Lincuo Village | Kinmen Attraction

The outer walls of the Minnan old houses in Lincuo Village retain bullet holes and damage marks from Cold War-era artillery bombardments, making this traditional settlement not just an architectural heritage site but a direct record of what the shelling did to Kinmen's civilian homes. Some buildings in the village have been renovated as exhibition spaces, offering another perspective for understanding daily life on wartime Kinmen.

Highlights of Lincuo Village

Lincuo Village is located in Jinning Township. The village layout maintains the alley configuration of a traditional Minnan settlement, with multiple old houses built in traditional brick-and-stone construction. The Battle of 823 in 1958 and the sporadic shelling that continued for nearly two decades afterward caused widespread damage to Kinmen's settlements. Some buildings in Lincuo still clearly show their shell scars today — a concrete imprint of that history on residential architecture.

Some buildings have been renovated and repurposed as exhibition or guesthouse spaces, both preserving the traditional architectural form and giving visitors a chance to examine the structural details of Minnan-style houses up close. The overall atmosphere of the village is relatively quiet, contrasting with Kinmen's more heavily touristed attractions and offering a sense of what everyday village life on Kinmen is like.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

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Look for Patterns in the Distribution of Shell HolesThe shell holes on building facades vary in size and depth. Cross-referencing the directions and ranges of shelling recorded in histories of the Kinmen bombardments, you can try to read the circumstances in which each hole was formed.

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Observe the Structure of Minnan HousesRenovated buildings allow a close look at the swallow-tail ridge, the horseback gable walls, and the brick-laying techniques, helping you understand the spatial logic and defensive design of Minnan vernacular architecture.

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Feel the Village's Sense of TimeLincuo retains more of its un-touristed everyday character. Strolling slowly through the alleys gives you a feel for the spatial scale of a traditional Kinmen village, a different experience from more thoroughly restored settlements.

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Ask Before Photographing Damaged BuildingsSome buildings with residents are still private homes. Be mindful of residents' privacy before taking photographs. Building facades along the public alleys of the village are generally acceptable to photograph.

Practical Information

Getting There & Hours

Lincuo Village is in Jinning Township, near Cihu and Guningtou. Driving or renting a vehicle is most convenient. It is best included as part of a half-day route in the Guningtou area.
The village is an open space that visitors can walk freely; there are no specific opening hours, but daytime visits are recommended.

Nearby Connections

Cihu Wetland and the Guningtou Battle Museum are both nearby and can be combined into a half-day nature-and-culture route in Jinning Township.
Beishan Western Mansion is also in Jinning Township and shares the same theme of wartime shell damage, making it a natural thematic pairing.

Sources: Kinmen County Cultural Affairs Bureau; related materials from the Wikipedia entry on Jinning Township. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.

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