Kinmen National Park

One of Taiwan’s smaller conservation zones, Kinmen National Park covers three sections of the island group’s coast plus its tallest mountain, the 252m-high Taiwushan.

The main attractions on Kinmen and Little Kinmen are villages which have retained a thoroughly traditional appearance (meaning gorgeously photogenic wood-framed single-story houses with tiled roofs), sites tied to the history of Taiwan’s standoff against China, and a landscape which, while scarred by war, hasn’t been despoiled by industry or overdevelopment.

Many tourists explore the islands by bicycle. There’s little traffic, the weather is bike-friendly, and pedal power is the best way to explore the narrow alleyways of villages like Shuitou and Qionglin. Wintertime birding is another niche that’s catching on fast.