Beigan North Sea Tunnel Introduction
The North Sea Tunnel is an artificial marvel created through remarkable engineering. Initiated in 1968 as part of the "North Sea Project" for strategic military needs, numerous "underground docks" were excavated in the Matsu region for the use of guerrilla warfare boats. Today, after being released by the military, it has become a unique "battlefield landscape" in Matsu. A visit to the North Sea Tunnel is considered essential to truly experience Matsu. Located along the Tiebank coast, the tunnel features a deep passageway that cuts through the mountain and rock walls in a crisscross "井" shape. The waterway is 18 meters high, 10 meters wide, and 640 meters long, with water levels reaching 8 meters at high tide and 4 meters at low tide. The entire walking path is 700 meters long, and completing a circuit takes approximately 30 minutes, adjustable based on tidal conditions, as it can only be entered during low tide. This underground tunnel, capable of accommodating more than a hundred landing craft, was regarded as a challenging engineering feat at the time. It required the mobilization of two divisions, three infantry battalions, one engineer battalion, and a mixed group of unloading truck units who worked in shifts day and night over 820 working days to complete it. Due to primitive construction equipment, blasting was performed with explosives, and granite walls were excavated entirely by hand. Many soldiers lost their lives in the process, making this monumental project an astonishing feat of human endeavor. In the past, during times of conflict, the North Sea Tunnel attempted to serve as an underground dock for supplying operations. Today, visitors walking through the deep tunnel are met with awe-inspiring rock walls and the dark, shifting reflections that evoke amazement. Note: The tunnel is open for visitor tours, but access during the day is dependent on tidal conditions. Visitors are advised to be aware of the tidal changes! Nighttime rowboat rides are a great option to view the "blue tears." In recent years, the discovery of "blue tears," coupled with the minimal light pollution at the entrance of the tunnel, has made the North Sea Tunnel one of the hotspots for viewing blue tears on Nanguan Island. Riding in a rowboat and slowly entering the tunnel to seek out the faintly glowing halos is an experience worth exploring. Note: The blue tears are a natural phenomenon, and their occurrence is unpredictable. Flash photography is not allowed, and for safety reasons, standing up or changing seats during the voyage is prohibited.
