New Taipei City Military Martyrs' Shrine (Weapon Park) Introduction
The New Taipei City Martyrs' Shrine, 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 hall of spirits was constructed in July 1959 and serves as a permanent resting place for military personnel who died in service and deceased veterans. The original military cemetery had been in use for over 20 years and its early buildings were simple, with facilities deteriorating over time, and the columbarium was also inadequate. In 1982, reconstruction was carried out on the original site and completed in March 1984. It was officially renamed "New Taipei City Martyrs' Shrine" in June 1996, and after the city-county merger, it was again named "New Taipei City Martyrs' Shrine." During the spring and autumn festivals, active military members who die in combat, due to public service, illness, accidents, or veterans who are honorably discharged, can have their remains interred at the shrine upon the family's request to the Civil Affairs Bureau of the New Taipei City Government. The city's memorial services for fallen soldiers are held at the Martyrs' Shrine on March 29 and September 3 each year, inviting family members, friends, and representatives from organizations to participate in the memorial ceremony led by the mayor, with various community leaders and representatives in attendance, creating a solemn atmosphere. The shrine is built against the mountains, and in recent years, the Ministry of National Defense has transferred several decommissioned land and air equipment, such as tanks, aircraft, and missiles, to a plaza next to the shrine for public appreciation, hence it is also called "Weapon Park". "Weapon Park" is currently the largest park in Taiwan showcasing weapons from the Ministry of National Defense, including a variety of impressive military equipment from the army, navy, and air force. This comprises the world’s first supersonic fighter jet (TF-104G Starfighter), anchors from the Zhongzhao warship and Lushan warship, K30 single-barreled 5-inch cannon, M166 mountain gun, anti-aircraft guns and missiles, among others. These pieces of equipment have participated in defending the nation for decades and are mostly well-preserved, allowing even those who are not weapon enthusiasts to engage quickly with the displayed items and the accompanying explanatory signs and gain an understanding of the function and historical significance of each weapon. The TF-104G Starfighter represents high-speed fighters from the 1960s! The displayed model is a dual-seat trainer variant, and it is solely used for training purposes. The Martyrs' Shrine is situated at the foot of Datong Mountain, and its outer loop trail connects to surrounding hiking trails, such as the Dufu Trail leading to Triangle Peak, Qinglong Ridge, Datong Mountain, and Nanliao Fude Temple, making it a popular day hiking destination close to the city. From September to December, during the kata grass season, it attracts many visitors for hiking and enjoying the scenery!
