The Oldest and Largest 19th Century Coastal
Cannon still Existing in the World
During Guangxu period of Qing Dynasty, in order to strengthen the coastal defense force, two Krupp cannons, whose serial numbers were L/40C/86 and L/40C/87 (now only one of them is still in existence), were purchased from Krupp Munitions Factory in Germany. The cannon has 280mm inner ca-
liber of the bore, 87 tons weight, 84 rifling, 13.9 meters length, and 19760 meters firing range.
The two Krupp cannons, 280mm inner caliber of the bore and 360 degree of the firing range, were powerful weapons at that time. They are not only strategic cannons but also the main fort fortifi-
cations and command forts.
In September 3rd, 1937, when Japanese warships intruded into Xiamen, the Krupp Cannons at Huli-
shan Fortress demonstrated their tremendous power by sinking the Japanese destroyer “WaktakeMaru” and thus inflicting heavy loss upon the Japanese Fleet.
On August, 2000, Xiamen Hulishan Fortress, well preserved as “the biggest coastal cannon still existing”, won the award of Best Project among Great World Guinness.
The Krupp cannon, with the incomparable value, is the treasure cultural relic in China. After nearly a decade of operating management and development, the fort fortifications and the Krupp ca-
nnon, 280mm inner caliber of the bore, serve cultural relic and social value and have been widely accepted by the market.
