Japanese wartime tunnels

Hillwalker; I can only speculate, but my theory is thus, The items in the room look at least a few years old, and it does looks like “they” tried to make themselves comfortable (Chairs, a small mattress, air fresheners ect.) who would stay in these types of tunnels for more than a couple of days? I can’t see boy scouts camping the night there. My best guess is II’s (and that’s a stab in the dark). Whoever was in there looks to have been busted by the authorities, hence, the boarding. Obviously there might be holes in that theory, but all I can make out is that

a)      Someone once looked like they stayed there a while (illegally)

b)      Somebody boarded and sealed it up (legally)

But it is all guesswork.

 The warm air I felt coming out the tunnel must have been either the wind pushing stagnant air out, or, there were other exits just past where it has collapsed, but t is not totally sealed off? There were no other vents. It looks too larger tunnel to have just the one entrance, so maybe the others all up in the hills somewhere waiting for a decent Hillwalker fire, SORRY! Slip of the tongue, I ment hillside fire….to expose them.

 I also went to Devil’s peak today and found some pretty good stuff, but I’ve already had a gut full and I want to watch the footy shortly so I’ll waffle on about  it tomorrow.

PS, Philk: You have a valid point. Are you suggesting a large blade of some description for self-defense? ‘cos I can be convinced! 

Hey Fella’s, I went to Devil’s Peak yesterday for another look around and found some pretty interesting stuff. 

I went to the very top first to have a look around the redoubt with some friends and then descended down the north east face (after jumping over a couple of walls) where MrB said he saw a Japanese tunnel. Well I found two, about 10m apart.

Here is the first one, which was only a couple of meters deep into the hill 

I followed the hill down and joined onto the Wilson trail where I headed back down to the large gun battery. After a quick look about there we followed the small path through the woods which after 200m joined onto a concrete path which I followed for about 80m

Then I noticed some interesting features along the hillside, which turned out to be a load of Japanese tunnels. Most of them have been blocked up and I would say that I saw at least eight blocked with  a couple of small trenches close by and a number of fox holes. I did take photo but we have all seen enough sealed ones by now. Then I came across this

The path lead all the way down to the main road (start of stage 3) and again I saw a couple of other block tunnels on the way down.

All-in-all a pretty good afternoon.

Craig, That's a lot more than I expected - good find!

I wonder if the cavern / change in height in the first tunnel was where people tunneling in from either side met in the middle? Would they be that accurate, or would they just have started at one end and carried on 'til they fell out the other side?

And the big chambers sound fascinating. I wonder if we'll ever find out what these larger tunnels with caverns were intended to be used for?

MrB

PS I find that these days if I'm walking in the countryside I'm spending more time gazing off to the side of the path looking for signs of tunnels, than looking ahead where I should be walking. It'll end in tears!

Hi Craig

Thanks for the info on the Mt Parker tunnel. That all makes sense.

There's no stopping you finding these Japanese war tunnels. You'll have to change your name to 'tunnel rat' at this rate. ;-)

It's fascinating to see just how much history is preserved in the undergrowth of HK's country parks.

Specifically on Japanese war tunnels, surely the British re-occupying forces would have mapped and catalogued these 'enemy' installations after the Japanese surrender in 1945. If there is such a file, I wonder where it might be.

These tunnels are an important part of HK's history. (Has there ever been an academic study of them?) Yet in some ways it's probably better they remain hidden. Imagine what would happen if a government department were tasked with 'preserving' these historic sites.

HillWalker

MrB, I think your right about the height change in one of the tunnels. There were big boulders everywhere, so it would make sence to get started from two points and try to join them.

 I also fround a good book today while looking around the web. Its called

Tunnel warfare Vol4: Asian tunnel Warfare:

CONTENTS Introduction  

PART ONE. 

