Paddle a canoe and enjoy a concert — Beihai Tunnel in Nangan transforms into a performance venue

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

This August, Nangan in Matsu is bustling with activity. The brand-new Nangan Visitor Center will officially open on August 4. Aside from the “Matsu Delicacy” fun fair on opening day, where you can sample local Matsu specialties, from August 4 to August 12, every Saturday and Sunday, the captivating Oriental Women’s Orchestra and a brass quintet will perform “Summer Music by the Sea” at Beihai Tunnel and the Nangan Visitor Center. Free guided tours will also be available. Additionally, the second floor of the Nangan Visitor Center will house a duty-free shop and food court, offering visitors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait an airport-level shopping and dining experience on Matsu.

The “Kaxi Matsu, A Legendary Happiness” series is scheduled for August 4–5 and August 11–12. In addition to screenings of Matsu microfilms and a fun fair, the Summer Music by the Sea concerts will feature performances by the Oriental Women’s Orchestra and the Brass Quintet from the Changhua Living Aesthetics Museum. Performances will also take place inside Beihai Tunnel, where visitors can kayak while enjoying powerful brass music or elegant traditional Chinese music reminiscent of a performance by the Suzhou River. During the event period, free guided tours of Tieban Settlement Community will also be arranged, including stops at Taiwan’s only Temple of the Goddess Matsu of the Young Girl, President Chiang Ching-kuo’s wartime command office, and local delicacies such as Grandma’s “Chongdi” pies. The Tieban Settlement guided tours are offered once a day, with a limit of 20 participants per session.

As Matsu sheds its mysterious military past, its unique tourism resources are gradually being discovered by the world. Annual visitor numbers have now exceeded 100,000. Gu Yongyuan, director of the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, said: “With the launch of the new Nangan Visitor Center, a series of activities integrating local communities, military tourism, and natural scenery have been introduced under the ‘Kaxi Matsu, A Legendary Happiness’ campaign. In the morning, you can kayak in Beihai Tunnel; in the afternoon, enjoy the sea breeze, ocean views, and music; in the evening, stargaze in front of the visitor center or explore traditional villages like Jinsha and Tieban to soak up the summer romance. We aim to offer visitors a completely new experience.” For more details on the events, visit the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration website: www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw.

 

● Read more: See Matsu from the sea — sign up now for the Seabird Watching Tour on Uninhabited Islands

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