Jinmen

Jinmen (Chinese: 金門; Hanyu pinyin : Jīnmén , also called Kinmen or Quemoy ) is a island of the République of China (Taiwan). Its localization is to 24,44 NR, 118,33 E.

The island is divided into six communes:

Jincheng (金城鎮, Jīnchéng , “gilded city”),
Jinsha (金沙鎮, Jīnshā , “gilded sand”),
Jinhu (金湖鎮, Jīnhú , “gilded lake”),
Jinning (金寧鄉, Jīnníng , “gilded peace”),
Lieyu (heroic 烈嶼鄉, Lièyǔ , “small islands”),
Wuqiu (烏坵鄉, Wūqiū , “black mount”).

Many the inhabitants speak the Minnan. Jinmen is geographically very close to Xiamen (also known under the name of Amoy ).

History

During the Second world war, Jinmen was not colonized by the Japan. This island was intensively bombarded between the forces of the Popular republic of China and the République of China in the Années 1950 and 1960 and was in the center of major dissensions to the the United States between Kennedy and Nixon in the Années 1950. The United States will go as far as threatening the Popular republic of China to use the Nuclear weapon if it attacked this island.

The island was a military base until the medium of the Années 1990 before being returned to a civil government. Since, the voyages between Jinmen and Taiwan are again authorized. Because of its military situation its development was very limited and it is today a tourist destination appreciated by the Taiwaneses because it is especially made up of quiet small villages and deserted beaches. In 2002 the island was opened to the tourists of popular China before being again prohibited due to epidemic of SARS, it since was reopened.

External bonds

History and photographs of Jinmen
Official site of the government of Jinmen
Complete listing of the villages
Chart of Jinmen
satellite image by Google earth

Zh-classical: 金門縣 Zh-min-nan: Kim-mn̂g-koān

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