Qing Kinmen Town Military Command Office Introduction
The location of the Chief Military Officer's Office in Jincheng Township was originally known as "Congqingxuan," which is said to be the place where the scholar Xu Xie, who passed the imperial examination in the 29th year of the Wanli era (1601), studied. During the Kangxi period, the Chief Military Officer Chen Long considered the old Jincheng City had experienced numerous wars at the end of the Ming dynasty, and with the population of the new area thriving, he decided to relocate the Chief Military Office here. After several renovations, it has become its current size. Until 1915, when Kinmen County was established, the Chief Military Office remained the highest administrative center, going through various phases as Kinmen County Office, Kinmen County Government, Administrative Office, and Kinmen Defense Command. Today, it is a classic tourist attraction in Kinmen and one of the officially recognized historic sites of the county. Entering this quadrangular courtyard building with four sections and two corridors, time seems to flow back to the past, with the Qing government's structure being well-preserved. Wax figures in the entrance, main hall, and inner offices recreate scenes of the past, with detailed descriptions provided in each room. The towering kapok tree in the backyard is a must-see, over hundreds of years old, blooming vibrant flowers in late spring to early summer, attracting many photography enthusiasts to enhance the scenery with its bright orange blossoms. Exhibition content includes: ◾️ East Science Room: Introduction and display of Kinmen's historical development. ◾️ East Science Room 2: Introduction and display of the architectural history of the Chief Military Office. ◾️ East Deputy Hall 1: Introduction and display of the chief military officer. ◾️ East Deputy Hall 2: Introduction and display of military examinations and officer rankings. ◾️ East Ear Room 1: Introduction and display of Qing dynasty weapons. ◾️ East Ear Room 2: Introduction and display of Qing dynasty official garments. ◾️ Inner Residence Left Chamber: Introduction and display of Qing dynasty hairstyles. ◾️ Inner Residence Bright Chamber: Display of the daily life of the chief military officer. ◾️ Inner Residence Right Chamber: Display of the living room setting. ◾️ Inner Office Right Chamber: Special exhibition space. ◾️ Inner Office Bright Chamber: Display of discussions among the chiefs. ◾️ Inner Office Left Chamber: Display of the study setting. ◾️ East Room: Introduction and display of "Five Punishments" and "Ten Evils." ◾️ Dungeon: Display of conditions for holding prisoners. ◾️ Main Hall: Display of courtroom proceedings. ◾️ West Room: Introduction to the "Great Qing Legal Code" and the "Eight Discussions." ◾️ West Ear Room 2: Display of ancient artifacts of orders and memorials. ◾️ West Ear Room 1: Exhibition area titled "Traveling with the Chief Military Officer." ◾️ West Deputy Hall 2: Explanation and screening area. ◾️ West Deputy Hall 1: Interactive game experience space. ◾️ West Science Room 3: Introduction to the admiral and warship exhibition area. The guided tour of Houpuxia Town requires walking approximately 1.8 kilometers: ◾️ Daily from 19:30 to 21:30 ◾️ Registration on-site at the Chief Military Office ◾️ Inquiry phone: 082-371717 Scheduled explanation service times: 09:10, 10:10, 11:10, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00.
