Investigating Taiwan’s Frontline With China (Kinmen)
Located just a few kilometers from mainland China, yet governed by Taiwan, Kinmen has long stood on the frontline of one of Asia’s most complex geopolitical conflicts. In this video, I travel from Taiwan to Kinmen to explore what this place looks like today.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Kinmen – the closest Taiwanese Islands to China
00:53 – Exploring Kinmen Islands
26:05 – How to get to China from Taiwan?
29:05 – The Chinese perspective of Taiwan (Xiamen)
Filmed in January 2026.
You can support me via:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vvagabond
PayPal: ivantrainslive@gmail.com
YouTube Memebrship: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO8MMsO_XRjO7X4iGCuKdwg/join
Crypto (Etherium): 0x9931db2f59a333799c99e3b85aacab57b1446cf8
Instagram: @vagafuckabond
31 Comments
American check in hours are usually 3 or 4 pm, could be why its like that in Taiwan
You should get an award for investigative reporting.
It's always enjoyable and your voice has a calming effect!
Thanks Ivan.
You an honorable human being.
Love
🖤
25:45 Preach!
Taiwan, such a great country with a very interesting history. Kinmen, being part of ROC territory and being so close to china is fascinating.
This is not the front line of Taiwan, but the front line of the Republic of China; even within the administrative divisions of the ROC, this area belongs to Fujian Province. The Republic of China currently controls 2 province: the entire province of Taiwan, as well as Kinmen and Matsu Islands in Fujian Province.
Great video
Thank you for doing what you like and being real. You have the charisma needed for the work you do. Thank you.
I like to watch all your videos, simple briefing of local history, hotel and meal cost. maybe in future you can make a video in Belarus
台湾是一个省，现在是一个叫中华人民共和国控制整个大陆地区包括大部分福建省和一个叫中华民国控制包括福建省下面金门县和妈祖县和澎湖和台湾省
Cameras in china are a scam, its to protect the government from uprisings.. tey do nothing against the gangs of Chinese aunties looting their stores lol.. or when someone kidnaps a child in front of a camera, nothing happens or fighting or crazy car accidents where no one is held responsible or random thefts in public. The crazy amount of videos on chinese social media in insane, lot of which gets taken down later, and re-uploaded on other sites. People make big deal about cameras in china. Only be careful when officials decides to target you or harass you; even with russians being racists against chinese; eventually these states will become more xenophobic against each other.
Love your work Ivan, thank you.
Right on time, Taiwan's KMT party leader is visiting Mainland China right now
You can fly with "China Airlines", using “China Telecommunications”services, refueling in "China Petrol", visit "Chinese Culture University" and "China Medical University", Sending postcards in "China Post"…. btw these are all in Taiwan😅
I liked ur commentary on Taiwan and China, very good takes:) cheers Ivan.
32:11 for a coastal city like Xiamen, the window bars are purposed to defend typhoons, if you don't want anything fly out your apartment window or balcony. lol, but for inland cities, it's certain comfort for some people who has such childhood memory of living safely inside bars, it has been a memory of a generation and is reasonable for some families living in towers with children at home.
34:08 here's kinda nuance where it should be translated as "one country two systems TO unify China", it's one sentence, not two phrases.
I think you were at 26k subs when I started watching your channel. Great to see it grow so much. Really great video. Authentic documenting and travelogue and I really enjoyed watching. Thanks!
Ivan thank you so much for another brilliant video- your work improves week after week. This one is so well-researched and inclusive it is just about better than actually being there! Please continue to make these videos; they are much better than BBC rubbish! take Care- Best Regards
25:37…. that's the famous popstar Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng). in the 80s and 90s she was a famous Taiwanese popstar that found fame in Hong Kong and mainland China. a figure at the time that sort of brought the 3 sides together in a way through her music… in this case, in the photo, she was there at the broadcast station to spread a message of "unity" by saying she hopes that her friends and fans on the mainland can "one day enjoy the freedom and democracy that we enjoy here" … she goes on to say that she hopes "the youth of China can one day have the freedom to express their intelligence and talents, this way we'll have a bright and prosperous future." … afterall – she was the daughter of a KMT soldier
i have enjoyed your travels into china so far! i love watching your videos while i get ready for the day. i wonder if you will you ever go exploring in the americas or more of africa? hello from north carolina 👋🏽👋🏽
34:06 On the other side of the straight on Kinmen island there's the Taiwanese slogan which says "The three principles of the people unite China"😂
Just got back from Tapei and I can say Taiwanese people are very welcoming and warm as seen in your video. Great work, enjoying your content!
Thanks for the video .
Привет Иван наткнулся на твоё видео меня точнее youtube сказала в рекомендациях потому что я уже несколько лет смотрю видео про Китай и тут я смотрю обратил внимание на тебя потому что есть другой канал который называется почти так же как и твой там русский парень просто путешествует по миру и снимает без слов прогулки, Я включил твоё видео и что ты я ожидал что это кто-то из native english speaker ну что ты меня смущало вы почти весь ролик что-то давило мне на на ухо А я вот включил твой видос и занимаюсь своими делами Но вот на фоне я воспринимаю всё на слух и что-то здесь не так пока я не услышал что ты на пропускном пункте и проверяй твой паспорт и ты говоришь что ты русский гражданин , просто вау))) в общем мне в принципе симпатизирует твой контент и как ты ведёшь ходишь разговариваешь рассказываешь это всё это не отзывается обо мне в общем я сейчас включу простудил что в 10 твоих видосиков наверное, подписался и всё такое, респект уважуха)))
You are doing great work! Keep it up!
Hello. How can I make a monetary contribution to your channel?
Good video, have relatives in Xiamen, nice to see foreigners visiting both sides.❤
The OG fans here will miss you saying 'celsium' instead of celsius. Bring back celsium.
34:15 hahaha silly China! Taiwan uses traditional script, not that goofy Simplified script! They can't read that slogan!
You are just getting better and better!
How did you rent a hotel room in china as a foreigner??
Love your videos man!!!!