金門國家公園英文網金門國家公園英文網

[ Types for Traditional Civilian Residences] [ Western-Style Houses in Kinmen] [ An In-Depth Trip to the Traditional Settlements ] Types for Traditional Civilian Residences Most traditional private residences in Kinmen kept the form and layout of houses in Zhangzhou and Quanzhou Province in Southern Minnan; limited by family size, geography and weather conditions, such residences are usually not big; normally, courtyards are the prototype and additional styles are derived from it according to the location. The styles of these houses can be generally divided into “the basic type” (mostly traditional three-section or four-section compounds); “derived types” (additions to traditional courtyards) and “other types” (houses using special techniques). 1.One. Basic Type (Three-Section Compound) A traditional building type: one main hall and two small front rooms & one main hall and four small front rooms Buildings with one main hall and two small front rooms, and with one main hall and four small front rooms are together the most common basic structure for traditional Kinmen residences.  Their basic structure includes a courtyard with three bays (referred to as central wing, main hall and ancestral shrine), the east-west symmetric front rooms (also called wing rooms, side houses or Gua-Fang (room)) and open courtyard (shenjintou (deep sky well), middle courtyard). This type of building can be found in the villages of Qionglin, Shuitou, Zhushan, Oucuo, Nanshan, and Beishan A traditional building type, one main hall, front hall and two small front rooms The basic structure is one main hall and four small front rooms; a roof with a round ridge, a swallowtail or a brick roof is added to the small front room at the entrance to make it a four-section compound. This type of building can be found in Qionglin village. Two Courtyard Grand House (Double Courtyard Grand House) The layout of two courtyard grand houses is very similar to that of buildings with one main hall, front hall and two small front rooms, and both are of the four-section compound style.  The difference lies in how the front roof is built.  The front of the two courtyard grand houses combines the front small rooms and the front hall under one roof and connected by chambers so that the entire construction is comprised of one front courtyard and one back courtyard. This type of building can be found in villages of Qionglin, Shuitou, Zhushan, Oucuo, Nanshan, and Beishan Three Courtyard Grand Houses One more courtyard is added at the front or back of a two courtyard grand house. This type of building can be found in Zhushan village. 2.The Derived Type tou-kuo (an attached building) One row of rooms is added to the left or right wing of a two courtyard grand house or a building with one main hall, front hall and two small front rooms so that the construction is comprised of courtyards at the front.  The added rooms are called single attached buildings.  If two rows of rooms are added, the construction is then comprised of five courtyards which are called the double tou-kuo.   A long sky well is built between main constructions.  For the double tou-kou of a five-courtyard construction, swallowtail ridges are built on both wings; it is considered a part of the official layout and is called “Six Courtyard Grand House”, meaning it has six partition walls. This type of building can be found in the villages of Qionglin and Ouchu. ho-ling (an attached building) The biggest difference between ho-ling and tou-kuo is in the front.  The former has an independent front entrance, facing the same direction as the front gate; a long sky well is built in the original construction and a corridor providing shelter from rain is connected to the front of the women-children’s alley and it is traditionally called “Guo-Shui” (keeping the rainfall out). This type of building can be found in the villages of Qionglin, Shuitou, Zhushan, Oucuo, Nanshan and Beishan hui-xiang (an opposite building) Hui-xiang means to add another building at the front of the two courtyard grand house, facing the grand house.  A big nei-chen (inner yard) is built between the grand house and hui-xiang with its front facing the two courtyard grand house. This type of building can be found in Qionglin village. Two-story building with one main hall and two small front rooms Influenced by western-style houses, a second floor is added to the building, creating more space in it while further emphasizing the wealth of the owner. This type of building can be found in Shanhou. Village. 3.Other Types Most of the private residences in Kinmen are not of the basic type due to smaller house sites or scattered lands. Houses built to fit certain house sites are considered exceptions.  There are not many such types of residences in Kinmen and they are mostly built asymmetrically.  