Reported by: Weng Wei-Chih at County Hall
Dadan Island was officially opened for a tourism trial operation yesterday. On a special tour, Magistrate Chen Fu-Hai led a delegation to the "mysterious island," setting foot on a site that was once ravaged by both fire and sword but is now finally open to the public.
Apart from Magistrate Chen, nearly 80 distinguished guests made landfall on the island, including Deputy Magistrate Wu Cheng-Dian, Chief Secretary Lin De-Gong, Secretary-General of the Fujian Provincial Government Wong Ming-Jhih, Commander of the Kinmen Defense Command Jiang Jhen-Jhong, Deputy Director of the Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch of the Coastal Guard Administration (CGA) Fu Da-Guei, Councillors Chen Cang-Jiang and Jhou Zih-Jie, Jincheng Township Mayor Shih Jhao-Min, Jinsha Township Mayor Cai Ci-Chao, Lieyu Township Mayor Hong Cheng-Fa, Jincheng Township Elected Representatives Chairman Chen Tian-Cheng, Lieyu Township Elected Representatives Chairman Hong Ruo-Shan, Vice Chairman Hong Yan-Yu, Jinhu Township Elected Representatives Chairman Cai Nai-Jing, Jinning Township Elected Representatives Chairman Chen Cheng-Cyuan, Jinsha Township Elected Representatives Chairman Wang Siou-Yu, Deputy Director of the Taipei Post Office Zeng Li-Miao, former Director of the Civil Service Ethics Department of the County Government Chen Bing-Ren, and Professor Jhang Guo-Jhih of National Taiwan University of Arts, all participating in the "Ceremony Commemorating the 68th Anniversary of the Dadan and Erdan Battle and Trial Operation Ceremony of the Dadan Island Opening for Tourism.”
After a welcome by the Lieyu Junior High School’s Lion Dance Troupe at the Dadan Pier, a series of unveiling ceremonies of the Visitor Center, the Dadan Post Agency, and the Dadan Postbox was unfolded sequentially at 10 am yesterday. The distinguished guests then proceeded to the Visitor Center, which was renovated from Shengming Hall on the island, to attend the launching ceremony of the tourism trial operation.
Stepping on the island with a mixture of gratitude, excitement, and joy, Magistrate Chen Fu-Hai said that any place that wants to develop must be able to tell stories, and Dadan Island is an island full of stories. Many touching stories of heroic veterans took place on this island. He hoped that the connection to this heroic island would be able to launch the touristic development of Lieyu Township, accumulating the momentum to open more islands for tourism and attracting more veterans and compatriots to revisit these heroic islands.
Magistrate Chen also stressed that at the present sensitive moment when the cross-strait relationship is cooling down, the trial operation of tourism in Dadan Island is a wonderful thing, not only highlighting the importance of Kinmen as a key platform for cross-strait peace, but also revealing to the world the truth that "war is ruthless; peace is priceless; communication is of no regret; cooperation is invincible."
The County Tourism Department stated that Dadan Island, known as the "most outlying among outlying islands," is the "most secretive among all secretive battlefields." It played a key role in guarding national defense in our history, and the spirit of dedication and sacrifice shown by the national army heroes once stationed there will be forever remembered. Having completed its early phase mission, Dadan Island was opened yesterday (26th) for a trial tourism operation, revealing its mysteries to the world.
The Tourism Department stated that Dadan Island has a total area of only 0.79 square kilometers, about 12,000 meters from Kinmen Island. Its plentiful tourism resources include: Dadan Inscribed Stone, Shengming Road, Shengming Hall, Shenji Tomb, Bei'an Temple, Political Warfare Wall, Shencyuan Well, Shencyuan Tea House, etc. Among them the giant political warfare wall, with the slogan "China's Reunification under the Three Principles of the People," has already become a must-see for visitors from China on tourism boats. The Ministry of Culture assessed that there are 21 cultural assets on Dadan Island and 13 on Erdan Island. Adhering to the principle of “preserving cultural resources first before construction and development,” the Ministry recommended designating the island’s stone tablets from the Qing Dynasty as ancient monuments, and registering “The Tomb of General Mingwei” as historic architecture.
In the renovated Visitor Center from "Shengming Hall," the first thing that comes into sight is the large oil painting of Kinmen’s local artist Liang Wun-Yong, “The Blood Battles of Dadan and Erdan Islands.” Above on the ceiling is a unique three-dimensional Dadan coat of arms. At the back is a bold art wall created by Kinmen local artist Wu Ding-Sin. Below is the display of Dadan’s cultural and innovative commodities, including commemorative liquors, stamps, postcards, mugs, playing cards, T-shirts, etc. The service counter in the Visitor Center is specially designed in military style and constructed out of ammo crates and 50 machine guns.
The film “Dadan Island: Western Borderline,” which was filmed by Cai Rong-Fong 40 years ago when he was serving as a photographic officer on the island, was also played at the launching ceremony. Through scene after scene of precious images, it paid the highest tribute to the veterans who had shed their sweat and blood there. Mayor Hong Cheng-Fa of the Lieyu Township, Deputy Director Zeng Li-Miao of the Taipei Post Office, and Secretary-General Wong Ming-Jhih of the Fujian Provincial Government delivered consecutive speeches to witness this important moment in history.
Chunghwa Post Co. said that to celebrate the Kinmen County Government opening Dadan Island for trial tourism on July 26th, Taipei Post Office had specially set up the “Kinmen Dadan Island Post Agency,” and launched a camouflage colored postbox and scenery postmark with the island's famous political warfare slogan " China's Reunification under the Three Principles of the People," providing on-site the Gueizih postmark and an entire postmark designed with the image of Dadan Island, and giving out specially made First Day Covers until supplies ran out. Dadan Post Agency started operation earlier than the scheduled launching date to serve the public, and has received more than 6,000 mails for postmark collection until the 26th. These are mail posted to the post agency by stamp collection fans in the past few weeks, in order to collect the first day postmark.
"When in Rome do as the Romans do." Magistrate Chen Fu-Hai, who set foot on Dadan Island yesterday, also posted a First Day Cover in the postbox, sending his love and respect to his mother and wife back to Kinmen.
The Tourism Department said that the Dadan Island tourism trial will operate from July 26th to October 31st, with a daily quota restricted to 100 visitors. During the trial period, applications of volunteers whose household registrations are in Kinmen and one designated friend or family member also registered in Kinmen will be accepted, with a ticket price of NT$750; applications of veterans who served in Dadan Island, Erdan Island, or Lieyu Township, and four designated friends or family members will also be accepted, with a ticket price of NT$1,000. The daily quota of Kinmen volunteers and veterans is temporarily set at 50 each, and can be duly adjusted depending on application status. Applications must be made 15 days prior to the day of arrival on the island. They can be made at the counter, by phone or fax. At the moment, there is still quota available for the trial operation; people who are qualified are welcome to apply. For related application methods, acceptance times, and important things to know, please refer to the Classic Kinmen Travel website: (https://www.kinmen.travel/zh-tw/event-calendar/details/2139) or call the Dadan Island toll free service hotline 0800-371518.
(Please refer to the second edition for related news)