Hulishan Fortress, Xiamen

Hulishan Fortress guards the southern tip of Xiamen Island, where it has watched over the strait since 1894. Built in the last decades of the Qing dynasty as a coastal artillery battery, it is best known today for a single, astonishing object: a German-made Krupp cannon that the Guinness World Records recognised in 2000 as the largest and oldest 19th-century breech-loading coastal gun still in existence.

The Krupp cannon

The 280 mm gun was ordered from the Krupp works in Germany and installed here in 1893. It weighs about 87 tonnes, measures nearly 14 metres long, and could once hurl a shell some 16 kilometres out to sea. Standing beneath the muzzle gives a real sense of scale — and of the firepower China was buying to defend its coast in the dying years of the empire. A second, matching emplacement and the granite gun pits let you walk the whole battery.

What else to see

Beyond the headline cannon, the fort is a maze of granite ramparts, tunnels, ammunition stores, and command posts, with sweeping views across the water toward Kinmen (Jinmen). A small museum displays antique weapons. Twice a day the fort stages a Qing-dynasty military drill performance — actors in period uniform run formations and a simulated artillery routine, usually at 10:00 and 16:00. It is touristy but fun, especially for families.

Visiting

Admission is about ¥25 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors who show ID. Opening hours run roughly 08:00–18:00 from June to September and 08:00–17:30 from October to May, with ticket sales stopping shortly before closing. Allow one to two hours. The fortress sits a short ride from Xiamen University and Zengcuo'an, so it slots neatly into a day exploring the southwest of the island. Wear sun protection — much of the site is open and exposed to the sea.