CHINESE TUNNEL WARFARE 1. Sino-Japanese War 

2. Epilog. The 1960’s to Now Bibliography 

PART TWO. JAPANESE CAVE WARFARE

 1. Caves  2

. Lone Tree Hill 3. Biak 4. Peleliu 5. Luzon 6. Iwo Jima 7. Okinawa 8. Rabaul 	 Summary  Bibliography	 PART THREE. TUNNEL WARFARE IN KOREA Introduction 1. The Korean War 2. Chinese Tunnels 3. After the Korean War Summary Bibliography PART FOUR. VIETCONG TUNNEL WARFARE Introduction 1. The USMC Experience (1965-66) 2. Instructions to Military Advisors (1967) 3. Instructions to Riverline Forces (1968) 4. General Instructions to U.S.Forces (1966) Summary  Hiding Holes Fortified Village Fortified Base Camps Command and Logistical Areas Cave Artillery Positions Construction Methods Details	 Viet Cong Defensive Tactics American Countermeasures Lessons Learned from Vietnam Bibliography Notes on Tunnel Warfare 

http://www.military-info.com/book/N15_TW4/Bk_tw4.htm

 It might be a little tough to get it sent over/pay (No Credit cards) 

I’ve have been trying to purchase the above book without too much luck at the moment. Usual American security paranoia, A look back at the last 100 years of tunnel history seems to pose an immediate and substantial national security risk to the “supposedly only” world superpower, who spend US$500 Billion a year on national defense.

Perhaps they are right to be scared, imagine, if a handful of freedom fighters (insurgences) armed with a shovel and pointed sticks where able to drive them out of Iraq…. like Vietnam. Anyhow enough ranting, I’ll keep trying.

I went out for a run up Blacks Link yesterday and found another Japanese Tunnel. I found it about 500m up the path as you get off Blacks Link road. As you walk up the path, there is a big notice board with a map close to the electricity cable and next to some stairs that lead down to Lady Clementine’s Ride. On you right is a steep path behind a little sign. Head up towards the big boulder which the tunnel goes underneath. I found the big entrance with a 8 foot vertical drop before the tunnel bends under the rock. Again I didn’t have any gear with me so I didn’t descend into it. I also found another exit which has mostly been blocked over. It may be a small one just under the rock or it could branch out further into the hill. Anyhow I’ll have to go back prepared next time…..even though I saw massive spider-webs.

I also found a Pill Box that I have never seen before. It is right above the Bus stop at the top of Nam Fung Rd/Wong Nei Chung gap Rd (Opposite the Shell station).  The enterance is as you first walk up Blacks Link Rd look up to your right and you'll see a enterance that leads to the pillbox, you'll need to climb up a bit of a water drain to get to it. It looks right across to the Old Police Station and Cricket Club and down Nam Fung Rd. Inside the pillbox are a number of original fittings, mostly rusted away, but you can clearly see the machine gun mounts.

P.S. I have ordered the Tunnel Warfare book, I'll be sure to share the information when I get it.

I found this tunnel today when I went out for a run.. It was near the bottom of Mt Butler along the HK Trail near H059 marker. The best way to get there would be up Mt Parker Rd to the junction down into Tai Tam. Then turn up the HK Trail and about 30m up from the H59 marker there is a tunnel that goes all the way under the path. In Good condition and you can go all the way through, with a couple of small side chambers.

 This Marker Stone was next to one of the tunnel exits. R. B. L. 68…. Any ideas? R something, Boundry, Line?

 MrB, Thanks for the info on PB3. I remember seeing your video now, but never knew it was there. I’m getting the Tunnel book sent to a friend in the US, who will forward it on to me. I suspect that because most of the tunnels follow a similar design, perhaps the Japanese had a manual or at least documented Standard Operating Procedures. I will have to wait and see.

Hi there,

As far as the ownership of the land is concerned, unless you are among the aboriginals, the colonial government owns the land.  So called colonial  landlords purchase the rights to use or built on that particular piece of land.  If Hong Kong Island is concern I believe even if you are among the aboriginals if the colonial government wanted to take over a piece of land the aboriginals would simply be relocated.

Best Regards,

T

I found a webpage with loads of info on this subject

http://rec.hku.hk/ecyyiu/HKBCLAEM/HKBALEM%20r3.pdf 

MrB, I think you would be doing us all a favor by keeping your cloths on. Going into these places are creepy enough without the added risk of bumping into someone Starko… will maybe the exception of Miru Kim, that I wouldn’t mind so much.

