WWII bunker in Hualien to be turned into tourist site

Taipei-An old military bunker in Hualien's Qixingtan scenic area, which once served Japanese soldiers during World War Two, will open to the public for the first time from next year.

Hualien County government officials said Saturday that the site was a fortified bunker built by the Japanese to prevent a potential coastal landing in the area by American troops.

The bunker, stretching for 200 meters in a mountainous area of Hualien, had two 10-inch artillery guns to defend against air assaults.

Wu Ming-Yuen (???), a division chief with Hualien County's Bureau of Agriculture, said the site will open to the public Jan. 1, with 40 people allowed in at a time.

The site will be open to anyone on its opening day, Wu said, but added that from Jan. 2, visitors will need to book in advance through its website at http://mambo.hl999.url.tw.

Tours of the bunker will be limited to seven groups each day, and guides will be on-site to provide visitors with a 40-minute tour.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel