More than 20 years have passed since the Chinese Communists lashed Kinmen or Quemoy, Golden Gate as it is known in Mandarin, with a massive artillery barrage in 1958. Today, Kinmen has risen again from the rubble. It has its own agricultural, cultural and economic structure as well as strong and well- equipped military forces.
Traditional rustic architecture dominated by red walls, goats dotted here and there in the meadows, an old lady with her hair in a bun feeding chickens, and serene village roads, are all indicative of an ancient and prosperous Chinese agricultural society. Kinmen today preserves this long-forgotten rustic way of life.
Kinmen youths' view of their home town
Cheng Hsueh-li, 33, is an English teacher at the Kinmen High School. "The People of Kinmen are diligent, honest and conservative. They have preserved ancient Chinese values and customs, have strong family ties, and respect the authority of their parents," she said. "At first, my husband and I wanted to stay in Taiwan after graduation from college, but Kinmen is our home and our parents live here. Our obligations and love for the land made us return. I am glad we made the right choice."
Lee Hsi-huei, 30, a section chief in the Kinmen County Government, lives with his family in Peishan Village in Kuningtou. Though born after 1949, he has always been proud of the Nationalist victory over the Communists in the battle of Kuningtou. On August 23, 1958, intensive shelling by the Communists totally destroyed Peishan and nearby Nanshan. During the 44-day battle, the Communists hurled some 470,000 high-explosive shells on the 178-square-kilometer island. But the Republic of China forces stood firm and undaunted. They sank 18 Communist torpedo boats, three cannon boats and shot down 31 Mig jet fighters. "I don't deny that some of the older people want their children to seek a career in Taiwan. This is not out of fear of war, but rather part of the normal desire to gravitate toward the metropolis. Most parents, however prefer to keep their children at home, as part of the deep-rooted ideology of family ties," Lee said.
The closer to the mainland, the stronger the desire to return
Even outsiders feel love and sympathy for this small island and its people. Lily Wang, a native of Shangtung province, who went to work at the Kinmen broadcasting station from Hsinchu in northwestern Taiwan is an example. She said: "I love to live in this land, because it is closer to my home on the mainland. I feel a strong desire to return."
As Lee Hsi-huei puts it, the experience of being under fire has made the people of Kinmen more alert and better able to understand the significance of war: "The establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Communist regime has not caused even the slightest feeling of fear among the inhabitants of the outpost of Free China. After the suspension of diplomatic relations, the Communists used the camouflage of their 'united front' tactics to make the 'friendly gesture' of suspending odd-number-day shellings. However, we can not afford to relax for even a moment, since they have now started to bombard us with propaganda. After experiencing the cruel shelling, and talking with freedom seekers from the mainland, we know exactly what the Communists are like. It is futile for them to try to brainwash us," a Kinmen resident said.
The children brought up during the war are the most patriotic of all. A total of 194 young men entered the military academy last year alone. Civilians aged over 16 in Kinmen are members of the Civil Defense Corps, which is divided into mobile, defense, women's, youth, transportation and worker teams according to age, sex and vocation. As well as receiving regular training, the youths are inspected on national holidays such as Double Tenth.
Helping Kinmen to be prosperous
"Trudging through long and difficult years/Alas, Kinmen, I saw your strong legs/Treading on the radiant highway/Fulfilling the islanders' strong hopes."--by Chang Mo--
Visitors to Kinmen driving along the well-paved highways, find they are in a world of green. During the past a dozen years, some 80 million trees have been planted by the soldiers. The formerly bare land is now full of such scenic spots as Chung Cheng Park, Tai Lake, Banyan Garden, Kugang Lake, Chukuang Fortress, and Tawu Mountain. With the support and instructions of the Council for Agricultural Development of the Executive Yuan, the islanders have expanded their crops of fruit to include watermelons, grapes, guavas, peaches, loquats, lychees and red dates. They also have rich harvests of corn, cabbage, peanuts, radishes, kaoliang (sorghum), and produce about 1 million kilograms of potatoes a year. In 1977, the Kinmen County Government and agricultural research center assisted low-income families and veterans to cultivate tidal land. They set up rural "well-to-do" communities to organize comprehensive management of agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry.
