Kinmen County Forestry Bureau

Overview

Located in Jincheng Township, Kinmen, the Forestry Bureau is a lush green attraction in Kinmen. According to local tradition, early Kinmen was once covered with abundant vegetation, but when Koxinga captured Kinmen in the Ming dynasty, many trees were cut down to support construction, leaving the island barren. In 1951, the government began promoting greening, landscape improvement, and reforestation on Kinmen. After repeated setbacks and refinements, the island gradually overcame these difficulties, laid the foundation for its greenery, and improved the living environment for both residents and military personnel.

Highlights

Kinmen County Forestry Bureau is a forest park and forestry base of about 36 hectares that combines afforestation demonstration with leisure and recreation. The park features extensive woodland, a lake, grassy lawns, and an ornamental nursery, creating a lush environment that also showcases Kinmen’s transformation from desolation to greenery. Its core themes are forest restoration and environmental education. Through reforestation and ecological greening methods, it demonstrates the cultivation of Kinmen’s native trees and a wide variety of plants. The park includes a specimen area, a forestry exhibition hall, an ecological interpretation center, and a bamboo specimen garden, making it one of the best places to learn about Kinmen’s ecology and forestry development. It is also a popular destination for families and relaxed strolls, with lawns, a water play area, a children’s play zone, themed playground equipment, and a barbecue area. A pine-lined avenue of about 500 meters is ideal for walking, jogging, and enjoying the fresh forest air. Kinmen County Forestry Bureau also serves as a local classroom for school-based environmental education and nature observation. Every year, it attracts many students and visitors, combining knowledge, education, and recreation.

What to See

1. Forest Park and Pine Avenue: The forest park under Kinmen County Forestry Bureau covers about 36 hectares and features a variety of tree species, trails, and woodland scenery, making it suitable for walking, jogging, and cycling. The park includes a pine avenue about 500 meters long, lined with neat rows of pine trees, and is a classic route for photos and shade. 2. Ornamental Nursery and Flower Beds: Formerly known as Xiaojing Nursery, the bureau still maintains a large nursery area that cultivates landscape trees, flowers, and roadside trees, making it an important greening base for Kinmen. The ornamental nursery and flower beds show different seasonal plant landscapes, allowing visitors to observe a wide range of trees and flowers up close and experience the results of afforestation in Kinmen. 3. Artificial Lake and Water Play Area: The park includes an artificial lake and a water play area, where the water scenery and surrounding trees create a beautiful waterfront landscape. Nearby lawns and paths provide space for rest, picnics, and sightseeing, making this one of the park’s favorite photo spots. 4. Forestry Exhibition Hall and Ecological Interpretation Facilities: The park has a forestry exhibition hall and an indoor ecological interpretation center that present topics such as Kinmen’s transformation from barren land to greenery, forestry development, and plant ecology. Through specimens, displays, and interpretive materials, these facilities are well suited for visitors and students interested in forestry, plants, and environmental issues. 5. Specimen Area and Bamboo/Plant Displays: Kinmen County Forestry Bureau has a specimen garden and a bamboo specimen garden, and it focuses on restoring Kinmen’s native trees while showcasing diverse forest plant communities. The park contains hundreds of plant species, making it an ideal place for plant identification and ecological observation. 6. Children’s Play Area and Themed Playground: The park includes a children’s play area and themed spaces such as the Acorn Playground. The playground uses oversized acorn shapes, rope nets, slides, and climbing structures to create a themed play environment. It also features stepping logs, balance equipment, and adult fitness facilities, allowing families to enjoy active play in a forest setting. 7. Lawn Plaza and Barbecue Area: The large lawn plaza is suitable for group activities, picnics, and outdoor education, with shaded areas nearby for comfortable休息. The park also has a barbecue area that can be used by advance application according to regulations, making it a popular choice for weekend gatherings and group outings. 8. Entrance Image and Colorful Art Installations: The entrance area features a large welcome installation and colorful art pieces, including rainbow chairs and photo spots, which stand out against the surrounding greenery. Some areas also include wooden sculptural installations and other playful designs that add an artistic atmosphere to the park. 9. Woodcraft Interactive Learning Center (Nearby Facility): The nearby Woodcraft Interactive Learning Center uses a traditional settlement zone, a tree story house, and a building-block play area to help children and adults learn about wood, architecture, and forest resources through hands-on experiences. Although it is a separate facility, it is often planned together with a visit to the forestry park, enhancing the overall educational and recreational experience.