In addition, in some markets developed due to thriving business activities back in the early days, most of the buildings there are the so-called shophouses. Such buildings are not of the comb shaped form all facing the same direction; instead they are in the face-to-face/opposite spatial relationship.  The most famous example is the traditional shophouses outside Beimen in Ming Dynasty Jinmencheng. Western-Style Houses in Kinmen Lots of young and middle-aged men from Kinmen went to southern Asia and Japan to make money. They went by sea through one of the treaty ports – Xiamen at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China and they always sent money back home to improve the lives of their families.  With this money sent back from abroad, many western-style houses were built in Kinmen and such houses have become a cultural symbol that integrates western and eastern cultures.  Most of the space in such houses is for living in and only a small portion is used as classrooms, gun buildings or ancestral shrines. Attached Buildings (ho-ling) stacked building, introducing outdoor corridor  Additions to traditional Han-style residences are mostly horizontal expansions on the left and right wings.  During the time of overseas remittance, a new kind of western-style house started to appear in Kinmen. It was called ho-ling stacked building (having a  second floor) and had an outdoor corridor.    Without changing the main construction at the axis, additions are added to the secondary attached construction.  It is architectural engineering that combines horizontal expansion and volume enlargement.  Foreigner’s Houses Adding a western style gable at the traditional front of the courtyard construction is called a foreigner’s house.  It is a variation of two-courtyard grand houses. The Five-Foot Way Arcade (outdoor corridor) In Western-style houses with an outdoor corridor the front of the outdoor corridors are attached to the traditional compound “four rooms with one hall” and a second floor is added to the compound.  The forms of the outdoor corridors include: ♦ tsu-kuo (a type of western bungalow with verandah): the middle section of the outdoor corridor is protruding, looking like a turtle head ♦ San-ta-sui (a type of western bungalow with verandah): both wings of the outdoor corridor protrude horizontally ♦ Five-Foot Way Arcade: outdoor corridors do not stick out.   An In-Depth Trip to the Traditional Settlements The traditional architectural culture is the most abundant cultural asset in Kinmen National Park. There are a total of seven representative traditional settlements: Oucuo, Zhushan, Shuitou, Qionglin, Shanhou, Nanshan and Beishan. Nanshan and Beishan: Nanshan and Beishan are at the opposite direction of each other with the Lake of Twin Carps in between.  Together with Lincuo, they are called Guningtou.  This was the main battlefield for the famous Guningtou War.  We can still see many bullet holes and relics left behind from the war. Shanhou: In Shanhou, there are 18 neatly laid-out, two-courtyard grand houses with perky swallow tail ridges and the horizontal gate.  It is a settlement that has been well-organized and carefully built. Zhoushan: Ancestral shrines and Tatan (big pond) are the center of this settlement. All buildings are arranged in an orderly fashion on the gentle slopes, facing Tatan.  It is a perfect example of traditional settlements built to adapt to the geography. Shuitou: From the two courtyard grand houses in the Southern Fujian style built during the rule of Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong to the western-style houses of the early Republic of China, private residences in different styles built at different times have contributed to the unique regional features of Shuitou. Qionglin: This settlement is well-preserved.  It is the largest settlement back in the old days; many people here passed the imperial exam and accepted official positions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and Qionglin is famous for its “eight ancestral shrines in seven houses.”  The complete clan system and ancestor worship activities are still kept properly there.  In 2012, Qionglin is registered as “the settlement”according to procedure stipulated by the“Cultural Heritage Preservation Act”. Oucuo: The gate groups on the upper half of the settlement has defined the living together space and created a protecting effect; the complete 1 hall with 4 front small room building groups in the lower half of the settlement are the typical “comb shape layout”-  though simple, yet interesting in its own way. Whether it’s the landscape in the space or the local folk costumes in daily life, Kinmen National Park is rich in cultural significance; such features are valuable cultural assets owned in common by the people of Kinmen.  

