Decades after the ending of military controlled epoch on Matsu Islands, the remains and landscape from battlefield have been preserved and left behind to this day. While some of the fortresses still work as military base, some have been transferred into a sight-seeing venue for tourism. They represent the most iconic military heritage of Matsu. In the same time, there are some fortresses transformed into alternative spaces with new function and context by public and private sectors. Today, all the fortresses evolve through times but present different stages of change, and compose a very unique landscape of Matsu. The co-existence of varied condition of fortress not only present the change of history, but we can see the diverse narratives from every individual of them. “Gazing Fortress Matsu” is initialed in this period of time, it is advanced stage of “from battlefield to tourism”. The methodology of reinterpretation was implemented to reconstruct the diversity of Matsu and present its historical value and spatial characteristic. The project focuses on those military remains which embedded at the edge of island, the most iconic and representative venue – fortress. Through dialogue, in-depth interview and cross discipline coordination of Matsu communities’ living condition and economic potential, we connect the islands’ past, present and future. By means of design power and cultural competence, we raise discussion and give the military heritage a new life and contemporary meaning.

Matsu official ended the period of Martial Law and opened its door and started autonomy in 1992. Then in 1999, Matsu was planned and executed as Matsu National Scenic Area. The next year, the Mini Three Links were executed between the People's Republic of China's Fujian province cities of Xiamen, Mawei and Quanzhou, and the islands of Kinmen and Matsu. Matsu has turned from the frontier of conflict among two governments to the hotspot of communication. Since 2000, Matsu also has changed from an intensive military controlled and potential battlefield into a tourism island, and gradually become a platform open for discussion and dialogue.

In 1949, the Nationalist was defeated by Communist China in the Civil War and retreated to Taiwan. Since then, the actual governance of Republic of China was limited in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and islands on partial Southern Sea. Therefore, Kinmen and Matsu were two iron fists extending from Taiwan due to their location nearby China’s boarder. Unlike Kinmen, there wasn’t any actual battle happened on Matsu. The Matsu has experienced a long preparation for battle and waiting for battle to happened until 1992.

According to the archeological evidence, the debut of Matsu history can be dated back to the Neolithic period from 8300 B.C. However, Matsu was lack of military importance in Chinese history due to its distant position to the central power location. Matsu was regarded as one of thousand islands along the China’s coast line. Therefore, it was also a shelter for exiles when the political situation is chaotic. In the recent eras, most of the residents on Matsu earned their living from the ocean, fishery was the main industry and it resulted in that most settlements were gathered around the bays throughout the islands.