The island is intoxicated with "Chinese tallow trees" everywhere—golden autumn leaves and birdwatching in Kinmen are at their best

▲ This season in Kinmen offers the view of Chinese tallow trees turning red. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen National Park Headquarters)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The native plant of Kinmen, the Chinese tallow tree, has recently turned stunningly red due to the large temperature fluctuations. The frost-kissed leaves are breathtakingly beautiful. Along the long stretch of Gaoyang Road, which is densely planted with Chinese tallow trees, now is the perfect time to admire the autumn foliage. The Chinese tallow tree is a deciduous tree species native to Kinmen and is widely distributed across the entire island.

Before shedding their leaves in winter, as photosynthesis ceases and separation layers form at the leaf stems, the green leaves of the Chinese tallow tree gradually turn yellow or red. Clusters of vibrant red leaves on the branches become a unique and beautiful sight in Kinmen’s stark winter landscape.


▲ The Chinese tallow trees' red leaves cover the island, creating a lush and serene atmosphere. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen National Park Headquarters)

In terms of the avian world, Kinmen is a uniquely blessed place. Though the island is small, it features a diverse mix of habitats suitable for birds—ranging from marine environments such as open sea, mudflats, and lakes, to terrestrial ones like fields and hills, including settlements—almost everywhere is home to wild birds. To date, over 300 bird species have been recorded in Kinmen. Due to its location along a key migratory route for birds traveling between East Asia, many migratory bird species from cold northern regions pass through Kinmen during autumn, winter, or spring, with some even staying for the winter.

 
 
▲ Kinmen in winter hosts a rich variety of migratory birds, making it a true paradise for birdwatchers. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen National Park Headquarters)

The Kinmen National Park Headquarters states that now is the best time for birdwatching. The great cormorant is the most numerous winter migratory bird, and rich ecological scenes of these birds can be observed at Cihu Lake, Dataihu Lake, Yangming Lake, Lingshui Lake, and Qionglin Reservoir. Coastal and mudflat areas such as the Wujiang River estuary, Jinsha Reservoir, Yangshan, Pubian, Tiandun Seawall, Qingyu Islet, and Guanao are also great spots to see various species of ducks and wading birds in winter. For land birds, spots like the Guningtou Nanshan Forest Trail, Shagang Farm, Gugang District, Zhongshan Forest, Mount Taiwu, the Native Plant Garden, and the Forestry Station offer excellent birdwatching opportunities. In addition, rare winter migratory birds such as the black stork, black-headed kingfisher, spoonbill, and black-faced spoonbill can all be encountered by lucky visitors in Kinmen.