New Taipei City Military Honor Shrine (Weapons Park) Introduction
The Jinmen (Matsu) Veterans' Martyrs Shrine, originally known as the New Taipei City Military Cemetery, is located in the Shulin District of New Taipei City at the foot of Datong Mountain. Covering an area of 5.6 hectares, the shrine was completed in July 1959 and serves as a place for commemorating fallen soldiers and deceased veterans. The original military cemetery was in use for over twenty years, with early structures being simple and various facilities deteriorating. The columbarium was also inadequate, prompting a renovation of the site that was completed in March 1984. It was officially renamed the "New Taipei City Veterans' Martyrs Shrine" in June 1996, and following the city-county restructuring, it was changed to "New Taipei City Veterans' Martyrs Shrine." During the spring and autumn ceremonial activities, active-duty soldiers who died in combat, or retired soldiers who passed away under law during the volunteer service period, can have their final resting places requested at the shrine by their families through the New Taipei City Government's Civil Affairs Department. Annual memorial ceremonies for fallen soldiers are held at the shrine on March 29 and September 3, inviting bereaved families, friends, and representatives from various agencies to participate. The ceremonies are presided over by the mayor and attended by local leaders, elected officials, and representatives from military and agencies, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Built against the mountain, the shrine has recently seen the Ministry of National Defense transfer several retired land and air equipment, such as tanks, aircraft, and missile systems, to the plaza beside the shrine for public viewing, earning it the nickname "Weapon Park." "Weapon Park" is currently the largest park in Taiwan showcasing military equipment, displaying various land, sea, and air force weapons. Among the featured displays are the world's first supersonic aircraft (the TF-104G Starfighter), sea anchors from the Zhongzheng-class warship, the Lushan-class warship, a K30 single-barrel 5-inch gun, the M166 mountain gun, anti-aircraft guns, and missiles. These weapons served to defend the nation for decades and are mostly well-preserved, allowing even those without an interest in military equipment to quickly engage with the physical displays and informative signage to understand the function and historical significance of each weapon. The "TF-104G Starfighter" is representative of high-speed fighter jets from the 1960s, with the displayed model being a two-seat trainer variant intended solely for training purposes. The Veterans' Martyrs Shrine is situated at the base of Datong Mountain, and its peripheral trails connect to surrounding hiking paths. The Dofu Trail leads to destinations such as Sanjiao Peak, Qinglong Ridge, Datong Mountain, and Nanliao Fude Temple, making it a popular day-hiking destination close to the city. During the miscanthus season from September to December, it attracts many visitors for picturesque day hikes.
