War and Peace Memorial Park Introduction
The Iron Man Post, a military base transformed into a battlefield park, is located at Dapeng Mountain in Beigan, Matsu. Originally a military stronghold, it was planned as a War and Peace Memorial Park by the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration in 2003. With the completion of the 08 post, the planning phase concluded, and it was transformed into Taiwan's first war memorial park that embodies the concepts of military and peace. The park occupies a vast area of approximately 38.8 hectares and includes significant points such as 06, 08, and 12, effectively shaping the form of Taiwan's first war park. It serves as a museum complex that focuses on the themes of "war and peace" and "emotion and memory." Due to strategic confidentiality, the posts are often referred to by numbers. The 06 and 08 posts, located next to the War and Peace Memorial Park, were built among rocky cliffs, with most outdoor exhibitions concentrated at the 08 post. The 12 post is situated between Luoshan and Bangshan. **Post 06** is located atop Dapeng Mountain in Beigan, offering views of Dakou, Gading, and Shiyu. It features a small tunnel that includes an ammunition depot and numerous shooting ports, each serving as an excellent observation window, allowing visitors to experience the military life of the time. The tunnel is quite humid, with small channels along the stairs and corners collecting dripping water that drains outside. One can easily imagine that soldiers stationed here not only had to remain vigilant but also endured physical hardships. The tunnel includes spaces such as machine gun positions, main and secondary gun ports, an ammunition depot, commanding officer's room, political officer's room, Zhongshan room, and sleeping quarters for soldiers, serving as an important combat post for the defense of the Beigan administrative center and airport. Today, the tunnel has become one of the most noteworthy attractions in the War and Peace Park. **Post 08** is primarily designed for weapon exhibitions, featuring heavy arms such as anti-aircraft guns, trucks, and tanks scattered throughout, alongside displays of equipment in the existing barrack spaces. The War Relics Exhibition Hall showcases items such as machine guns, uniforms, and propaganda materials, all of which were used in the past, creating a historical atmosphere of the battlefield and witnessing the tense wartime situation between the two sides. It provides visitors with an immersive experience of the wartime landscape. The site takes advantage of Dapeng Mountain's natural environment and vast area, built among rocky cliffs. To reach the post, visitors must walk down stairs constructed along the cliff, an experience that heightens the sense of danger, reflecting the steep and precarious position of the post. The internal structure is tunnel-like, simple yet functional, even equipped with a private bedroom for the commanding officer, illustrating the size of the stationed forces at that time. Post 08 encapsulates the wartime landscape and historical features of the Matsu region, enhancing its exhibition by introducing the area's military strategies, wartime knowledge, and simulating environmental functions. It presents a rich narrative of Matsu’s historical and military roles, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Matsu's significance throughout historical tides, transforming the timeline of Matsu’s evolution into a spatial performance for the world to reflect upon and pass down through generations.