A Talisman Rich in Local Features  Because of Kinmen’s exposed location, plus the many wars it has endured since the Ming Dynasty, the locals, in order to ward off evil and pray for good luck, have often used talismans. The most common talisman installed in settlements is the Wind Lion Gods standing on the outskirts of villages or Shuiwei Pagoda at river mouths.  Both talismans are believed to have special powers to protect villages, and pray for the safety of all people.  The talismans placed at home are mostly for averting evils, such as talisman mirrors hung up at the house front, ceramic general figures, censers, rooftop weathervanes; ShiganDang (stone guardians) are inlaid onto the wall, ensuring a meticulous net of protection.  The Origins of Wind Lion Gods The Kinmen Islands are close to the south-east outer sea of Fujian Province with no mountains surrounding them but hills of various heights covered in the middle.  Rainfall is not evenly distributed on the islands and the occasional monsoons there are especially strong in winter.  There is an old saying for such occasional monsoons:“The wind blows especially strong in Kinmen”; furthermore, many battles occurred on Kinmen as the dynasties changed, forests and vegetation were severely damaged over and over again and the locals suffered greatly from strong wind and sand.  According to the historical literature, villagers of Houlong and Neiyang were forced to move to other places because the villages were buried by sand.    The purpose of widely installing Wind Lion Gods back in the old days was to pray for the locals to be spared from the sand storms but there is no record now of when such a custom started.  In the Sung Dynasty, in order to promote the development of overseas trade, the Maritime trade office was established in Guanzhou to handle all affairs of maritime trade.  Rituals to pray for smooth wind and sea-worship were conducted by staff from the office to pray for the safe voyages for all ships and boats.  The Kinmen Island situated at the marine outfall of Guanzhou was also one of the beacons at that time.  During the Xian-Chun period (1266-1274 AC) of the Sung Dynasty, Taiwuyan Temple was built to enshrine God Tong-Yuan.  Legend has it that praying for wind or rain in the temple was always efficacious. This is the origin of the custom of praying for wind in Kinmen.  Since then, the rite for the Wind Lion Gods to subdue wind, combined with the Southern Minnan Taoism ritual (the Chinese pronunciation of the god that controls wind is similar to the Chinese pronunciation of lion) has gradually transformed the Wind Lion Gods into powerful beings subduing strong winds and protecting people from wind storms.  At the same time, it has become a guardian angel to prevent pests, protect roads from being damaged by floods and watch over the locals. Looking for the Wind Lion Gods in Kinmen  Wind Lion Gods are also referred to as Stone Lion Gods in Kinmen and are made of stones and of clay.  The former have an exquisite yet simple style passed down from Minnan stone carving; the latter are usually vivid and lively and look very much like lions.  Most of the Wind Lion Gods are created using well-thought-out ideas from local craftsmen.  The tallest clay-made Wind Lion God is Anqi Wind Lion God with a height of 385 cm and the smallest stone Wind Lion God is not even 30 cm tall. Normally, Wind Lion Gods are installed on the outskirts of villages, facing east or north.  You will find Wind Lion Gods around local temples, such as The Saint of War Temple in Xiashu, Fuyou Temple in Dongzhou, The Protection Temple in Qionglin, Wenyuan Temple & Wende Temple in Houshuitou, Huishan Temple in Yangzhai, Ganying Temple in Shanhou, Loushan Temple in Xiyuan.  People while attending rituals held in temples, may offer some of their bread or noodle offerings to the Wind God Lions nearby. If you are planning an in-depth trip to Kinmen, visiting the Wind Lion Gods is definitely one of the must-sees, and the one you will remember the most.  How do you find them by following the maps and records? There is so much knowledge and fun in it for they normally stand tall at the entrances of settlements, on top of roofs of traditional buildings or are inlaid onto the walls of ancestral shrines or hidden in some corners of temples or even placed in construction materials that have been forgotten by people. Since its styles, materials used and craftsmanship applied vary in different time eras, they naturally come with different folklore legends, which add a mysterious touch.  Looking for Wind Lion Gods in Kinmen is actually exploring the rich human and cultural aspects of Kinmen. The Legend of Wind Lion God in Beishan of Guningtou Back in the old days, Guningtou Village by Twin Carps Lake constantly suffered from seawater intrusion.  After villagers installed a Wind Lion God at Beishan, the flooding stopped.  Seawater intrusion only reached to where the Wind Lion God was installed. Yet, at the same time, dark clouds started to cover the sky at Xiputou and no roosters or dogs could crow or bark.  