Address

No. 31, Dongshan, Dayang Village, Jincheng Township, Kinmen County 890 Phone: (08)2352846

Travel Tips

A visit to Kinmen County Forestry Bureau is best planned as a half-day to full-day outdoor trip, combining forest trails, ecological interpretation, and family play areas for both leisure and learning. If you are combining it with other natural or battlefield sites in Kinmen, it is best to schedule the forestry bureau during daylight hours to make full use of the shade and scenery. Kinmen has different seasonal characteristics, and the forestry bureau changes with the seasons, flowers, and migratory birds, so it is worth visiting year-round. Spring and autumn offer more comfortable temperatures and are best for long outdoor walks. Summer brings strong sunlight and relatively light winds, so it is better to avoid midday heat. In winter, the northeast monsoon can be strong, so warm and windproof clothing is recommended. Wear lightweight, comfortable shoes and breathable clothing, since the park is large and includes many trails and lawn areas, which means a fair amount of walking. In summer or under strong sunlight, bring a hat, sunscreen, and drinking water. During the rainy season, rain gear is recommended to avoid sudden showers affecting your plans. The park has parking space and is suitable for self-driving visitors or those taking sightseeing buses. Some bus routes, such as the Forestry Bureau sightseeing bus route, stop here, which makes it convenient for independent travelers to plan connections. It is a good idea to check Kinmen’s local bus schedules and routes in advance and allow enough time for the return trip. The forestry bureau combines teaching and research functions and is also a popular site for local school education, so group visits are common on weekday daytime. Visitors who want to avoid crowds and enjoy a quiet forest atmosphere can choose off-peak times or come in the morning. Family travelers can make use of the children’s play area and themed playground to let children enjoy active outdoor time.

FAQ

Q：What are the best things to see and do at Kinmen County Forestry Bureau? A：The main attractions of Kinmen County Forestry Bureau are its large forest park and diverse ecological environment, along with the ornamental nursery, flower beds, artificial lake, and pine avenue, all of which create a green space that combines leisure and education. The park also has a forestry exhibition hall, an ecological interpretation center, a specimen area, and a bamboo specimen garden, allowing visitors to learn about Kinmen’s afforestation history and native plants. It is especially suitable for travelers interested in nature and environmental topics. Families can also head to the children’s play area and acorn-themed playground so kids can climb, slide, and play in a safe forest setting. Q：Is Kinmen County Forestry Bureau suitable for family visits? A：Kinmen County Forestry Bureau is very suitable for families, with wide lawns, shaded trails, and themed children’s play facilities, making it one of the few large outdoor family spaces in Kinmen. The Acorn Playground features giant acorn shapes, rope tunnels, slides, and climbing frames, letting children play as if they were small squirrels moving among acorns. Nearby, there are also stepping logs, balance equipment, and adult fitness areas, so the whole family can stay active together. In addition, the forestry exhibition hall and interpretive facilities satisfy both fun and learning. Q：How much time should I set aside for a visit to Kinmen County Forestry Bureau? A：It is generally recommended to reserve at least half a day for Kinmen County Forestry Bureau so you can leisurely walk the forest trails, enjoy the nursery and lakeside scenery, and still have time for the children’s play area and the forestry exhibition hall. For family trips or for visitors especially interested in plants and ecology, a stay close to a full day allows for a deeper experience, including photos, picnics, guided interpretation, and observation of different plants and bird activity. If you only want a short stop for photos and a walk, one to two hours is enough to see the main sights. Q：What is the special background or historical significance of Kinmen County Forestry Bureau? A：The greatest historical significance of Kinmen County Forestry Bureau is that it bears witness to Kinmen’s transformation from barren land to renewed greenery, making it one of the symbolic sites of Kinmen’s greening and reforestation efforts. In the past, due to military needs and development, many trees on Kinmen were cut down, causing environmental degradation. Around 1951, the government began promoting greening and reforestation, and after repeated failures and improvements, the effort gradually succeeded. The bureau’s predecessor was Xiaojing Nursery, and it later became an official county-level forestry institution responsible for afforestation, seedling cultivation, and environmental improvement. Today it has become a forest park and environmental education site, symbolizing the reversal of Kinmen’s ecological environment and quality of life.

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