Travel notes of Nangan Baba Tunnel: the interweaving of wine aroma and battlefield memories

There are many battlefield relics on Nangan Island, and the 88 Tunnel is undoubtedly the most unique one. This tunnel carved out of hard granite was originally built to store ammunition and military supplies, and later it was used to store sorghum wine, allowing battlefield memories and rich wine aroma to blend wonderfully here.

Walking into the 88 Tunnel, a cool air immediately hits you. The tunnel is deep and dark, and there are still chisel marks on the rock walls on both sides, as if telling the hard work of the soldiers swinging the pickaxes day and night. Under the dim light, the wine jars are neatly arranged in rows, and the red seals are particularly bright in the dim light. The air is filled with a faint aroma of sorghum wine, with a hint of spicy but warm breath.

I walked slowly along the tunnel, as if every step could take me back to that period of history. The echo of the tunnel reminds me of the former military garrison, and the sound of soldiers' commands and the sound of dripping water on the wet rock walls seem to faintly ring in my ears. Today, there is no longer any smoke of war here, replaced by the silence of the array of wine jars and the fermentation of time.

Walking deep into the tunnel, the guide sign introduced the origin of the name "88": It is said that the tunnel was converted into a wine cellar in 1999, hence the name. The locally brewed Matsu sorghum wine is more mellow because it is stored at a constant temperature in the granite tunnel for many years. I took a sip to taste it, and it was spicy with a sweet aftertaste, which seemed to be a mixture of the unique salty wind and the taste of time of this small island.

When I left the tunnel, I looked back at the deep passage. The 88 Tunnel is not only a witness to military history, but also a part of island culture and life. It is like a container of memory, sealing the transition from war to peace, from tension to stability, and quietly leaving the aftertaste of history to every traveler.

Post by 日本出發環球旅行者 | Jul 27, 2025