"Taiwan Tourist Shuttle" Expands to Offshore Islands: Explore Kinmen’s Battlefield Charm with 4 Routes in December

▲ On Mount Taiwu stands a stone inscribed with the four characters "毋忘在莒" (Never Forget Ji), personally bestowed by the late President Chiang Kai-shek, symbolizing morale-boosting spirit. The site also attracts many worshippers. (Photo / Courtesy ofKinmen National Park Fan Page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The tourist bus "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle" will for the first time extend its routes beyond the main island of Taiwan. Starting in December, the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will launch the "Kinmen 4 Routes" to allow travelers to explore Kinmen in the most budget-friendly way, taking in all the area’s battlefield-themed scenery.

According to statistics from the Kinmen County Government’s Tourism Department, visitor numbers to Kinmen exceeded 1.26 million in 2012, an 11.45% increase from 2011, showing that offshore island tourism is gradually gaining popularity among travelers from various regions. The "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle" has been operating since 2008 and is now available in 15 counties/cities and 7 national parks nationwide, covering as many as 31 routes. The upcoming Kinmen route, set to launch on December 1, will be the first offshore island route. Once officially launched, travel to Kinmen is expected to become even more convenient.

The Tourism Bureau has planned four routes for the "Kinmen Tourist Shuttle": the "Shuitou Zhai Mountain Line," the "Guningtou Battlefield Line," the "Shishan Folk Village Line," and the "Rongyuan Taihu Line." These not only cover 21 major attractions in Kinmen but also make it the only "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle" route that connects the airport, ferry terminal, and key sights.

%慕鹈诺恼蚍惚傩拔锓缡ㄒ?诮鹈畔鼐陀卸8座。(图／取自Kinmen National Park Fan Page)

Wu Shih-rong, director of the Bureau of Transportation’s Ferries and Ships Division, said that the "Kinmen Tourist Shuttle" will operate on a loop basis—with one bus per hour on weekdays and one every half hour on holidays. Tour guides will be on board to introduce the attractions along the way. Passengers can get off at any destination they wish to visit, although guides will not accompany them off the bus. Tickets are available as one-day or two-day passes, priced at NT$160 and NT$280 respectively, and can be purchased at locations such as the Kinmen Shangyi Airport and Shuitou Ferry Terminal Tourist Service Centers. For more details, visit theTaiwan Tourist Shuttle official website.