Kinmen National Park has failed to repair wax effigies at Rushan Fort (乳山), turning the entire display into the butt of jokes of Chinese tourists, members of the public said.
The criticism comes at an awkward time, as in October the park is planning to celebrate its 20th anniversary since its founding in 1995.
Rushan Fort was once part of the Kinmen garrison, but was left in disrepair after the garrison shut down in the first stages of military downsizing between 1997 and 2001.
Photo: Wu Cheng-ting, Taipei Times
Kinmen National Park later renovated the fort to how it would have looked if it were still a garrison, with wax effigies of troops and recordings simulating air raid warnings.
It was considered by most tourism guides to be one of the best sites that had preserved the “wartime feeling.”
However, tourists say the park has not been maintaining the site and it has become the butt of jokes by Chinese tourists.
Photo: Wu Cheng-ting, Taipei Times
There are visible signs of wear and tear on the wax effigies, with the fingers on some broken to the extent they would not be able to hold a gun, one tourist said.
A tour guide surnamed Yang (楊) said that the voice recordings and visual effects in the company commander’s office have not activated in some time, adding that even structural aspects of the facility, such as the supports on the handrails, have become shaky and loose.
A 60-year-old retired soldier said that the lack of maintenance of the park was symbolic of the government’s treatment of retired troops.
Sources said that the Kinmen National Park administrative office conducted a safety inspection last month, but had neglected the structural integrity of the fort, as well as maintaining the dignity of the display.
In response, the administrative office said that it had made repairs to the wax effigies several years ago and plans to allocate a NT$200,000 budget for general repairs.
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