Shanhou Folk Culture Village
Eighteen Fujian-style houses on Kinmen built as a single planned settlement between 1876 and 1900 by a family who prospered in Japan.
Updated 20 October 2026
The Wang family made money trading in Japan and between 1876 and 1900 built an entire village at Shanhou for their relatives: sixteen residences, an ancestral hall and a school, all in southern Fujian style with swallowtail ridges, red brick, granite plinths and carved and painted detail, laid out on a grid as a single planned scheme. It survives complete, which is rare, and several buildings are open with displays on Kinmen life.
What you'll find
- The swallowtail roofs - upturned ridge ends across the whole planned village.
- The brick and granite - southern Fujian construction with carved stone plinths.
- The ancestral hall - the family hall at the centre of the scheme.
- The open houses - interiors with displays on Kinmen domestic life.
When to go
October to April is the most comfortable; summer on Kinmen is hot and humid. Weekdays are quiet. Kinmen is reached by air from Taiwan.
Good to know
Several houses are shops or closed. The village is small and two hours covers it. Kinmen requires a separate flight and a night at least.
Nearby
Jincheng is southwest, and the Kinmen coast is north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q17007017, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Shanhou Folk Culture Village
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Long, light, quick-dry clothing - Covers skin from insects and sun without cooking you in the humidity. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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