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Kinmen
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Kinmen (Traditional Chinese: ??, Simplified Chinese: ??, Hanyu Pinyin: Jinmén, Tongyong Pinyin: Jinmén, Wade-Giles: Chin-men, POJ: Kim-mn^g, also romanized Quemoy from coastal Min nan (in early Spanish romanization); literally "Golden Door" or "Golden Gate"), located at , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China (ROC) government: Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, Republic of China.
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Kinmen (Traditional Chinese: ??, Simplified Chinese: ??, Hanyu Pinyin: Jinmén, Tongyong Pinyin: Jinmén, Wade-Giles: Chin-men, POJ: Kim-mn^g, also romanized Quemoy from coastal Min nan (in early Spanish romanization); literally "Golden Door" or "Golden Gate"), located at , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China (ROC) government: Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, Republic of China. The county is claimed as part of Fujian's Quanzhou Prefecture by the People's Republic of China. Some islands of other counties, such as Wuciou, were transferred to the jurisdiction of Kinmen County by the ROC government following its retreat to Taiwan. Matsu is the other set of islands on the Fujian coast controlled by the ROC.
Many of the county's inhabitants speak the the Southern Min language (Hokkien). Due to their previous political isolation, most residents will say they speak "Kinmenese", as opposed to "Taiwanese" as it is commonly called in Taiwan, though the two dialects are mutually intelligible. It is geographically very near Xiamen, no more than 2 kilometers.
History
In contrast to the island of Taiwan and the Penghu islands, Kinmen was never colonized by Japan, because Kinmen was, and still is considered to be a part of Fujian province, both to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China.
The island was the site of extensive shelling between PRC and ROC forces during the first and Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, being also a major issue in the 1960 United States Presidential Election between Kennedy and Nixon. In the 1950s, the United States threatened to use nuclear weapons against the PRC if it attacked the island.
Kinmen was originally a military reserve. However, the island was returned to the civilian government in the mid-1990s, and travel to and from Taiwan was allowed.
Direct travel between mainland China and Kinmen was opened in 2002, and there has been extensive tourism development on the island in anticipation of mainland tourists. Direct travel was suspended in 2003 as a result of the SARS outbreak, but has since resumed. Many Taiwanese businesspeople use this link to enter the Chinese Mainland as it is seen as cheaper and easier than entering through Hong Kong, however, this changed following the 2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China and the presidential and legislative victories of the KMT, that allowed easier Cross-Strait relations. The island has thus experienced an economic boom as businesspeople relocate to the island for easier access to the vast markets of the People's Republic of China.
Economy
Kinmen's economy is mainly based on tourism and services due to its proximity to mainland China.
Tourism
Kinmen is recognized as a national park. Because of its military importance, development on the island was extremely limited. As a result, it is now a popular weekend tourist destination for Taiwanese and is known for its quiet villages, old-style architecture, and beaches. Due to extensive shelling campaigns between the PRC and ROC, Kinmen is famous for its Artillery Shell Knives. Local artisans would collect the vast amounts of exploded ordnance and make high-quality knives which are still sought after by chefs and connoisseurs. Kinmen is also home of the locally famous Kinmen Kaoliang liquor, a tequila-like liquor which is highly appreciated by the Taiwanese. The Kinmen Airport is located on the bigger island.
Politics
The island consistently votes for the Kuomintang (KMT). Until the early 1990s, proponents of Taiwan independence argued that they would consider handing Kinmen over to the PRC in any negotiated settlement. Residents of the island have broadly opposed such measures, fearing the consequences of the PRC government's policies on their standard of living and political freedom.
Townships
Kinmen County is subdivided into six townships:
| Name | Hanzi | Hanyu Pinyin | Wade-Giles | Tongyong Pinyin | English meaning |
|---|
| Chincheng Township | ??? | Jinchéng | Chin-ch'eng | Jinchéng | Golden City | | Jinsha Township | ??? | Jinsha | Chin-sha | Jinsha | Golden Sand | | Jinhu Township | ??? | Jinhú | Chin-hu | Jinhú | Golden Lake | | Jinning Township | ??? | Jinníng | Chin-ning | Jinníng | Golden Tranquility | | Lieyu Township | ??? | Lièyu | Lie-yü | Lièyu | Heroic Islets | | Wuchiu Township | ??? | Wuqiu | Wu-ch'iu | Wuciou | Black Mound |
All those townships on Greater Kinmen Island start their names with Jin ("gold"). Lieyu Township encompasses the entire Lesser Kinmen Island, and is the closest to Xiamen. Wuciou Township comprises Greater Ciou Islet and Lesser Ciou Islet.
Jincheng and Jinsha are the largest of the six townships. Altogether, there are 37 Kinmen villages, three of which – all in Jhen (?, Zhen) – are Li-villages; the rest are Cun-villages.
Gallery
Image:Wuwangzaiju.JPG|Calligraphy by former President Chiang Kai-shek etched on a rock in Kinmen reads, "Forget not that you're in Ju" - an allusion to the Warring States Period when the State of Qi, cornered into the City of Ju by the State of Yan, successfully counterattacked and retook its territory. This is intended as an analogy to the situation between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China. Other slogans alluding to "retaking the mainland" can still be found in Kinmen.
Image:Juguanglou.JPG|The Jüguang ("Brightness of Jü") Tower, a famous landmark in Kinmen.
Image:Jinchengtownview.JPG|Chincheng, the county seat of Kinmen.
See also
External links
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