| |
|
| |
Shanhou
Shanhou is located
in northeastern Kinmen. Toward the north is Shansi.
To the west is Wuhu Hill(五虎山), and to the east is the ocean. Major
clans in this settlement are the Wang and Liang clans.
The Shanhou Folk Culture
Village is located in the center of this settlement. In the
late 1800s, Wang Kuo-chen went into business and became wealthy.
He used part of his wealth to develop an area where the Wang clan
could live together. Altogether, 18 buildings were completed
over a 25-year period, including residences, a school and a family
shrine. The building materials were obtained from Zhangzhou,
Quanzhou and Kiangsi. The final result was a well-arranged settlement
with beautifully crafted architecture. 
In 1979, after completion of restoration of these buildings bythe
Kinmen County government, this area became the Shanhou Folk Culture
Village. Included in this village are a stable, surrounding
walls and arches, as well as civilian residences, a family shrine
and an official's residence. This is the most completely restored
settlement on Kinmen. It is currently under the management
of the Wang Foundation.
|
| |
Jhushan
The impressions
left behind of Jhushan are of a serene, tranquil, kind place.
Jhushan is located in the southwestern part of Kinmen. During the Yuan Dynasty, members
of the Hsueh family landed here, to escape a storm at sea.
Eventually, more people arrived and built up a settlement.
Jhushan is surrounded by hills and dense forest. Behind the settlement is
Chian Hill, and in the center is Tatan. Due to the terrain, the
buildings do not face a single direction. The Hsueh family shrine was
the central focus of the settlement. Gentle slopes on all sides
face DaDan in the center, and serve to block the winter winds and to
keep the settlement from flooding. In terms of feng shui, this
arrangement refers to prosperity flowing in. The entire settlement blends
in well with the natural surroundings, which makes it unique among
Kinmen's traditional settlements.
Behind the Hsueh family temple is
Chian Hill. After Taiwan's retrocession, this area was developed
into Jhushan Park. Currently, there are plans to develop hiking
trails and pavilions from which visitors will be able to view the
entire settlement and its natural beauty.
Jhushan
is located just off of Huandao W. Road(環島西路). It can be reached by
taking bus No. 3 or No. 6.
|
|
| |
Shueitou
Shueitou is located in the southwestern part of Kinmen Island
on a gradually sloping plateau that stretches along the coastline.
During the Yuan Dynasty, members of the Huang family moved to this
area to escape rebellions in mainland China. The Lee,
Tsai and Chen clans followed later. Thus, Shueitou included
a number of large families.
In the beginning, this was an agricultural and fisheries settlement.
The first buildings were constructed in the traditional Fujian
style. At the end of the Ching Dynasty and the beginning of
the Republic of China, wealthy merchants began to build Western-style
homes, creating architectural designs that were unique to the area.
|
|
| |
During the Ching Dynasty, using financial resources obtained from
trading in sundry goods between Shueitou and mainland China, a group
of 18 buildings was erected in neat rows. This is probably
the earliest surviving evidence of urban planning on Kinmen. The Youtang Villa was also
built during the Ching Dynasty, by the wealthiest man in Kinmen at
that time, named Huang Chun. In front is Sun Moon Pond(日月池).
In back, hills form a natural barrier. This is the only residence
with a garden and pond, and is now a Grade 2 historical monument.
Near the Deyue Tower(得月樓)and
Jinshuei Primary School(金水學校)is a group of Western-style houses. These
were built at the end of the Ching Dynasty and the beginning of the
Republic of China by wealthy traders. The Deyue Tower was built
by Huang Hui-huang, as an ammunitions building to safeguard the settlement.
An underground tunnel leads to the neighboring Western-style houses,
and could be used in case of emergency or war.
The building of Jinshuei Primary School points to the emphasis placed
on education by the residents of Shueitou. It took more than
10 years to raise the funds to build the school. In the center
is an auditorium with classrooms on both sides. It was the largest
school on Kinmen at that time.
Shueitou can be reached from
Chincheng by Bus No. 7.
|
| |
Oucuo(歐厝)
Oucuo(歐厝)
is located in the southwestern part of Kinmen. To
the southeast is the ocean. To the northeast is
Kinyang Hill. The largest clan in this settlement is the
Ouyang clan which arrived here during the Ming Dynasty.
Most of the existing
buildings in Oucuo were built during the Ching Dynasty.
There is a main street that divides this settlement into
upper and lower communities.
The upper community includes the Ouyang family shrine, Aihua
Primary School(愛華小學), Store and a group of residences. The buildings have a number
of doorways leading to common areas, which shows the thought given
to defense needs in arranging groups of buildings.
The lower community includes four rows of buildings,
arranged according to familial relationships and family branches.
In the alleys and lanes, there are manual pumps by which
residents obtained groundwater.
Oucuo is located
just off of Huandao S. Rd.(環島南路) This settlement can be reached
by taking Bus No. 3.
|
|
| |
Cyonglin
 Located
in central Kinmen, Cyonglin(瓊林) lies in the western foothills of Taiwu
Mountain and is a good example of Kinmen's traditional settlements.
Cyonglin's original name was Pinglin. During the Ming Dynasty,
Tsai Hsien-chen, a resident of this settlement, became a court official.
The Ming emperor at that time bestowed the name “Cyonglin” on this
settlement, which is the name that is still in use today.
The Tsai clan moved to Cyonglin more than 800 years ago, and was
the most important family here. At the northeastern and southwestern
corners of the settlement are spirit lion statues that are distinctive
boundary markers. Numerous historic sites include shrines
and Kinmen's first primary school.
|
| |
 Nanshan,
Beishan
These are two of the
earliest settlements, located in Kinmen's northwestern corner.
They were built up on gentle slopes at an elevation of 20 to 30
meters. The major connecting road is Huandao N. Road(環島北路).
Along with Lincuo, Nanshan and Beishan make up Guningtou.
The most important clan was the Li clan which arrived in Guningtou
to escape an episode during the reign of the Ming Dynasty emperor
Chien Wen, when the capital was taken over by the emperor's uncle
who later usurped the throne.
|
|
