PLACE GUIDE

Hulishan Fortress 胡里山炮台

Hulishan Paotai

Hulishan Fortress occupies a coastal position at the southeastern end of Xiamen Island.

Stone defensive masonry at Hulishan Fortress in Xiamen, September 2019.
Stone defensive masonry at Hulishan Fortress in Xiamen, September 2019. · Siyuwj · CC BY-SA 4.0
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About Hulishan Fortress

The battery was built in 1894 during the late Qing period.

Its best-known surviving weapon is a German-made Krupp coastal gun. The fortifications and artillery make the site particularly useful for understanding the defence of Xiamen’s maritime approaches.

A fort existed at Hulishan during the Ming dynasty. The present battery was built between 1894 and 1896 after a proposal by naval commander Peng Chuhan (彭楚汉) and viceroy Bian Baodi (卞宝第) received approval. The construction lasted two years and eight months. In 1996, the fortress was included in the fourth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位). It received a national 4A tourist attraction (国家4A级旅游景区) rating in 2009.

The fortress combines European and Ming-Qing architectural styles in a layout that incorporates both bunker-like structures and defensive walls. Its total area exceeds 70,000 square metres, including a castle area of more than 13,000 square metres. The grounds are divided into a gun platform, barracks and a rear-hill zone, with features including tunnels and an ammunition store. The foundations were made with a mixture of tree sap, brown sugar, glutinous rice, sand and lime.

What to look for

  • The late-Qing battery preserves the setting of Xiamen’s coastal defence.
  • A German-made Krupp coastal gun is the principal artillery feature.

Location & getting there

Getting to Hulishan Fortress

Approach the coastal fortress at the southeastern end of Xiamen Island, using the named Hulishan battery entrance.

  • Confirm the visitor entrance and access to the named areas before departure.
General visit reminders

Choose the building, exhibition or part of the historic area you most want to see, then leave time to explore its setting. Check the venue’s current opening and reservation arrangements directly; a place appearing on the map does not mean every building or gallery is accessible on your travel date.

Combine your visit

A suggested sequence through the named features described in the source.

  1. Fortification precinct

    Examine Fortification precinct as a separate part of Hulishan Fortress.

  2. Krupp coastal-gun display

    A German-made Krupp coastal gun is the principal artillery feature.

The order is an editorial suggestion. Internal opening arrangements and transfers between sectors need checking; no walking duration or access entitlement is implied.

Historic sites & architecture · 历史古迹/建筑 →

Find Hulishan Fortress

胡里山炮台 · 厦门市

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

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Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

Sources & visit information

The linked encyclopedia sources support background and place descriptions. Current opening hours, ticket prices, booking rules and transport schedules have not been independently verified for this guide. Confirm them with the venue or operator before travelling.

Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “胡里山炮台” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 92171767.

Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "胡里山炮台", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 92171767.