War and Peace Memorial Park Introduction
The Iron Man Station: A Military Base Transformed into the Battlefield Park Dawushan in Beigan, Matsu, was originally a military stronghold. In 2003, the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration began planning the site as a War and Peace Memorial Park. The completion of the 08 outpost marked the end of this planning, transforming it into Taiwan's first war memorial park based on the concepts of military and peace. The park covers a vast area of approximately 38.8 hectares and primarily includes the 06, 08, and 12 outposts, serving as the prototype for Taiwan's first war park, themed around "War and Peace" as well as "Emotion and Remembrance." Due to the confidentiality needed for strategic purposes, outpost names are often referred to by numbers. The 06 and 08 outposts, located next to the War and Peace Memorial Park, were built between cliffs and rock formations. The main outdoor exhibition area is concentrated at the 08 outpost, while the 12 outpost is situated between Luoshan and Bangshan. **Outpost 06** Outpost 06 is situated on Dawushan in Beigan, offering a distant view of Daqiu, Gaideng, and Shiyu. This outpost features a small tunnel, which houses an ammunition storage facility and numerous firing ports, each one serving as an excellent viewpoint to experience the military life of that time. The tunnel is quite humid, with small grooves along the stairs and corners that collect dripping water running out of the tunnel. It is not hard to imagine that the soldiers stationed here had to remain vigilant while enduring physical hardships. The tunnel includes spaces such as machine gun ports, main gun ports, secondary gun ports, ammunition depots, company commander's rooms, counseling rooms, Zhongshan rooms, and soldiers' dormitories, serving as an important operational base to defend the Northern administrative center and airport. Today, the tunnel has become one of the most attractive spots in the War and Peace Park. **Outpost 08** Outpost 08 is primarily planned for weapon exhibitions, featuring heavy weapons like anti-aircraft guns, trucks, and tanks scattered throughout the area. It also utilizes the old barracks for equipment display. The War Relics Exhibition Hall showcases actual military items like machine guns, uniforms, and propaganda materials, all of which have been used in practice, shaping the historical atmosphere of the wartime environment to witness the tense warfare situation at that time, providing visitors with the best place to personally experience the battlefield scenery. This location has taken advantage of the geographical features of Dawushan and its large spacious area, built between cliffs and rock formations. To reach the forward base, one must first walk down staircases constructed along the cliffs, a journey that tightens the nerves and highlights the steep and perilous position of the outpost. The internal structure features a tunnel-style architecture, which, although simple, is functionally adequate and even has a dedicated bedroom for the commanding officer, indicating the sizable presence of troops stationed there at the time. Outpost 08 encapsulates the wartime landscape and historical characteristics of the Matsu area, enhancing its exhibition through introductions to the region's military history, knowledge of warfare, and simulations of environmental functionality, thereby presenting a rich narrative that connects the historical and military roles of the whole Matsu region. It allows visitors to more deeply experience and understand Matsu's position in the historical currents, transforming the timeline of Matsu's evolution into spatial performances that can be envisioned and passed down through generations.
