New Taipei City Armed Forces Memorial Hall (Weapons Park) Introduction
The Military Honoring Shrine of New Taipei City, originally named the New Taipei City Military Cemetery, is located at the foot of Datong Mountain in the Shulin District of New Taipei City. Covering an area of 5.6 hectares, the shrine was built in July 1959 to honor deceased military personnel and veterans. The original military cemetery, used for over twenty years, featured rudimentary structures that deteriorated over time. The columbarium also became insufficient, leading to a reconstruction at the same site in 1982, which was completed and inaugurated in March 1984, and it was renamed "Military Honoring Shrine of New Taipei City" in June 1996. After the municipal restructuring, it retained the name "Military Honoring Shrine of New Taipei City." During the spring and autumn festival activities, active-duty military personnel who die in combat, from illness, or due to accidents, as well as veterans who voluntarily retire, can have their remains laid to rest at the Military Honoring Shrine, in accordance with their family members' wishes, through an application to the Civil Affairs Bureau of New Taipei City Government. Memorial ceremonies for soldiers who have died in service are held at the shrine on March 29 and September 3 every year, attended by family, friends, and representatives from various organizations. The mayor officiates the ceremonies, along with local leaders and representatives from the community, creating a solemn atmosphere. Built against the mountain, the shrine has seen the Ministry of National Defense transfer several retired land and air equipment, such as tanks, aircraft, and missiles, to the adjacent square for public display, thus earning it the nickname "Weapons Park." "Weapons Park" is currently the largest park in Taiwan showcasing the defense ministry's weaponry, including grand representations of land, sea, and air force equipment. Notable exhibits include the world's first supersonic fighter jet, the TF-104G Starfighter, the anchors of the Chung Chao-class corvette, the Lushan-class corvette, the K30 single-barrel 5-inch gun, the M166 mountain gun, anti-aircraft guns, and missiles. These pieces of equipment have defended the nation for decades and are well-preserved, allowing even those not interested in military hardware to quickly understand the function and historical significance of each weapon through physical displays and explanatory signs. The TF-104G Starfighter exhibited here is a dual-seat training variant, used solely for training purposes. The shrine is located at the foot of Datong Mountain, and its outer trails connect to surrounding hiking paths. From the Dofu Trail, visitors can access the summit of Sanjiao Mountain, Qinglong Ridge, Datong Mountain, and the Nanjiao Fude Temple, making it a popular hiking destination for day trips. The beautiful silver grass season from September to December attracts many people to enjoy the scenery while hiking!
