Last Update: 15th October 2020
With an area of 1.3 x hectares, the Hulishan Cannon Fort is a product of the Self-Strengthening Movement (1861 – 1895) from the late Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). It is composed of the battlement district, barracks district and back mountain. It is a combination of bunker and city wall.
- Chinese Name: Hulishan Paotai (胡里山炮台)
- Area: 1.3 x hectares
- Things to do there: Photography, History, Architecture
- Who visits: Photographers, History Lovers, Architects
- Time required: 2 – 3 x hours
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Hulishan Cannon Fort, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
The European Hulishan Cannon Fort was originally built in 1891. facing Kinmen Islands in the east, it is built with granite. The city gate, city wall, gate tower, moat, barracks and forts are still complete.
One of the highlights at the fort is the Krupp Cannon weighing 87 tons. The caliber is 280mm. It is 13.9 meters long, 4.6 meters tall and 5.29 meters wide. It can rotate 360 degrees. The effective range is 19,760 meters. The powerful cannon can fire 1-2 shells per minute. It is acclaimed as the oldest and largest 19th-century coastal artillery on the original site in the world.
The 60-meters-long tunnel 2 meters from the platform of the cannon under the ground connects the main battery, bullet ware house for auxiliary battery and the powder magazine. In addition, it is connected to the barracks.
Drill of Red Yi Artillery Qing Soldiers presents the military grand occasion of the fort of Xiamen Port in the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing Dynasties. You’ll see the “Eight Banners” costume, armors, war drum, sabres, and the Green Dragon Banner applied throughout the entire drill. The drill always starts at 10 am and 16 pm and lasts for around 15 minutes.
The Ceremony of Greeting Guests reproduces the scene when the Commander-in-chief of Fujian Navy Force with soldiers opened the city gate to greet locals. You’ll see strong horses and actors in the then costumes demonstrate the related scenes. More than 20 actors in the special boat armor Banner Dance hold red banners in fixed battle array. It starts at 08:30 from May to September and 09:00 from October to April.
The Phantom Imaging Theater presents the history of locals resisting the Japanese invasion in late Qing Dynasty at Xiamen Port. You can know some about the construction of the fort, transporting and assembling the cannon and the shooting of the Krupp Cannon through the theater.
You’ll find a road lining with old banyan trees with a age of more than 100 years old. The historical facts hall introduces contributions and hardship of Fujian Navy Force and locals in the battle with the then Japanese invaders.
If you’d like to enjoy the Ceremony of Greeting Guests, the best time to visit is in the early morning.
If you’d like to visit the fort for photography purposes, the best time to visit is at sunset.
The best months to visit are from March to November.
A few buses pass by the Hulishan Cannon Fort. Thus, there are just a few options.
- Rent a vehicle to the fort. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take Bus 22, 86, 96 or Bus 659 to the Stop of Hulishan Dongjiaochang (胡里山公交场站). Then walk to the fort.
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00 (June 1 – October 7); 08:00 – 17:30 (October 8 – May 31)
- As at 15th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the fort is 25 CNY per person; children between 1.2m tall (1.2m tall included) and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 12 CNY per person; the elder between 60 years old (60 years old included) and 69 years old (69 years old included) are charged 10 CNY per person; children under 1.2m tall (1.2m tall not included) and the elder above 70 years old (70 years old included) are free of charge. For the latest pricing, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- Please wear sunscreen cream and sunglasses.
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Hulishan Cannon Fort, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.