Teyue Lou Introduction
De Yue Lou was built in 1931 and commissioned by Huang Hui-huang, a wealthy businessman from the Shuitou settlement, to be designed and constructed by craftsman Chen Nan-an from Fujian. It is a tall building and was the highest structure in the Shuitou settlement at that time, named "De Yue Lou" which means "the pavilion to catch the moon" as it signifies the idea of being closest to the water enabling one to enjoy the moon first. When De Yue Lou was built, it was during a period of severe local lawlessness in Kinmen, with frequent incidents of pirates landing and looting. Being located by the sea, the Shuitou settlement was a target for these pirates, therefore De Yue Lou was specifically designed with numerous defensive fortifications: gun ports on the walls of the third and fourth floors for aiming firearms, crenellations on the roof parapets for defense, and there were also secret escape routes leading to the neighboring Fan Zi Lou in case of emergencies. Functionality and aesthetics have earned De Yue Lou a place among Taiwan's historical architectural wonders. Currently, there are free guided tours available, leading visitors through the splendid history of De Yue Lou. Guided tours are held daily at fixed times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00, and 16:00.