I am quite a fan of TED.com they are all really good watching. Did you see the one about the man who walked across America? He was a good speaker. An entertaining one was the Professor who claims to “Investigates space and dimensions”? I called it juggling. But he was awesome.

I have also tried a couple of time to buy Cities of the Underworld in HMV but I’m never in luck. 

I will have to get myself up Steinhouse on Lamma in search of another tunnel, as rumored on that Lamma website. They also mention a Japanese Hospital near Pak Kok. I happen to visit it about 2 weeks ago. It is a really great old building, sadly in bad condition. I had a quick peek around but there is someone that lives in it so I did want to intrude.

I am also cleaning up some new relics I found while having a look around where Osborn died near Parkveiw with the Detector. I’m rather pleased, so I photo and post them tomorrow.  

After having a rather lazy boozy Saturday, I decided to have a look around the top of Stenhouse on Lamma. Firstly, I must say that this is not an easy hike. The “Path” was rather vague, very steep in parts and slippery. I didn’t choose the best of days with visibility about 20m at times due to fog.

Anyway to business, I found a Japanese tunnel about 200m from the summit when heading up the East face. It was wet and muddy and there was no way I was going to convince my girlfriend to come in with me so I had to leave it unexplored. It looked like it went a fair way, I only saw about 15m in, but it may well go through to the other side of the hill. For another time. 

Anyone thinking about doing Stenhouse, I strongly advise not to. It was half climbing, up steep muddy, slippery hills with no decent path at all. I went up the East side, starting by turning at the temple as MrB describes. Then on the way down I went north toward Lo Shing Beach. The whole way down is a guess and VERY overgrown. I quite enjoyed sliding around but I must admit to worrying for my girlfriends safety. So easy to do an ankle or worst and then your in deep poo. 

I went out at lunchtime today for a walk and a look around the hillside and found a Japanese tunnel.

Location: 22.265981’N, 114.201143’E

I started near Parkview and took the Hong Kong Tail up to Jardine’s Lookout. On way down toward the quarry, about 250m from the top, I noticed a small path on my right heading off in the hillside, which I followed for about 80m with Parkview right in front of me. I looked down and saw a small hole, which under closer inspection appeared to lead into a larger tunnel. The Hole was rather small and I didn’t fancy squeezing myself into it, so I walked the direction the tunnel looked to go. About 30m away, heading toward Tai Tam reservoir, I came across a large tunnel opening. You will need to have a good look around for this.

Description: This looks like it could be a big one (I know I have said that before). However it is on a 45 degree angle down, and with it being damp and slippery, I didn’t fancy sliding down into the abyss with no help at hand. I am planning to go back Sat lunchtime with an unlucky mate, equipped with some rope just to be safe. If any of you boys wanna join?

Hi there,

I believe the Kwun Yam Shan mentioned is possibly have something to do with the Kwun Yam Temple near Shatin Pass as that is also being referred as Kwun Yam Shan.  I use [沙田 +觀音山] in Google and got this.

If this is the case, the mentioned tunnels would most likely be those being found along section 5 of the Maclehose Trail.

Best Regards,

T

Hi there,

Speaking of multiple names in difference location, Tung Lo Wan is another case.  Back then when Shatin was a fishing village there was a place called Tung Lo Wan, which is exactly the same as the Cantonese name of Causeway Bay.  Probably both places were having a bay close to the same of a Gong. 

As for Luk Keng, other than the Luk Keng in North-East New Territories, we also have another Luk Keng in Lantau Island, very close to Disney Land.

Not to mention 'Tai Long Wan'.  We have at least three of such.  One next to Shek O in Hong Kong Island, the second in North East Sai Kung Country Part, and the third on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula of Lantau island, facing Cheung Chau.

I know there are quite a few Lo Wai (老圍) in the New Territories.  These literally means Old Walled Villages.  So don't be surprise if any of you come up with more confusions.

