There's been a building here for more than 4 centuries. At first, it was the study of Xu Xie, a local scholar who in 1601, passed the Ming Dynasty's highest imperial examination. Then, in the late 1600s, in light of ongoing turmoil across the waters, and the dense population of Houpu (the old town of Jincheng), this site became a military headquarters. Its political importance continued even after Kinmen became a county in 1915. Before being designated an historic monument, this building accommodated several government entities, including the County Government and the Dept of Defense.You feel like you've entered a time capsule at some of the rooms…Realistic wax figures and period furnishings give you a feel for life back in the day.The giant red silk cotton tree in the back is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. It's really a sight to behold!ExhibitsThere's so much to learn and see at this museum!- how Kinmen defended itself in its early days;- stories about renowned Kinmen people from the Qing Dynasty period;- social customs and values of the day;- beautifully crafted wooden models of Qing Dynasty era boats;- what constituted a crime, and how people were punished;- an exquisite architectural model of the original building;- Qing Dynasty era weapons.