Kaoliang-A source of wealth
Of all the grain crops, kaoliang has the highest economic value, as it is used to brew the world-renowned white liquor bearing the same name. In 1953, when the Nationalist Government established a distillery on the island, it decided to encourage the farmers to plant kaoliang by exchanging a catty of the crop for a catty of rice. As it has greatly improved the inhabitants' living standards, kaoliang is regarded as a source of wealth on the island. Currently, the government pays NT$15 for a kilogram of kaoliang, which is twice as much as in Taiwan. About 90 percent of the crop comes from Kinmen, helping to ensure stable prices. With a total of 340 employees, the distillery has increased its production from 210,000 kilograms a year in 1953 to 2.5 million kilograms at present. It was taken over by the Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau in December. 1977.
A distant view of the Mainland from the Mashan psychological war headquarters
At present, there are four psychological war stations in Kinmen-Hsiao (little) Kinmen, Ta (big) Tan, Kuningtou and Mashan. The one in Mashan near Tawushan is the closest to the mainland, being about 2,310 meters away from the opposite bank. Using loudspeakers, workers at the station broadcast regional dramas such as Nan Kuan and Ko Tsai Hsi in the Fukien dialect to urge mainlanders to defect to Free China. Through a telescope, one can see houses and people moving around on the other side of the Strait. Are they as happy and prosperous as we are?
Folk village
Lee Hsi-chi, a native of Kinmen, is one of the pioneers in Taiwan's modern art movement. He was pleased to hear that the Kinmen County Government was planning to rebuild 18 ancient houses in Shanhou near Kinsha Town to form a folk village. These exquisite old houses, built by Wang Chih-hsiang, an overseas Chinese living in Japan, have a hall, two main rooms and four side rooms. The wood and stone used in construction were imported from Chuanchow and Fuchow on the mainland. The government has invited specialists to collect all records related to the style of traditional architecture to transform the block of houses into a museum. Walking along the paved paths, one can observe the tranquility and beauty of the old buildings standing alone along the streets as if oblivious to time and the cares of the world.
Contrast of old and new
In Nanshan village, which was totally destroyed in the 1958 Communist shelling, the visitors were surprised to find TV antennas sprouting from the rebuilt houses. In the newspapers, they found pages of advertisements for television sets and other modern electrical appliances. The intermixture of old and new, of traditional and modern can be seen in every corner of the island.
Traditional wedding ceremonies still take place on the island. Guests are welcomed with a cup of sweet tea, to symbolize the rich new life wished for the newly-weds. After the banquet, each guest is given a rice cake or pepper dumpling to take home. Newly-weds are still some times conveyed from the ceremony on a double side-saddled horse, a mode of transportation which goes back to ancient times on Kinmen. Today, however, the horse is usually replaced by a car or motorcycle.
Old people well taken care of
In 1964, the Free China Relief Association established a home to accommodate lonely old men. As well as free room and board, the lodgers have NT$250 a month as pocket money. At present, there are 60 old men living in these quarters, most of whom were invited to tour Taiwan last year. The neat and well-equipped home makes them feel comfortable and useful.
No juvenile delinquency problems
Beginning in 1964, Kinmen was the first place in the Republic of China to implement the nine-year compulsory education system. Since 1976, kindergartens have been established at most primary schools to extend compulsory education to 11 years. There are 44 primary schools and kindergartens, one high school, two junior high schools and three nine-year system schools as well as special facilities for talented and retarded children. Of the total population of 57,000 on the island, 19,651 are students. In 1978, the budget for schools in Kinmen was NT$165,047,158, while several students also go on to Taiwan to continue their schooling. The principal of Kinmen High School proudly pointed out that there is no juvenile delinquency problem on the island.
For many years, the people of Kinmen have sent gifts such as "plum blossom" watches, food and appliances to the mainland by balloon. As Kinmen stands strong, the people hope their compatriots on the other side of the Strait will enjoy the same freedom and democracy as they do.
[Picture Caption]
On the serene Kukang Lake, white geese swim gracefully by (opposite); Above, imposing Chukuang Fortress.
Four big characters, Wu Wan Tsai Chu (remember Chu, a reference to a great battle in Chinese history in which a small force overcame an overwhelming enemy) in the late President Chiang Kai-shek's hand writing were carved on a huge rock on Mount Tawu in 1952.
From top: A distant view of the China Mainland; the Kuningtou battlefield; members of the Women's Self-Defense Garrison in Kinmen; Lily Wang, a native of Shangtung province, working at the Kinmen broadcasting station; and the launching of psychological war balloons to wards the mainland.
From opposite top left: The 91-year-old Mr. Yang is the oldest person in Houpu village. An 81-year-old woman living in the old men's home likes to talk about her tour of Taiwan last year. Though they have suffered intense shelling by the Communists, students of the Kuning Primary School are lively and healthy. Above: Ancient ceremonial arches can be found everywhere in Kinmen, and comprise one of the traditional characteristics of the island.
