The August 23rd Artillery War Museum is a military history museum in Jinhu Township, Kinmen, commemorating the 1958 Artillery Battle through wartime artifacts and actual weapons. The battle began on the evening of August 23, 1958, and over the following 44 days the People's Liberation Army fired roughly 440,000 shells at Kinmen, making it one of the largest artillery battles of the Cold War.
The Artillery Battle began at 5:30 p.m. on August 23, 1958. In the first two hours the PLA fired over 40,000 shells, reaching about 57,000 for the day. During the most intense 44-day period through October 5, roughly 444,000 shells were fired in total (a figure sometimes rounded up to "over 470,000" in popular accounts). The bombardment killed 80 Kinmen civilians and destroyed more than 2,600 houses. It then shifted to a symbolic pattern of shelling on odd-numbered days only, continuing until it formally ended on January 1, 1979 — about 21 years after it began.
Highlights of the August 23rd Artillery War Museum
The 823 Artillery Battle began on August 23, 1958, when the PLA launched a large-scale bombardment of Kinmen — at its peak, tens of thousands of shells fell each day. The shelling continued until October, after which it shifted to a symbolic pattern of firing on odd-numbered days but not even-numbered ones, a practice that continued until 1979. This history is not only a collective memory for Kinmen; it is also a key node in the Cold War geopolitical landscape of East Asia in the twentieth century.
The plaza outside the museum displays physical weapons including M48 Patton tanks and 155mm long-range howitzers. Inside, the museum exhibits shell fragments, weapons, and historical photographs and documents from the era. The exhibition traces the course of the artillery battle along a timeline and includes records of civilian life in Kinmen during the bombardment, covering both military history and the everyday lives of ordinary people.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there and timing
- The museum is located on Huanghai Road in Jinhu Township, about 5 minutes by car from the Jinhu Township town center. Self-rental vehicles are recommended; for bus schedules, check the latest Kinmen County bus timetables.
- Please maintain quiet inside the museum. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for a visit. Opening hours and admission fees are subject to official Kinmen County Government announcements — confirm before going.
Nearby connections
- Can be connected with Taihu and Ronghu lakes to the west of the museum for a half-day Jinhu Township theme route.
- If visiting Liaoluo Bay on the same day, drive about 10 minutes southeast from the museum to arrive there in time to catch the sunset.
Sources: Kinmen County Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kinmen County Government tourism information; artillery battle historical facts referenced from Ministry of National Defense historical documents, Republic of China. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the 823 Artillery Battle begin?
At 5:30 p.m. on August 23, 1958.
How long did the battle last and how many shells were fired?
About 444,000 shells were fired during the most intense 44 days, followed by symbolic shelling that continued until it formally ended in 1979.
What does the August 23rd Artillery War Museum display?
The outdoor plaza displays M48 tanks and 155mm howitzers, while the indoor galleries hold shell fragments and historical photographs and documents.
Sources
- 金門炮戰－維基百科 — 開戰時間、44天落彈數量、平民傷亡、單打雙不打與1979年正式停止
- 47萬砲彈狂炸！823炮戰勝利奠定台海和平－Yahoo新聞 — 民間常見「逾47萬發」說法佐證