Badalouz Fortified Tower | Kinmen Attraction

Badalouz is a traditional Minnan fenghuolou (fire-gable tower) building in Shangqi Village, Lieyu Township, constructed during the Qing dynasty. Its walls, plastered with a mixture of oyster-shell lime and glutinous rice paste, are exceptionally strong and survived repeated artillery bombardment with the exterior largely intact. With its high-sweeping swallowtail ridges and thick walls, it is one of the most representative traditional residential structures remaining in Lieyu Township and stands as an architectural witness to Little Kinmen's survival through years of war.

Highlights of Badalouz

Traditional Kinmen architecture commonly uses oyster-shell lime as the primary binding material: oyster shells are fired and ground into quicklime, then blended with glutinous rice paste and fine sand to produce a high-strength wall plaster. This technique was widely used along the Minnan coast during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Because Kinmen is an island, oyster shells were in plentiful supply, making this a distinctly local building tradition. The walls of Badalouz are a classic example of this method, and the surface remains dense and hard to this day.

The fenghuolou ("fire-gable tower") is a product of the Minnan tradition of fire-resistant building design: the gable walls rise above the roofline to create firebreak walls that prevent flames from spreading between buildings. The form is tall and visually striking. The swallowtail ridges of Badalouz curve upward at both ends in clean, flowing lines that contrast with the heaviness of the thick walls, creating a balance of lightness and solidity. During the artillery battles that struck Lieyu, the structural strength of the oyster-shell lime walls played a part in the building's survival.

How to make the most of your visit

🧱

Examine the oyster-shell lime technique up closeLook closely at the wall surface and you can see fragments of oyster shell embedded in the lime plaster. Observing this traditional building material's texture gives a concrete sense of the island's local materials logic.

🏯

Study the fire-gable wall formView the building from the side to observe how the gable walls rise above the roofline. Paired with the swallowtail ridges on the front, this illustrates the concrete form of the traditional Minnan concept of fire prevention in architecture.

📷

Side-angle lighting for texture photographyAfternoon raking light emphasizes the rough texture of the oyster-shell lime wall surface, and combined with the swallowtail ridge skyline, it conveys a sense of time and weight in traditional architecture.

🗺️

Walk through the villageOther traditional Minnan houses are nearby in Shangqi Village. Walking through the village lets you see buildings in various states of preservation and gives a feel for the traditional village atmosphere of Lieyu Township.

Practical information

Getting there and timing

To reach Lieyu, take the Little Kinmen ferry from Shueitou Pier to Jiugong Pier. Check the latest schedules and fares with the Kinmen County Government or the ferry operator. After arriving, renting a scooter to get to Shangqi Village is recommended.
Badalouz can be viewed from outside at any time of day. As a historic structure, do not climb on or touch the walls; some surrounding areas are private property — please maintain a respectful distance.

Nearby connections

Shangqi Village is in the central-western part of Lieyu Island and can be combined with the Hujingtou Battle History Museum and Lingshuihu Lake in a half-day western Lieyu route.
Heading south from Shangqi leads to the southern entrance of the Lieyu Coastal Trail, connecting traditional architecture with natural coastal scenery for a culture-and-nature Lieyu route.

Sources: Kinmen County Cultural Affairs Bureau historic building survey data, Lieyu Township Office interpretive information. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.

🗺️ View on the map ← All Kinmen attractions