The highest density of military tunnels and strongholds in the world

Originally, the Matsu islands represented little more than a network of sleepy fishing villages. However , after the Kuomintang government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, the islands entered a new era of more than 30 years of military governance.

 Military structures, underground tunnels, ports, strongholds, gun platforms, training grounds, and military hospitals can be spotted throughout the Matsu islands.

The Lienchiang Financial Bureau has recorded 256 air-defense constructions across the islands, including shelters, bunkers, subterranean chemical rooms, and tunnels. Some academics claim that Matsu has the densest arrangement of military tunnels of any island in the world.

Compared with Kinmen, Matsu is more mysterious and has a less painful history. Now, only the secretive military-controlled islands of Gaodeng and Liang are closed to the public. As well as the milit ry tunnels already open to visitors such as the Beihai Tunnel in Nangan Township and the Wusha and Andong tunnels in Beigan, the Matsu islands boast many more tunnels and sentry points waiting to be discovered. 

Published by：Lienchiang County Government

Modify Date：108/09/25