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The Beishan Broadcast Wall

Absurdity still standing.

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It is what it says it is. A wall of large speakers. A wall of large speakers faced directly at the People’s Republic of China. 

Its purpose?

To bombard the people of Communist China with propaganda. 

The propaganda of the Republic of China — the government that is currently the almost unanimously unrecognized defacto ruler of Taiwan, Kinmen, and Matsu. 

After the civil war between the nationalists and communists simmered down to a protracted stalemate, a two decades long propaganda war ensued. This was a cold war that consisted of each side shelling the other with bombs loaded with propaganda leaflets on alternating days, the erection of giant signs on coastlines facing the adversary, and, yes, broadcast walls.

Remember, ROC controlled Kinmen and Xiamen of the PRC are separated by a mere kilometer and a half of water. So you can set up a wall of speakers and turn it up so loud that the other side can hear it. 

I’m not sure exactly what the ROC actually broadcasted from this wall. Probably songs, slogans, speeches, diatribes about how they are the legitimate government of China, how cool it is to be free enough to use Facebook… 

… not literally, but basically that was the message. 

***

I rode my motorcycle out to the Beishan Broadcast Wall yesterday evening. It was the second time that I went searching for it. I could have just asked directions and gone straight there, but hunting for a giant wall of speakers sounded slightly more exhilarating…or perhaps ludicrous us a better way to put it. 

I turned down a wooded road that cut out to the coast and there it was, rising up about three stories from the apex of a seaside cliff, still standing above the surf, still starring straight at Xiamen. 

Filed under: Kinmen, Taiwan, Travel Diary

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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