Kinmen National Park (Gugang Lake) | Kinmen Attraction

Gugang Lake is a brackish lake at the southern end of Jincheng Township, its shores planted with casuarina and coral trees and encircled by a lakeside trail. The scenery is peaceful and understated. Historic stone inscriptions including "Hanying Yungen" ("Han Shadows, Cloud Roots") remain on the lakeside rocks, and the entrance to Zhaishang Tunnel is within walking distance, making Gugang Lake a composite recreation area where natural scenery, historic inscriptions, and war-era heritage coexist.

Highlights of Gugang Lake

Gugang Lake is on the southern side of Gugang Village, Jincheng Township, and falls within the Kinmen National Park administration area. It is one of the few natural water bodies on the island with a lake surface. The lake is fed by rainfall and is semi-brackish; the vegetation along its shores is predominantly casuarina windbreak forest, with coral trees and other plants adding color — when the coral trees flower in spring the lakeshore becomes particularly vivid. The lakeside trail is level, running about 1 to 2 kilometers in total, suitable for a relaxed walk.

Historic inscriptions preserved on the lakeside rocks include "Hanying Yungen," where the carved text records the feelings of earlier visitors moved by the mountain and water landscape here, adding a layer of cultural depth to Gugang Lake. The entrance to Zhaishang Tunnel is a few minutes' walk from the lake; the tunnel is a wartime waterway blasted through rock in the 1960s that allowed small boats to pass through. Its interior space is impressive and it is one of Kinmen's most notable examples of wartime engineering.

How to make the most of your visit

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Walk the lakeside trailThe trail is flat throughout. Walking along the shore offers different angles on the lake's surface at each bend, and when the coral trees are in bloom (around March to April) the colors are at their most vivid.

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Seek out the Hanying Yungen inscriptionThe historic carvings on the lakeside rocks are the cultural highlight of Gugang Lake. Following the trail and watching for inscriptions on the rock faces is recommended — they are the written record left by people of earlier generations.

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Connect to Zhaishang TunnelThe entrance to Zhaishang Tunnel is within walking distance of Gugang Lake. The tunnel interior is a waterway carved through granite, an unusual space that is strongly recommended as part of the same visit.

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Birdwatching on the lakeThe lake surface attracts little egrets, grey herons, and other waterbirds. During the autumn and winter migration season, ducks can be seen resting here — binoculars and patient, quiet observation work well.

Practical information

Getting there and timing

Gugang Lake is in Gugang Village, Jincheng Township, about 10 to 15 minutes by scooter from the Jincheng Township town center. There is a car park suitable for both scooters and cars.
The trail is open all day with no admission fee. Zhaishang Tunnel charges a separate admission; for opening hours, check the Kinmen National Park Headquarters official information.

Nearby connections

Zhaishang Tunnel and Gugang Lake are about 5 to 10 minutes apart on foot — combining both is strongly recommended, forming a southern Jincheng Township half-day natural and war-heritage route.
Heading north from Gugang Lake back into Jincheng Township, the Qiu Lianggong Mother's Memorial Arch and the cultural park can be added to connect with Jincheng's cultural heritage sites for a full-day itinerary.

Sources: Kinmen National Park Headquarters trail and ecology interpretive materials, Jincheng Township Office tourism information. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.

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