According to the divination of a Taoist spiritual medium, it was caused by the installation of the Wind Lion God. He then suggested destroying the Wind Lion God to break the bad luck but the person who installed it heard the news and arranged for people from Lincuo, Nanshan and Beishan to watch over it day and night.  One day, when the person from Lincuo was on duty, Xiputou villagers told him that seawater intrusion only reached to Nanshan and Beishan and had nothing to do with people in Lincuo.  He then was coaxed to leave and gambled with others.  Then villagers from Xiputou climbed from the river banks and knocked off the left ear of the Wind Lion God.  Afterwards, everything was back to normal. The Wind Lion Gods Hidden in the Walls of Private Residences  A stone lion was built into the wall of a residence on Guanao Road.  It was made of granite, very close to the stones used in construction.  The house owner hired a Feng Shui master to take a look at the energy of the house and the master suggested that the owner to install a stone lion to protect the house.  It served a purpose similar to a cornerstone and was installed before the house was built.  Stone lions and ShiganDang (stone guardian) were also installed in the wall of nearby residences. Proverbs Regarding Strong Winds in Kinmen ♦ Blown to the southern Taiwu by winds: south Taiwu Mountain is situated in Kanwei Township, Longhai City, Zhangzhou, close to the river mouth of Jiulong River and apart from and facing the North Taiwu Mountain on Kinmen Island.  Southern Taiwu Mountain was also one of the beacons on the sea back in ancient times.  You get to see both mountains at certain places on the island. ♦ On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Close Your Doors and Windows Tight: after the Moon Festival, a strong north-east wind blows hard in Kinmen.  Most of the locals wrap a cloth around their heads when going out and keep the doors and windows of their houses closed all day. ♦ Have sweet potato soup and close your doors and windows: sweet potatoes and taros are the major produce of the fall harvest.  The north wind starts to blow in Kinmen and the weather is getting cold. ♦ Winds of September: Winds that blow in the fall in Kinmen is called winds of September. Wind Lion Gods Stand on the Roof  Roofs referred to as Cuodinggai in Kinmen are most famous for the brick lions and ceramic general figures installed on the principal ridge.  They are normally called Wind Lion Gods.  Materials are delivered from the place where bricks are manufactured.  Although they are not essential for every household, it is believed that they have something to do with bad luck at the construction site or the bad fortune of people living in the house.  Its earliest record could be traced back to the “Weishi tingyu” by Chen-Zhi of the Sung Dynasty: “the fortune slip from Fujian said: “When the lion falls, and dogs bark, the champion of scholars will arrive at the front door.” Nobody knows that on the day that the honor is bestowed to the champion scholar by the emperor, the stone lion installed on the roof will fall to the ground.  Dogs will start to bark and it is the day Huang, Kui becoames the champion scholar”.  Wind blowing from the sea in Minnan is so strong that the houses there are vulnerable to hurricanes.  It is believed that houses will be protected if stone lions are installed. On the roof, the ceramic general wore his armor, drawing his bow, leaning to one side while riding on his mount that looked fierce, like a lion with its eyes and mouth wide open.  His pose looks as if he is ready to attack and he looks like a fighter that could deter invasions.  According to the “Kinmen Journal”: “ Warding off wicked spirits: on the roof of residences, we usually see ceramic monsters that look like lions with their mouths open wide or wearing armor like generals do.  They are called Chiyou; or painted small red-clay burners used because the head of the monsters could also ward off bad spirits.” In “Shiji” (the records of the grand historians): “ Chiyou was causing disturbances everywhere and disobeyed orders from high above; thus, Huangdi (literally Yellow Emperor from ancient times) summoned all his dukes and princes to fight against Chiyou and finally killed it.”.  “Liji of the Sung History” mentioned in ancient times, before armies set out, they would worship Chiyou and the commander’s flag in front of all the armies and this was called “Worshiping Chiyou and the Commander’s Flag”.  In the folk belief, people worship Chiyou for its abilities to summon wind and rain.  According to the book “The Classic of Mountains and Seas”, Huangdi (literally Yellow Emperor from ancient times) ordered Yilong to fight Chiyou.  Chiyou asked Gods of Winds and Rain to blow strong winds and bring heavy rain.  Hungdi thus ordered the fairy god ‘Mei” to stop the wind and rain and finally Chiyou was killed.”  Later, Chiyou was used to prevent roofs being damaged badly by winds and rain.  According to the book “Taibai Yingjing”, it could transform leather into armor.  The ceramic generals drawing the bow on the rood ridge could not only ward off wicked spirits but also protect people living in the house.  

