Reported by: Syu Jia-Tai at County Hall
With its mysterious military ambiance, Dadan Island is scheduled to be opened on July 26th for a trial run of tourism. The book launch of “A Journey to the Past of Dadan” and a photo exhibition was held yesterday before the trial operation at the Lieyu Township Cultural Hall. Mayor Hong Cheng-Fa thanked culture-history worker Lin Ma-Teng for putting his personal military service experiences on the island into words, boldly unveiling its dusty memories. Hong also thanked the Kinmen County Battlefield History Association (BHA) for keeping precious historical stories of Dadan and Erdan Islands through photographic images. Chairman Hong Ruo-Shan of Lieyu Township Elected Representatives also thanked Lin Ma-Teng and the BHA for leaving precious cultural assets for Lieyu.
The book launch of "A Journey to the Past of Dadan" was held at the Cultural Hall of Lieyu Township at 10 am yesterday. This is also the third book about Dadan Island by Lin Ma-Teng, who served as Major Political Officer in the battalion on Dadan Island in 1974. Concurrently, the Dadan Island Photo Exhibition organized by the Kinmen County BHA launched at the same time, displaying scenic photos of Dadan and Erdan Islands taken by its president Chen Zih-Ciang, and Lin Ma-Teng, Dong Sen-Bao, Cai Tian-Ding, Wang Jian-Jin, Syu Jin-Si, Li Bing-Jyun, Fang Rong-Sen, Hong Cing-Jhang, Chen Jian-Syong, and Chen Jhih-Syun.
The launching tea party was presided over by Lieyu Township Mayor Hong Cheng-Fa. Author of the new book Lin Ma-Teng and his wife, BHA President Chen Zih-Ciang and its members attended the event. Other guests who came to extend their congratulations included: Director-General of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Lyu Kun-He, Lieyu Township Elected Representatives Chairman Hong Ruo-Shan, Vice Chairman Hong Yan-Yu, Township Representatives Fang Shuei-Wan, Fang Jyun-Yang, Wu, Fu-Cyuan, Lieyu Township Cultural Hall Director Lin Shuei-Lyu, Kinmen County Fine Art Society President Wu Ding-Ren, Executive Secretary Sheng Song-Jyun, Sun Guo-Cuei from the Calligraphy Society, culture-history workers Lin Ying-Sheng, Chen Bing-Rong, Jhang Li-Shuang, Director of Legislator Yang Jhen-Wu’s Lieyu Office Hong Syue-Wun, Director of Kinmen County Government Lieyu Office Hong Jhih-Fang, Director of Lieyu Public Service Center Lin Yi-Lan, Principal of Sikou Elementary School Cai Jhih-Long, retired teacher Hong Yong-Shan, and Lin Ma-Teng’s relatives and friends.
Mayor Hong Cheng-Fa said that July 26th is a historic day for Kinmen’s Dadan Island. On that day 68 years ago, the Battle of Dadan Island erupted between the national and communist armies. After a fierce battle, our national army won the victory and held fast to this frontline. It is an important military fortress of our national army. With the easing of the cross-strait relationship and the implementation of the National Armed Forces Refining Program, the garrisons on both Dadan and Erdan Islands, which are under Lieyu Township’s jurisdiction, were gradually reduced. As it is a remote island filled with the ambiance of battlefield and a mystery to the outside world, the Kinmen County Government requested the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to open it for tourism. Since 2014, the island’s management was transferred to the Kinmen County Government, which has been preparing for its opening for tourism over the last few years. In conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the 823 Artillery War, Dadan Island will be opened on July 26th for the trial operation of tourism. Current qualified applicants for landing on the island are veterans who served at Dadan Island, Erdan Island, or Lieyu Township with their four designated relatives or friends; and Kinmen registered volunteers with their one designated relative or friend (verified by the Republic of China identity card and volunteer card).
Mayor Hong indicated that it was thoughtful that the book launch and photo exhibition were arranged before the opening of Dadan Island for trial tourism. The township office is also coordinating to continue improving the features of scenic spots, and planning to design a night tour for visitors, including the extension of night-time hours of Houlin Simulated Rifle Shooting Range, stargazing at night at Cilin Mountain, and Shuangkou beach concert, hoping to bring crowds of visitors to Lieyu.
Director-General Lyu Kun-He of the Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that Lin Ma-Teng’s personal experience can be seen as a living encyclopedia of the past history of Dadan and Erdan Islands, supplementing the unrecorded stories with words. Lyu said that in every place in Kinmen, be it Fukien-style architecture, a grand Western-style building, a military facility, a memorial arch from the Qing Dynasty, an ancient city wall, a plaque on an ancestral shrine, or even the entrance of every settlement, we can see the characters of the settlement’s name, either painted, engraved, handwritten or assembled with red bricks. They virtually record the unique history of Kinmen and are a precious heritage. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will strive to preserve this cultural heritage.
Lin Ma-Teng said that his first two books focus more on introducing the Dadan Island landscape; the new book is looking to tell the unrecorded stories of the island from a historical viewpoint. He thanked retired general Jheng Ruei-Jian and culture-history worker Chen Bing-Rong for providing research work about Dadan Island, retired colonel Sheng Song-Jyun who was stationed on Dadan Island for his materials and photos, Dr. Lyu Yun-Zai of National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA) for his recommendation article, friends across the Taiwan Strait Luo Ya-Cyuan, Hu Jie, Jhu Jhih-Ciang for providing information, Sun Guo-Cuei for his inscription, retired teacher Hong Cing-Jhang for providing photos, Lin Ma-Yao for helping with proofreading, Hong Yong-Shan for art direction, and Cingyang Advertising Company for elaborative production, so that “A Journey to the Past of Dadan” could be completed to supplement the untold stories in history. He hoped everyone will explore this heroic island.
Lin Ma Teng said that after the transfer of Dadan Island’s management to the Kinmen County Government, the Tourism Department has reconstructed the island to be completely different from when it was during war time. Setting foot on the island for a tour is no longer pie in the sky. He welcomed everyone to explore this heroic island, which bears the name of “a fortress underground and a park on the sea.”
Dong Sen-Bao introduced his 50 exhibited works, saying that from these old photos, we can compare Dadan and Erdan Islands, past and present, which are “the most outlying among the outlying islands; the outposts of all outposts.” The photo exhibition will be held until September 15th.