It has a large number of traditional Min style buildings and military sites that are open to tourists. Price levels are similar to Taiwan and thus high compared to mainland China, but admission to temples, museums and other sites is free.
The secondary city is Shanwai. The ShangYi airport is between the two cities. Kinmen means "Golden Gate". Its status as a territory controlled by Taiwan is therefore somewhat complex, being part of the ROC on Taiwan, but not of Taiwan province. Kinmen has traditionally been a gateway from mainland China to Taiwan.
It has been the basis of many Chinese emigrants and of Chen Chenggong's resistance to the Qing dynasty and military campaign to Taiwan to oust the Dutch. China's communist People's Liberation Army attacked the main island in and was defeated. It was only able to land around half of the troops it had planned for the campaign and severely underestimated their opponents, who were more numerous and fortified than the PLA had thought.
The defeat resulted in the PLA putting its plans to attack Taiwan on hold. Since the battle, there have been several exchanges of artillery fire, the biggest of which was in the late s. The ROC heavily fortified the island and used to station up to , troops there, but this number has been reduced significantly.
Dried meat from Kinmen is also sold in Taiwan's main island. Inhabitants speak the Min dialect of Chinese, but in general they all also speak Mandarin. Be aware that few people speak English, especially outside of tourist areas. Access is by air from mainland Taiwan or by boat from Xiamen to Shuitou on the main Kinmen island this link is now open to foreigners. You can take a flight on 3 of Taiwan's 4 domestic carriers from the three bigger cities on Taiwan several times a day.
