aeeble

Simplified Chinese Japanese English Korean The Jin‑guǐ tóu shì tai (Golden Tortoise Head Cannon Battery) was built by the overall commander Wu Hóngluò, and along with Xīyǔ Xī tái (West Island West Battery) and Xīyǔ Dōng tái (West Island East Battery), it is one of the most powerful artillery batteries in Pingtung. It has experienced Japanese occupation and the conflicts with Qing and French forces. After World War II, it was taken over by the National Army. The original large guns lost their defensive capability; they were retired in the 1940s. The base was then occupied by the Taiwan Army Pingtung Defense Command’s Tian‑Nan Camp, and an underground passage was added on the south side of the battery, providing access to the coast below the southern hillside. Later, the military released the site to the Pingtung County Government, which announced it as a national historical site on 21 November 1991. It is now open for visitors. The Jin‑guǐ tóu shì tai is equipped with one 7‑inch, one 10‑inch, and one 12‑inch American‑made breech‑loading artillery. Its design is similar to Xīyǔ Xī tái, Xīyǔ Dōng tái, and Dàchéng Běi tái (Da Cheng North Battery); all are constructed of brick and stone with a three‑part earth‑roofed dome. The earth walls, battery cover, battery base, and the pavilion at the entrance of the current Jin‑guǐ tóu shì tai are all well preserved. Upon arrival, visitors will see the pavilion at the entrance bearing the inscription “Tiān Nán Suǒ Yuè” (Tian‑Nan Lock Key). It was hand‑written by Commander Wu Hóngluò. Inside the camp, the battery can be divided into the gun platform, outer wall, tunnel, officers’ hall, barracks, and horse path—an integrated fortress‑style building for combat, training, and habitation. The barracks in the park are partitioned into spaces of different sizes, now used for exhibitions. Because the National Army’s communications unit was stationed there, the site's historic character has been largely preserved. The park incorporates various soldier models and artillery shell models, combined with the history of the underground tunnels at Jin‑guǐ tóu shì tai, to activate and repurpose the historic site. Jin‑guǐ tóu shì tai has become a new cultural tourism highlight in Pingtung. Visitors can experience the old battlefield atmosphere and combine it with the nearby Guanyin Pavilion and Dùxíng Shí Cūn (Ten‑Village Duxing), planning a pilgrimage to the mother‑goddess temple. **Suggested length of stay:** 2.5 hours