Early settlers in Kinmen mostly arrived by sea from Minnan.  Due to harsh environment as well as the constant battles that occurred in the early days, lots of popular folklore festivals in the society of southern China were also brought to Kinmen; later, these festivals were transformed into folklore festivals rich in local features because of the unique history of Kinmen as well as the unique life experience of the locals.   Rituals held at Ancestral Shrines Most of the settlements in Kinmen were composed of blood-related people with one single family name.  Thus the ancestral shrine has become the spiritual center for all villagers because it not only  controls the construction and allocation of all space in the settlement, the worshiping ancestor rituals held every spring and fall in the shine are the events of the year for the entire village.   Gods’ Birthdays at Temples The fear and respect people in traditional society have for the power of nature is the reason temples in Kinmen co-organize the “Ping-An Chiao (Pray for Safety Ritual)” on the birthday of gods they all enshrine.  Basically, the ritual is to show their gratitude for God’s protection while praying for good luck and safety for people.  The rites for such “Chiao” have become the unique culture for all.   Welcoming the City God Houpu (Jincheng) City God Temple was linked through the “division of incense” to Chengfen, Jinmencheng back in the reign of Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.  Later it has become a popular religion for locals in Houpu.  Every year, on the 12th day of the 4th lunar month, people in Houpu hold a grand pilgrimage for the City God.   The General’s Temple The General’s Temple is for worshiping solders who died during the civil war between Nationalist Government and the Communist Party and those died during the War Zone Administration Period.  Among them, the most famous and the biggest general’s temple is the Temple of General Li Guang-Qian for it is always enshrouded in a haze of incense smoke, and its prayer for safety ritual is always the biggest event in the area.   chiyuehliuhuo (Light in July of Lunar Calendar) After the summer solar terms, the biggest traditional Taiwan festival is the Ghost Festival.  From the 1st day of the 7th lunar month when hell’s gate open until the end of the month – a whole moth, you will see offerings to ghosts in every village of Kinmen.  In the afternoons during the festival, households in Kinmen prepare rich food offerings for “all hungry ghosts”; villagers in some villages near the sea even prepare offerings to ghosts who died at sea and pray for safety.   The ritual of “peace-worship” It is the chiao ritual in Taoism that celebrates the completion of temples, ancestral shrines and houses.  The choice for the date to hold the ritual of peace-worship has everything to do with Yin and Yang and Feng Shui.  A year that could benefit the construction/building will be chosen; and that it why sometimes such a ritual is held years after the construction/ building is complete.

