Look for Otters After Dark
Kinmen is full of animal fun facts. Besides peacocks, Eurasian otters are another rare creature to spot on Kinmen.
And unlike peacocks, which I found quite often, I never saw an otter on Kinmen.
I lived near Jinhu Lake, which is one of the known otter spotting places, yet failed to ever catch one. Maybe you’ll have better luck than me?
There’s also a guided otter-spotting tour, and although it’s with a Mandarin-speaking guide, they take you right to the best viewing spots. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll see one, but there’s something fun about going out with others on a lookout.
If you drive in Kinmen, be careful as they may pop out and cross roads at night.
Klook.comWind Lion Hunting
Some of the most famous faces in Kinmen are those of wind lions. Wind lion statues are all over the island and are said to protect Kinmen from strong winds.
And yes, those winds are strong. In winter, I would tear up from the cold wind piercing my eyes. If you visit during cooler weather, renting a car is better. Or at least bundle up and maybe even wear some protective goggles.
There’s even a wind lion guide with a map of the most well-known Gods to look out for. You’re bound to see them as you explore the best things to do in Kinmen, and it’s fun to turn into a game.
There are over 100 Wind Lion Gods on Kinmen, so see how many you can count!
FAQs About Kinmen Island
Is Kinmen Island safe to visit?
Kinmen is overall very safe, just like the rest of Taiwan. While some people have concerns regarding military action, everyday life is quite peaceful and goes on as usual.
That said, be mindful of what you do and how far you explore.
Sometimes you’ll find old metal rods in the sand on the beaches, and Burmese pythons, while rare to spot and mostly dangerous to livestock, are endemic to Kinmen. In fact, you’d be lucky to spot one from a safe distance.
What’s the best time of year to visit Kinmen?
The best time is fall, from September to October, and even into November if you don’t mind the cold.
Spring is okay in March or April, but May is especially foggy, to the point that flights get canceled.
You can always visit in summer or winter, but both are uncomfortable because of the heat and icy winds.
How do I get to Kinmen from Taiwan?
You can take a flight from cities like Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taitung to Kinmen with Uni Air and China Airlines. Always double-check route availability depending on your travel plans. Flights usually cost $100-$150 round trip and include 10kg of checked luggage.
