Fort Hulishan

Fort Hulishan played an important role in military defense in China’s modern history. It is located in the southeast of Xiamen City, quite close to Xiamen University. It was initially built in 1894 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the sixth emperor of Qing Dynasty. But, it was later destroyed in Opium War. In 1891, the Qing Government started to reconstruct it. Five years later, its reconstruction was finished eventually.

The fort has a total area of 70,000 sq meters. It is divided into Fighting Area, Camp Area, and Houshan Area. It integrates the architectural style of European bunkers with the defensive structure prevailing in Ming and Qing Dynasty in China. It is built with granite stones. The gaps between the stones are filled with the mixture of camphor tree juice, coal, cooked glutinous rice, sugar, and sand, etc. which makes it a solid military fortification. And it is well preserved. The old gate, the stone walls, the barracks, and the gun emplacements have been standing there firmly for more than a century, witnessing the changing of time.

As a prohibited military zone, Fort Hulishan was not open to the public until 1984. It is a place worth visiting. You can learn the history of coastal defense and the historical development of military defense of China there. You may as well have a look at the best protected and the biggest Krupp cannon, which has been honored as the King of World Ancient Cannons. Its body is 13.96 meters long, and the inner diameter of its muzzle is 28 cm. The entire cannon weighs 59,888 kg. It can kill at a range of 1646 meters. Besides, there is a museum inside the fort, where world rare stones, ancient guns and cannons, ancient swords, and ancient tree fossils are displayed.