About the environment Kinmen is situated on the verge of the arc on the territorial sea of China, on the main route for migratory birds. In addition, its excellent natural environment, rich food resources and the advantage of being rarely visited by people, attract many birds species to breed, spend the winter or make a quick stopover.   Birds that stay in Kinmen Resident Birds: refers to birds that stay in Kinmen throughout the year and do not migrate to other places.  Such birds include Hoopoe, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Eurasian Magpie, Crested Myna, etc. There are about 33 types of resident birds in Kinmen, which makes up 13% of the total numbers of birds in Kinmen. Summer Visitors: birds that fly from the south to breed in Kinmen in spring and fly back to the south in winter.  Birds of such kinds include Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Oriental Cuckoo, Yellow Bittern, Koel, Short-winged Cuckoo and Black Drongo etc.  They make up about 4% of the total number of birds in Kinmen. Winter Visits: birds that fly to Kinmen to spend the winter from the north in fall and fly back to the north to breed in spring.  They make up 25% of the total numbers of birds in Kinmen. Passage Migrants: birds that migrate in spring and fall and make a quick stopover in Kinmen.  After they’re well-rested, they will continue their journey.  They make up about 45% of the total numbers of birds in Kinmen. Stragglers: birds whose migratory route does not include Kinmen yet stop here because of weather conditions or they are too tired to fly.  They are called stragglers, meaning birds that got lost and they make up about 13% of the total number of birds.   Big & Small Tai Lake The vast waters of Tai Lake and the ditches nearby have made it a haven for many water-loving birds.  Because of its rich food resources and many hidden spots, a variety of waterfowls are attracted here to rest or forage.  The small island standing alone in the lake is one of the most important habitats for the Great Cormorant to spend winters. Birds that are commonly seen here: Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Yellow Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Great Cormorant, Little Grebe, Spot-billed Duck Bird-Watching Seasons: at dawn and dusk/ four seasons, but winter and spring are best seasons for watching them   Banyan Park The vast grassland, large banyans and the green dense forest near Banyan Park have formed an important area for terrestrial resident birds to look for food.  In addition, you can see lots of waterfowls by the pond full of lotus flowers in the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Forest; Little Egrets, Chinese Pond Herons ,Common Kingfishers and White-throated Kingfishers come to forage at the waters nearby. Birds that are commonly seen here: Light-vented Bulbul, Tree Sparrow, Japanese White-eye, Hoopoe, Black-collared Starling, Eurasian Magpie, Crested Myna, Spotted-necked Dove, Chinese Pond Heron, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Little Egret and Common Moorhen. Bird Watch Seasons: at dawn and dusk / four seasons   The River Mouth of Wu-Jiang River  The river mouth of Wu-Jiang River and the intertidal zone nearby are mud flats with dense mangroves, various kinds of invertebrates, crustaceans, fish, shrimps and shells.  In addition, there are lots of ponds in the area, forming vast waters.  The area has thus become a favorite habitat for waterfowl, attracting lots of winter visitors and passage migrants to rest and forage.  The Xiashu seashore is the favorite breeding site for summer visitors: Blue-tailed Bee-eaters.  Every April-May is the best bird watching season at the river mouth of Wu-Jiang River.  Lots of passage migrants fly here to make a quick stopover before heading back north in the spring.  It’s the perfect time for bird watching in terms of feather colors, quantities and spices.  It is also the best opportunity to observe the breeding and changes of feather color in birds. Birds that are commonly seen here: Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Kentish Plover, Red-necked Stint, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Little Egret, Great Egret, Gray Heron, Black-headed Gull, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Collared Crow, Crested Myna, White-cheeked Starling, White Wagtail, Spotted-necked Dove Bird Watching Season: Before high tides / fall, winter, spring   Ci Lake Ci Lake is the perfect choice for bird watching in the Kinmen winter.  Almost all waterfowl will gather here to forage or rest.  Especially after high tides, many waterfowls previously staying at the intertidal zone will arrive at Ci Lake, waiting for low tides.  Australian-pines by the lake are the major habitat at night for Great Cormorants, attracting thousands of Great Cormorants to spend the winter every year.  The vast water of Ci Lake is also the favorite spot to rest for passage migrants.  