Matsu’s battlefield scenery welcomes new highlights. Strongholds 06 and 08, located in Beigan Township and commanding exceptional ocean views, have completed landscape and facility enhancement works in 2025 by the Matsu National Scenic Area Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters). At Stronghold 06, improvements focused primarily on upgrading the stairway trail leading to the site, as well as refurbishing interior tunnel lighting and repainting works. Nearby Stronghold 08 saw the addition of a new parking plaza and the construction of a brand-new tourism service building. Through these hardware improvements, visitor safety has been enhanced while injecting renewed vitality into Matsu’s battlefield tourism.
Stronghold 06 occupies a strategic location along Beigan’s rugged coastline, offering magnificent marine erosion landscapes. The distinctive tunnel window framing the seascape has long been a must-capture scene for photography enthusiasts. However, the original stairway leading to the site featured significant elevation differences, making access physically demanding and less friendly to elderly visitors and children. In response, the Headquarters optimized the trail system by standardizing stair heights in accordance with universal design principles. Bright white safety markings and green handrails were newly repainted, significantly improving walking comfort and safety. Additionally, due to prolonged exposure to humidity and sea winds, the tunnel’s interior walls had deteriorated over time. Comprehensive repainting and replacement of outdated lighting equipment were carried out, transforming the once dim tunnel into a bright and clean military experience space. The exterior camouflage patterns have been preserved, maintaining the battlefield atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the blue sky and sea.
Stronghold 08 stands upon steep natural rock formations, offering panoramic ocean views and serving as one of Beigan’s premier locations for viewing the renowned Blue Tears phenomenon. To address parking demand and enhance service quality, the Headquarters constructed a spacious parking plaza and installed low-intensity recessed lighting to ensure safe nighttime access without affecting Blue Tears viewing. Further inside the site, a new two-story building integrated with the surrounding landscape has been completed. The first floor preserves the original footprint of the stronghold with a military camouflage façade, while the newly added second floor features traditional Eastern Fujian granite stone elements, creating a striking aesthetic dialogue between historical military heritage and regional architectural character. The building has been completed and is currently in the process of obtaining its occupancy permit. Simultaneously, revitalization planning is underway to transform the space into a tourism service or recreational facility, connecting surrounding attractions to form a more comprehensive travel route.
Hung Chih-kuang, Director of the Headquarters, stated that the network of military strongholds across Beigan and throughout Lienchiang County represents Matsu’s unique battlefield cultural heritage. Through the environmental accessibility improvements at Stronghold 06 and the expansion of service facilities at Stronghold 08, the Headquarters aims to provide visitors with a safer and more convenient environment when exploring military relics. With the projects now completed in time for the Lunar New Year holiday, the Headquarters sincerely invites visitors to take advantage of the festive break to visit Beigan, walk along the improved and more comfortable trail at Stronghold 06, explore the newly refreshed tunnel space, and look forward to the upcoming activation of Stronghold 08 to experience Matsu’s distinctive transformation from battlefield legacy to tourism destination.