Photos: From tools of war to photo op, Taiwanese remodel old bunkers

Remains of abandoned bunkers, that were originally built to repel an invasion from China, are dotted around Taiwan. The threat from China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own to be brought under Beijing's rule by force if needed, has not gone away but the ageing bunkers are no longer needed for defence purposes. Today, farmers use the retired bunkers as storage rooms for tools, while some have become part of the parks and others along the coast are sought-after spots for photo opportunities by Instagramers seeking "likes" for their sunset views.

Updated on: Jan 11, 2020 8:15 PM IST

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A former air-raid shelter and storage space for the Taiwanese military stands behind a family grave in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dotted around Taiwan lie the remains of abandoned bunkers originally built to repel an invasion from China, during a period in the island’s history when it was under martial law and fear of a Chinese attack was a part of daily life. Over the years, these bunkers have been repurposed by the people. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A person waits to watch the sunset at a former military observation post in Leidishan Natural Park, Kaohsiung. The threat from China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own to be brought under Beijing’s rule by force if needed, has not gone away but the ageing bunkers are no longer needed for defence purposes. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A local farmer who uses a former Taiwanese military air-raid shelter for storage space, moves some of her tools in Kaohsiung. Today, farmers use the retired bunkers as storage rooms for tools, while some have become part of the parks and others along the coast are sought-after spots for photo opportunities by Instagramers seeking “likes” for their sunset views. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Chen Kuo-ming, 49, a senior editor for a military magazine and a military site enthusiast who has been searching and mapping out old bunkers since 2002, poses for a photo inside a former artillery bunker in Nantou, Taiwan. “I find it very bizarre - across Taiwan there are numerous bunkers, a mark of war, but if you ask residents what is it, when was it built and for what purpose, no one knows now,” said Chen. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A former air-raid shelter built by the Japanese army during World War II stands close to Tainan airport in Tainan, Taiwan. After the Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, they used the old structure and built the top area for soldiers to guard the sky because of the close proximity to Tainan airport. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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An old pillbox stands in a clam farm in Yunlin, Taiwain. Some of the bunkers actually date back to when Taiwan was a Japanese colony, before and during World War Two, and were upgraded when the Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, Chen said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A half-submerged pillbox stands among the coastline of Taoyuan, Taiwan. Clam farmer Ding Long-kai, who would not reveal his age other than to say he was in his mid-60s, remembers as a child the pillboxes along the beaches of Yunlin on Taiwan’s western coast, which lies on the Taiwan Strait facing China. “It was restricted to go to the beach and get close to the pillboxes,” Ding said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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Local Official Lin Zi-Xing's shadow is cast onto the wall of a former bunker in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Recalling how he used to try and sneak into the bunkers as a child to play, Lin said it would be a shame to lose this part of Taiwan’s history. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A former military bunker that was renovated into part of a playground, stands in Hsinchu. Lin has turned one of the bunkers into a climbing frame for children, and another into an exhibition hall for tourists to learn about the history of the area. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)

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A wall inside a former artillery bunker, painted with soldiers and writing on the right hand side that reads 'Guns is the second life of a soldier' stands in Shuang Lian Po Park, a former military zone in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Military enthusiast Chen said the bunkers also serve as a reminder that tensions between China and Taiwan still exist. “Let’s not forget, Taiwan and China are still in a hostile state,” he said. (Ann Wang / REUTERS)