Zhaishan Tunnels (aka Jhaishan Tunnels) are winding military tunnels running underground in Kinmen connecting to the ocean. During the Chinese Civil War, they were used to protect ships from bombing raids. The tunnels are open for tours, and besides having great acoustics the tunnels are also strikingly beautiful.
Background: The tunnels were completed in 1966, but due to budget constraints the tunnels had to close in 1986. I assume this is because the tunnels required constant dredging. The tunnels were made into a national heritage park and opened for tourists in 1998. The tunnels are over 350 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 3.5 meters high. Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Price: Free Tours: There are many tours and activities available on the islands, such as fishing, clamming, traditional Chinese Costume Experience, Water Gun Shooting, Night Otter Spotting, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. Hotels: We stayed at and can recommend Sihai Hostel, which is a quality hostel with spacious and clean rooms. They also arranged transport to and from the hostel for free. You can book Sihai Hostel on Agoda here, Klook here, or Trip.com here. Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. You can also find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. How to get there: By Scooter or Car: Take Zhuhai West Road Sec. 3 out of Kincheng south to Guguang lake. Follow the brown signs to the tunnels; there is a large parking lot and park in front of the entrance. You can book a scooter rental for Kinmen Island on Klook here or on KKday here. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. You can rent a car for Kinmen on KKday here or charter a car on Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Shuttle Bus: You can book a discount tourist shuttle bus pass on KKday here. Bicycle Rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: 
Zhaishan tunnels were on the top of our list of things to see in Kinmen, but it was a little hard to find. When you get there, there will be a few tanks on display in the parking lot.
The main parking lot to Zhaishan tunnels.
Entrance to the main park in front of the tunnels.
Open every day except Chinese New Year's Eve!
Some of the small naval vessels used in the tunnels are on display in the park.
"Jhaishan Tunnel"
"The Jhaishan Tunnels were built in 1963, after the August 23rd bombardment. The whole area was comprised of granite gneiss and the tunnels took 3 years to complete." "Small vessels can enter the tunnels to avoid bombing and also to break through sieges; the tunnels were also used for transporting supplies for military and civilian purposes." 
Anti-aircraft cannons on display.
A sign with "毋忘在莒" which basically just means "take back the mainland."
Free helmets are offered at the entrance, but they are not compulsory.
Some basic information about the tunnel, as well as a video of some violinists playing in the tunnel, showing off the great acoustics inside.
The short walk down to the tunnels.
First view of the tunnels.
The water here is perfectly still and reflective.
View of the two tunnels splitting on either side to the ocean.
"Zhaishan Tunnel Branch Tunnel"
"Zhainshan tunnel is A shaped and is separated into main waterway and branch waterway. Your present position is at the meeting point of the main waterway and the branch waterway. The pathway at the side of the branch waterway is still as it was when the tunnel was in use." 
Reflection of the branch waterway.
A seam in the granite rock.
Some broken down machinery on the side of the tunnel.
Looking back into the tunnel.
View walking back to the entrance. I like the effect of those purple lights.
And that is your tour of Zhaishan tunnels.
There are many tours and activities available on Kinmen, such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Intertidal Eco Tour, fishing, clamming, Night Otter Spotting, Handmade Metalworking DIY, and many others. For more information, look at other tour/ferry sites or book a personalized tour with Klook here or KKday here. For more of Taiwan's outer Islands, check out our ultimate guide to Kinmen here. You can also check out our full guide to all of Taiwan's outer islands here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
September 2023
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