Gold Medal Battery

Gold Medal Battery

Gold Medal Battery is a cultural heritage site protected by Mawei District.

Gold Medal Battery is located in Fengwo Village on Langqi Island, forming a strategic angle with the Changle Battery across the river. It occupies a critical position and served as the first line of defense for the Min River.

The battery complex comprises a main battery at the mountain peak, a forward battery midway up the slope, and a riverside battery at the foot of the mountain. The main battery has two gun emplacements—open-air, circular, and semi-subterranean—constructed with rammed earth. They are 1.43 meters deep, with diameters of 12.40 meters and 7.60 meters respectively. The drill ground is situated behind the battery. Barracks were built adjacent to the drill ground, measuring 8.00 meters in width and 4.20 meters in depth, with remaining walls standing 2.75 meters high.

The Yantai Mountain Battery consists of two gun emplacements, spaced over 10 meters apart. They are open-air, semi-subterranean, and constructed with rammed earth, with depths of 1.41 meters and 1.42 meters, and diameters of 11.60 meters and 12.60 meters respectively. They were equipped with large-caliber Krupp breech-loading guns.

The Tashih Battery was equipped with a total of six cannons, including one 110-pound Armstrong muzzle-loading gun, two 80-pound Armstrong muzzle-loading guns, and three 120mm German-made Krupp breech-loading guns.

Gold Medal Battery was built in the 57th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1718 AD).

In the 29th year of the Daoguang reign (1849 AD), Lin Zexu, while on sick leave and returning to his hometown, oversaw the renovation of Gold Medal Battery.

In the 9th year of the Guangxu reign (1883 AD), the Yantai Mountain Battery was constructed 100 meters east of the main Gold Medal Battery.

Built in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884 AD), the Tashih Battery. That year, the Sino-French War broke out, and French warships invaded the Min River estuary. Due to strict orders from Li Hongzhang, the coastal batteries did not engage in combat. After the Battle of Mawei, the battery was destroyed by French warships attacking from the rear, but the defending forces under Yang Jinbao successfully repelled the French landing troops.

In the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886 AD), the coastal batteries were gradually restored.

In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (1900 AD), the Yandun Mountain Battery was added.

After the establishment of the Republic of China, Gold Medal Battery was taken over by the navy and came under the command of the Min Kou Fortress.

In the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941 AD), when Japanese forces captured Fuzhou, the coastal batteries, caught in a pincer attack, were abandoned. The batteries were destroyed by the Japanese. Both the riverside battery and the forward battery on the mountainside were reduced to ruins, leaving only the main battery at the mountain peak and remnants of the barracks.

In 1986, Gold Medal Battery was listed as a cultural heritage site protected by Mawei District.

Fengwo Village: Fengwo Village is located in the northwest of Langqi Island, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the river on one. The village covers a total area of approximately 3.9 square kilometers. The central part of the village area is mountainous, accounting for about one-third of the total land area, with the highest elevation exceeding 120 meters. The eastern and western sides consist of flat terrain. The area enjoys a superior location and convenient transportation, bordering Lianjiang County to the north and the Langqi Ring Road to the south. The village enjoys spring-like weather all year round, retaining its most pristine natural scenery with fresh air and no pollution.

The village has over 1,400 households, with a total population of 4,871, and more than 1,200 overseas Chinese (known as “three communities”). The village… More details about Fengwo Village++