林厝反空降陣地北段

Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications North Section

November 1st, 2016

Last updated May 9th, 2026

The northern half of the Lincuo Anti-Airborne Position (林厝反空降陣地) runs through farmland and a hillside cemetery in Daya, picking up where the cluster of forts around Taichung Metropolitan Park (台中都會公園) leaves off. These five emplacements were commissioned by the Ministry of National Defense in 1977 as part of a network of nine new machine gun bunkers along the central Dadu Plateau, all sited to suppress airborne landings on either side of the strategic ridge line running lengthwise between the coast and central Taichung.

Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — An abandoned fortification on the edge of the Dadu Plateau in Taichung.

A Closer Look at Building No. 7 — One of dozens of fortifications scattered throughout this part of the Dadu Plateau.

The No. 7 Fort is by far the most approachable of the chain and the focus of this entry. Tucked into the laterite soils in the southwestern corner of Daya, it is readily accessible and fairly safe to explore, though a flashlight is essential and gloves are advisable for the rusty ladders inside. The structure is a cylindrical reinforced concrete blockhouse roughly ten meters across and six to nine meters tall, with three levels plus an open rooftop. Two camouflaged entrances provide access via underground tunnels, a precaution in the event of heavy bombardment. The bunker down below was dry and empty when I visited but some you encounter may be flooded or filled with noxious pests. Ravenous mosquitos are really what you have to worry about—the huntsman spiders typically found in these ruins aren’t nearly so interested in your blood.

Traces of Camouflage on Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — Traces of camouflage remain.

Ground Level at Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — Openings for machine guns to shoot attackers approaching at ground level.

The remaining four forts in this section are harder to reach or no longer standing. The No. 6 Fort sits inside an active military base, walled off and therefore unable to fulfill its original purpose. Forts No. 8 and No. 9, both placed in or near a hillside cemetery to cover approaches from the northeast, were demolished in the late 2000s. The No. 10 Fort stands on private land at the far northern end of the position and remains on my list for a future visit.

Inside Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — A peek inside the abandoned gun tower.

Creeping Below Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — Light from above.

Second Entrance to Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — This door is still locked.

Ascending Into Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — Ascending into the tower.

A Precarious Climb On Rusty Rungs — The way to the rooftop.

The Way To The Rooftop of Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — A precarious climb on rusty rungs.

Field of View at Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — The view of the surrounding countryside from within the abandoned gun tower.

The View From The Top of Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 7 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地七號堡) — A surreal landscape seen from the top of an abandoned gun tower.

The Ochre Soils of the Dadu Plateau Overlooking Shalu — The ochre soils of the Dadu Plateau.

The landscape surrounding the No. 7 Anti-Airborne Fort is absolutely surreal. Rusty red laterite soils rich in iron and aluminum cover the plateau, limiting agricultural productivity. This type of soil is not uncommon in Taiwan—you’ll also find it on the Linkou Plateau, for instance—and was traditionally used for manufacturing bricks¹.

Forlorn Sentinel — The old gun tower in black-and-white.

Lincuo Anti-Airborne No. 6 Fortification (林厝反空降陣地六號堡) — A glimpse of the No. 6 gun tower from a public road.

Finally, I will note that only the No. 6 Anti-Airborne Fort has heritage status; the other two remaining forts at this end of the plateau may disappear at any time. Find the rest of the fortifications in this position documented in the next entry.

Further south of here you’ll find the Bagua Kiln Restaurant (八卦窯餐廳), which is exactly as it sounds—an old brick-making kiln transformed into a dining hall—and the remains of a Qing dynasty era pottery kiln ↩

Map

Heritage Designation

Historic Building (歷史建築)

Recorded On

February 12th, 2016

Sources

Taichung Dadu Plateau Cultural Landscape Military Heritage Survey, Taichung City Cultural Heritage Management Center, 2012-11《臺中市大肚台地文化景觀軍事遺址調查研究計畫成果報告書》，臺中市文化資產管理中心，2012-11