You get to see different kinds of waterfowl in considerable quantities during the migration season.  Among them, birds of the Family Phalacrocoracidae , Family Laridae and Family Ardeidae are the largest in number. Birds that are commonly seen here: Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe , Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Osprey, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Wigeonl, Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, Caspian Tern, Black-headed Gull, and various Oystercatcher such as Eurasian Curlew, Black-bellied Plover, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Gray-tailed Tattler, Kentish Plover , Black-Winged Stilt . Best Bird Watching Season: whole day / fall, winter, spring. Citi Offshore Citi Offshore is an environment where mud and sand beaches meet.  All its waterways become one with Ci Lake during high and low tides.  The vast intertidal zone is where waterfowls of Family Phalacrocoracidae , Family Laridae and Family Ardeidae forage.  Before and after high tides, lots of birds gather at the sand bar or the beach by the shore.  It is indeed a great spot for bird watching. Birds that are commonly seen here: Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Osprey, Great Cormorant, Collared Crow, Caspian Tern, Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Black-bellied Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Kentish Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling. Best Bird Watching Season: before and after high tides / fall, winter, spring   Huxia Sea Wall Huxia seashore is a sandy coast that includes a mud beach and oyster farm.  A sea wall was built here and because there is not much human disturbance, lots of birds of the Family Phalacrocoracidae rest outside the sea wall during high tides.  Anti-landing piles installed on the right side of the seawall is also where birds of the Family Phalacrocoracidae , Family Laridae and Family Ardeidae like to take a rest. Birds that are commonly seen here: Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Kentish Plover, Greater Sandplover, Red-necked Stint, Dunlin, Common Redshank, Black-bellied Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Little Egret, Great Egret, Gray Heron, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Common Sandpiper Best Bird Watching Season: before and after high tides / fall, winter, spring   The Twin Carps Lake and the wetland nearby Twin Carps Lake and the wetlands nearby are composed of a series of fresh water and salty water ponds and culture ponds.  Water grass, aquatic plants, and alga thrive there with abundant fish and shrimp in ponds and wetlands, forming a secluded environment perfect for foraging. Birds that are commonly seen here: Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Yellow Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Great Cormorant, Little Grebe, Eurasian Wigeon, Spot-billed Duck, Falcated Teal , Northern Shoveler, Common Greenshank, Wagtail, Daurian Redstart, Greater Coucal, Spotted-necked Dove, Prinia, Black-hooded Bunting, Eurasian Magpie, Shrike Best Bird Watching Season: whole day / four seasons (best before & after winter)   Nanshan Trail Nanshan Trail used to be an agricultural access with trees on both sides.  Open and vast farmlands of sorghum farms and wheat farms surround the trail.  These open and vast fields that are rarely visited have become the favorite spot of many birds. Birds that are commonly seen here: Eurasian Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, Eurasian Kestrel, Osprey, various Starlings, Crested Myna, Hoopoe, Spotted-necked Dove, Eastern Turtle Dove, Ring-necked Pheasant, Daurian Redstart, Collared Crow, Eurasian Magpie, Oriental Magpie Robin, Stonechat, White-breasted Waterhen, Prinia, Spot-billed Duck, Greater Coucal, White Wagtail Best Bird Watching Season: dawn and dusk / four seasons   Gugang Lake Gugang Lake is one of a few natural lakes in Kinmen.  It is surrounded by vegetable gardens, forest and parks with hills on its perimeter. Such a verdant environment has attracted waterfowl and terrestrial birds.  Gugang Tower is a perfect spot to climb high and look afar, a secluded area for bird watching indeed. Birds that are commonly seen here: Osprey, Eurasian Buzzard, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Spot-billed Duck, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Blackbird, Light-vented Bulbul, Japanese White-eye, Spotted-necked Dove, Oriental Magpie Robin, Eurasian Magpie, Prinia, Spotted Munia Best Bird Watching Season: whole day / four seasons   Tianpu Reservoir The vast waters of Tianpu Reservoir and the ponds and ditches nearby are where lots of waterfowl like to forage.  The verdant forest surrounding the area has accommodated various kinds of terrestrial birds.  