擎天厅

Qingtian Hall

Useful Information

Location:	891 Qingtian Rd., Jinhu Township, Kinmen County Taiwán, R.O.C. (24.453703, 118.406514)
Open:	All year Tue, Sat 9, 9:40, 10:20, 14:30, 15:10, 15:50, Thu 9, 9:40, 10:20. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Secret Bunker
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=50 m, W=18 m, H=11 m.
Guided tours:	d=1-2 h.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Qingtian Hall, 891 Qingtian Rd., Jinhu Township, Kinmen County Taiwán, R.O.C, Tel: +886-8-2324174.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1958	Second Taiwan Strait Crisis with the People's Liberation Army.
1962	underground chamber excavated using explosives.

Description

擎天厅 (Qingtian Hall) is sometimes called Qingtianting Hall, which is actually a tautology, as ting already means hall. The huge chamber was constructed in 1962 as a place for the stations and posts of the Republic of China Armed Forces and as medical shelter. Today the huge chamber is with a length of 50 m, width of 18 m and height of 11 m, is still owned by the military, but it is opened to the public via reservation after Kinmen County Government successfully negotiated with the military. There are numerous tours per week, but it is necessary to fill out an application form and reserve a place in advance. In other words it is a little tricky, and often booked out.

The remote Kinmen Island were pretty close to mainland China and after the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958 the fortification of the island began. The core of granite was very suitable for underground structures and during the 1960 many such structures were built. Military facilities were progressively moved underground, and local residents were busy constructing air defense basements in or near their houses. A majority of village facilities were also moved underground, even underground hotels were built.