Victory Memorial of the 823 Artillery Battle Introduction
On August 23, 1958, the world was shocked as the "823 Artillery Battle" began. At 6:30 PM that afternoon, the People's Liberation Army of China concentrated 342 artillery pieces of various types and launched a carpet bombardment on the Kinmen area. In an instant, shells rained down, dust was kicked up, and over the course of two hours, more than 57,500 shells were fired. Two years after the 823 Artillery Battle, the People's Liberation Army initiated smaller-scale artillery battles known as "617" and "619." Subsequently, they continued to fire using a "single-fire double-halt" approach until 1978, when the era of artillery battles was officially declared over. In total, the People's Liberation Army fired 474,910 various types of shells, setting a record for the highest density of shellfire in the world. Qiaoshan, located at the intersection of Huandao East Road and Huanghai Road, was the site of the most shelling during that time. To commemorate this famous battle, a "Victory Monument of the 823 Battle" was specially built in the center of the roundabout. The monument, carved from granite and elevated on a cement base, stands as a prominent landmark in Kinmen, and one can feel the solemn dignity of the monument while passing through the roundabout.