The Kinmen ceramic factory produces about 80,000 pieces of pottery each year (opposite), pictures page 9 shows young craftsmen concentrating on their work.
Kinmen Kaoliang Wine has become a great source of treasure for the island. It has earned a large amount of foreign exchange for the Republic of China, and the Kinmen distillery provides some 40 percent of government employees' salaries.
Below: Working from sunrise to sunset, farmers on Kinmen have helped to create an idyllic rustic setting.
Above: The Banyan Garden is among the favorite scenic spots for tourists. Left: The majestic entrance to the Chung Cheng Park outlined against a blue sky. Below from left: The Kinmen High School, a straight and broad road, and the Kinmen agricultural research center, whose effort has given the formerly bare land of Kinmen a green and prosperous aspect.
Wood and stone were imported from Chuanchow and Fuchow to construct exquisite old houses resembling those on the mainland. Walking along the stone-paved paths, people can see the tranquility and beauty of the old buildings lining the streets as if oblivious to time and the cares of the world. The Kinmen County Government has invited specialists to collect all records related to the style of traditional architecture to transform the block of houses in Shanhou near Kinsha Town into a museum.
imposing Chukuang Fortress.
Four big characters, Wu Wan Tsai Chu （remember Chu, a reference to a great battle in Chinese history in which a small force overcame an overwhelming enemy） in the late President Chiang Kai-shek's hand writing were carved on a huge rock on Mount Tawu in 1952.
A distant view of the China Mainland.
members of the Women's Self-Defense Garrison in Kinmen.
the Kuningtou battlefield.
and the launching of psychological war balloons to wards the mainland.
Lily Wang, a native of Shangtung province, working at the Kinmen broadcasting station.
91-year-old Mr. Yang is the oldest person in Houpu village.
An 81-year-old woman living in the old men's home likes to talk about her tour of Taiwan last year. Though they have suffered intense shelling by the Communists, students of the Kuning Primary School are lively and healthy.
Though they have suffered intense shelling by the Communists, students of the Kuning Primary School are lively and healthy.
Ancient ceremonial arches can be found everywhere in Kinmen, and comprise one of the traditional characteristics of the island.
The Kinmen ceramic factory produces about 80,000 pieces of pottery each year （opposite）, pictures page 9 shows young craftsmen concentrating on their work.
The Kinmen ceramic factory produces about 80,000 pieces of pottery each year （opposite）, pictures page 9 shows young craftsmen concentrating on their work.
The Kinmen ceramic factory produces about 80,000 pieces of pottery each year （opposite）, pictures page 9 shows young craftsmen concentrating on their work.
The Kinmen ceramic factory produces about 80,000 pieces of pottery each year （opposite）, pictures page 9 shows young craftsmen concentrating on their work.
Kinmen Kaoliang Wine has become a great source of treasure for the island. It has earned a large amount of foreign exchange for the Republic of China, and the Kinmen distillery provides some 40 percent of government employees' salaries.
Kinmen Kaoliang Wine has become a great source of treasure for the island. It has earned a large amount of foreign exchange for the Republic of China, and the Kinmen distillery provides some 40 percent of government employees' salaries.
Working from sunrise to sunset, farmers on Kinmen have helped to create an idyllic rustic setting.
The Kinmen High School.
The Banyan Garden is among the favorite scenic spots for tourists.
The majestic entrance to the Chung Cheng Park outlined against a blue sky.
Below from left: The Kinmen High School, a straight and broad road, and the Kinmen agricultural research center, whose effort has given the formerly bare land of Kinmen a green and prosperous aspect.
Below from left: The Kinmen High School, a straight and broad road, and the Kinmen agricultural research center, whose effort has given the formerly bare land of Kinmen a green and prosperous aspect.
Wood and stone were imported from Chuanchow and Fuchow to construct exquisite old houses resembling those on the mainland. Walking along the stone-paved paths, people can see the tranquility and beauty of the old buildings lining the streets as if oblivious to time and the cares of the world. The Kinmen County Government has invited specialists to collect all records related to the style of traditional architecture to transform the block of houses in Shanhou near Kinsha Town into a museum.
Wood and stone were imported from Chuanchow and Fuchow to construct exquisite old houses resembling those on the mainland. Walking along the stone-paved paths, people can see the tranquility and beauty of the old buildings lining the streets as if oblivious to time and the cares of the world. The Kinmen County Government has invited specialists to collect all records related to the style of traditional architecture to transform the block of houses in Shanhou near Kinsha Town into a museum.
