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

Text by MOOK 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. In addition to the “Matsu Delicacies” food fair on opening day, where you can enjoy a variety of local Matsu specialties, from August 4 to August 12, concerts titled “Summer Music by the Sea” featuring the Enchanting Oriental Women’s Orchestra and a Brass Quintet will be held at the Beihai Tunnel and Nangan Visitor Center on Saturdays and Sundays. Free guided tours will also be available. Moreover, the second floor of the Nangan Visitor Center will house a duty-free shop and a food court, offering visitors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait an airport-level shopping and dining experience in Matsu.

The “Kaha Matsu, A Legendary Happiness” event series is scheduled for August 4–5 and August 11–12. In addition to screenings of Matsu microfilms and a food fair, the Summer Music by the Sea concerts will feature performances by the Enchanting Oriental Women’s Orchestra and the Brass Quintet from the Changhua Living Aesthetics Museum. Performances will also take place inside the Beihai Tunnel, where visitors can paddle a canoe while enjoying the powerful sounds of brass instruments or the elegant tones of traditional Chinese music reminiscent of a performance by the Suzhou River. Furthermore, free guided tours of the Tieban Settlement Community will be offered during the event, including stops at Taiwan’s only Temple of the Young Goddess Mazu, former President Chiang Ching-kuo’s wartime command office, and local delicacies such as Granny’s “Chongdi” pies. The Tieban Settlement guided tours are available 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 surpassed 100,000. Gou Yongyuan, Director of the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, said: “With the opening of the new Nangan Visitor Center, a series of events integrating local communities, military tourism, and natural scenery have been launched under the ‘Kaha Matsu, A Legendary Happiness’ campaign. In the morning, you can go canoeing in the 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 in the summer romance. This offers visitors a brand-new experience.” For more details about the event, visit the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration’s website: www.matsu-nsa.gov.tw.

● Read more: See Matsu by sea – Registration now open for the Seabird-Watching Tour of Uninhabited Islands

http://goo.gl/zeMWd