An In-Depth Autumn Tour of Kinmen – Discovering the Unique "Wind-Lion Gods"

Tourism Center / Taipei Report

When the Kinmen County Government launched the “Electric Cart Wind-Lion God Hunt” activity last year (2012), it received widespread acclaim. This year, the event is back with an increased number of electric carts, aiming to allow more visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Wind-Lion God culture while also experiencing the charm of the Jinsha Township community.

The county government said that Kinmen’s unique Wind-Lion Gods are regarded by locals as guardians of their villages, believed to “calm the winds, ward off evil, and bring blessings.” Each Wind-Lion God has its own distinctive appearance—varying in expression, physique, and even gender. According to current data, the tallest stands at 385 cm (the Anqi Village Wind-Lion God), while the smallest is just 22 cm (the Dongheng Wind-Lion God). The diverse forms of the Wind-Lion Gods create a unique cultural landscape and invaluable cultural asset for Kinmen, making them well worth careful observation and exploration. That’s why the county government has chosen to promote this Wind-Lion God culture through tourism.

 
▲ The exact number of Wind-Lion Gods in Kinmen is still unclear, but the largest discovered so far is the Anqi Village Wind-Lion God at 385 cm, while the smallest is the Dongheng Wind-Lion God at 22 cm. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen County Government)

In conjunction with the “Sorghum, Old Street, and Wind-Lion God Cultural Festival” in Jinsha Township, the Kinmen County Government will hold the “Electric Cart Wind-Lion God Hunt” event every Saturday and Sunday in October. There will be two routes—southern and northern—covered by seven electric carts offering shuttle services, with guides providing commentary at each attraction.

The “Electric Cart Wind-Lion God Hunt” event will take place every Saturday and Sunday in October (October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27) from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM (last departure at 4:30 PM). Pick-up is at Jinsha Bus Station, and the tour lasts approximately two hours. Highlights include seeing the seven Wind-Lion Gods in Shamei and the 15 Wealth God statues in Caishen Park.

There are two tour routes as follows:
South Route – Ronghu Line (approx. 3 km): In front of Sha Primary School beside Jinsha Bus Station (Wind-Lion God 1) → turn right at the fork along Wufu Street Lane 22 → Kinmen County-designated Historic Site Cide Temple → turn left along the Ronghu Lakeside → in front of Wende Temple (Wind-Lion God 2) → Wenyuan Temple (Wind-Lion God 3) → turn left after crossing Huxiao Bridge (passing Cide Temple) → Chuan De Temple Wind-Lion God 4 → loop back along the lakeside to the left side of Jinsha Elementary School, then turn left back to Wind-Lion God 1.

North Route – Wan’an Line (approx. 2 km): Jinsha Bus Station → take Fuxing Road, turn right onto Sanmin Road, then left onto Zhongzhong Road → turn left at Sha Middle School, go straight to the end at Zhongxiao New Village (between No. 95 and No. 56) → turn left to Sha Mei No. 106 Residence (Wind-Lion God 5, Wind-Lion God 6) → return the same way, then turn left out of the starting point of Zhongxiao New Village, then turn right → Dashi Temple Ksitigarbha Park (hidden Wind-Lion God) → return the same way, cross Shaqing Road to the Zhongxiao New Village bus stop, then turn right into Caishen Park → return the same way, turn right onto Shaqing Road (Wind-Lion God 7) → Jinsha Bus Station.


▲ No need to break a sweat looking for Wind-Lion Gods—electric carts will take you there. (Photo / Provided by Kinmen County Government)

This event is completely free, and participants can also receive a “Wind-Lion God Hunt Electric Cart Tour Stamp Card.” After visiting all the attractions and having your stamps verified by guides, simply upload your experience to Facebook to receive a complimentary deck of Wind-Lion God playing cards at the Jinsha Tourist Service Center (limited to 100 per day, one per person, while supplies last).