The sand slope near the ponds by the reservoir is one of the breeding sites for Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Birds that are commonly seen here: Osprey, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Yellow Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Great Cormorant, Little Grebe, Spot-billed Duck, Common Sandpiper, Wagtail, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Oriental Greenfinch, Greater Coucal, Long-tailed Shrike, Spotted-necked Dove, Eurasian Magpie, Spotted Munia, Crested Myna Best Bird Watching Seaso : dawn & dust / four seasons   The River Mouth of Jinsha River The area containing Jinsha River, Jinsha Reservoir and Tiandun Fish Culture Zone is a vast realm of fresh and salty water. Adjoining the seashore on the north, this area is where lots of waterfowl rest and look for food.  Especially in the intertidal zones near Jinsha River, various kinds of waterfowls always gather to forage, including the rarely-seen Black-capped Kingfisher and Black Stork. Birds that are commonly seen here: Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Spot-billed Duck, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Osprey, Great Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Great Cormorant, Little Grebe, Oriental Magpie Robin Best Bird Watching Season: before & after high tides / fall, winter, spring   Pubian The intertidal zone stretches from Zhonglan to Pubian and is a wetland of mud beach that nurtures diverse intertidal zone lives.  Because it is seldom visited, it has always been an important area for waterfowls to forage.  The wetland around Pubian is the perfect resting site for waterfowls after high tides. Birds that are commonly seen here: Osprey, Great Egret, Little Egret, Gray Heron, Black Stork, White-throated Kingfisher, Great Cormorant, Oriental Magpie Robin, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, and Black-bellied Plover. Best Bird Watching season: before and after high tides / fall, winter, spring   Kinmen County Agricultural Research Institute The Agricultural Research Institute is the experimental field for agricultural improvement.  The crops here are diverse; the institute has a vast hinterland with ponds, ditches and open grassland as well as stillage and dense trees.  The diversity of the field allows for rich food resources, thus, it has attracted birds of diverse species to look for food.  It is one of the areas that attract many birds looking for food.  It is the nigh roost for Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and where they forage in summer. Birds that are commonly seen here: Eurasian Buzzard, Black-shouldered Kite, Eurasian Kestrel, White-cheeked Starling, Red-billed Starling, Crested Myna, Hoopoe, Spotted-necked Dove, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental Skylark, Spot-billed Duck, Common Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Greater Coucal, Prinia, Eurasian Magpie, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Black Drongo, Barn Swallow Best Bird Watching Season: dawn & dust / four seasons   Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Forest  What a verdant place – this is the first impression people have of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Forest.  The vast artificial forest is its most distinctive feature.  Beneath all these trees is the home of many indigenous plants and these seemingly well-arranged plants have attracted many birds that like to stay in trees, on the ground or are omnivorous. Birds that are commonly seen here: Light-vented Bulbul, Japanese White-eye,canary, Eurasian Magpie, Oriental Magpie Robin, Spotted Munia, Spotted-necked Dove, Crested Myna, White Wagtail, Indian Tree Pipit, Greater Coucal, Pale Thrush Best Bird Watching Season: dawn and dusk / four seasons   Taiwu Mountain Hiking in the Taiwu Mountain on Yuzhang road: this is not simply a trail that allows hikers to look into the distance while hiking, they may also enjoy the indigenous plants grown on the granite.  Such an environment that accommodates hills and forest as well as bushes is also where many birds gather.  The highest spot of the mountain is the perfect spot for watching eagles. Birds that are commonly seen here: Eurasian Buzzard, Oriental Honey Buzzard (during the migration season), Light-vented Bulbul, Japanese White-eye, Eurasian Magpie, Oriental Magpie Robin, Prinia, Blue Rock Thrush, Pale Thrush, Hwamei, Blue-tailed Bee-eater Best Bird Watching Season: dawn and dusk / four seasons   Lingshui Lake Lingshui Lake in Little Kinmen contains vast waters; it is surrounded by dense forest with abundant aquatic plants grown in the area; because it is rarely visited, it has become a secluded, full of life spot for bird watching. Birds that are commonly seen here: Eurasian Wigeon, Spot-billed Duck, Falcated Duck, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, various egrets, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Osprey, Pied Kingfisher, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Magpie, Crested Myna, Greater Coucal, Barn Swallow, Prinia Best Bird Watching Season: dawn and dusk / four seasons (winter and spring are even better)