Best Regards,

Thomas

Check out the link below for details

http://gwulo.com/node/5451

I was taking a family friend around last week and we went along to Cape D'Aguilar, where he use to be based in 1955. Right at the very end of the road, there is a tiny round about just before the barrier to stop you going any further. I noticed something cut away from the hillside and upon close inspection I found it was a blocked Japanese Tunnel. It looks fairly big but totally blocked up with debris and rubbish. I didn't have time to look for others close by.

To see the Mt Violet tunnel please click below;

http://gwulo.com/node/5800

China Mail 22 August 1947

I've just opened up a tunnel in Stanley not far from the existing prison.

I found some ammunition inside (small arms) and a number of side tunnels.

(Moved ammunition to a safer location now)

There was partial collapse at the entrance that I am shoring up and some tunnel collapse at the end that I am currently excavating and shoring up as I do so.

A few bats, rats and usual insect life in this one.

Tunnel goes on for about 300 metres and I believe at one time before the current collapse i've located may heave exited to face the sea.

Hi Craig

This is one of the big ones. Will take a good hour to explore and it also houses a fair few bats, you'll see them as you descend the 45 degree slope towards the back of the main cavern on your right.

It's a great system with some wonderful flora inside (check out the fungus).

I'm still looking for foxholes around this area as it was a key strategic post and it makes sense that there are probably more systems to be found.

Good idea to have a rope at the entrance especially if its raining, they clay gets slippery:)

Chavez

Hello.  Please forgive my ignorance.  I wonder if there are any surviving documents (either Japanese or British) that describe these tunnels.  Also, usually on what criteria do you identify them as being dug by Japanese?  Many seem to be quite "rough" compared to British defence structures.  Thanks.

Thanks David for your reply.  Is there anything that distinguishes these Japanese tunnels from others (e.g. those dug by pirates or villagers)?  I still don't quite understand the purpose of some tunnels, especially on Hong Kong Island on which the guerrillas -- Dongjiang (East River) Column -- had little or no activities.  If they were preparing to defend against a potential landing of Allied troops, then those tunnels would be vastly  inadequate.

Hi Chavez,

         Please excuse the delay, I haven't had time for a poke about on Gwulo for a while.

Your tunnels sounds very interesting indeed. I have not come across any ammunition in any of the tunnels I have found, and if the stuff is Japanese then it would appear that you are the first one to discover them since they were first vacated in 1945.

I have found a couple of "BB" gun cartridges near tunnels which some horrid little urchin has left behind, and I have found a Diving Knife inside a tunnel which I suspect may have housed an II at one time.

Did you happen to take a photo of the ammo? If it is Japanese, I would guess 6.5mm rounds but I would be very keen to see exactly what you found.

I would love to come have a snoop around with you one day. The tunnels that are substantially bigger than the normal 3 interconnected Firing positions could be command centres/ hospitals/ Storage depots ect but none of these sound right.

I have copies of the American Bombing Run Maps and Target information about Hong Kong and southern China, and all of their targets where near the harbour. However, I do recall reports of POWs saying that some Americans B-25's bombed close to Stanley which I believe was aimed at an Anti-Aircraft Battery......... Which could well be what you found, and being next to a prison would be a prime position that the Japanese would use, knowing that the Allies would be very reluctant to deal with it.

We might be able to get an idea of its intended purpose from the entrance shape and size.

Please drop me a line whenever you head down for a look next time (I have rope if needed) at HK_splash@yahoo.com

Thanks for letting us know, I hope to catch up soon.

Dear David,

Don't worry, I wouldn't be foolish enough to keep old ammunition. I merely placed it in a safer location in case some youngster explored the tunnel at a later date and kept it as a souvenir.

Hi Craig,

Sending photo y

to HK splash.

Let me know what you think

Chavez

             Sorry pal, I didn't receive any photos. Would you mind sending them again? I'm dying to see what you have found. If you like tunnels, a couple of us planning to check out some Japanese tunnels in Kowloon next month some time. Your welcome to join, fellow enthusiasts are always welcome.

Cheers. Craig

I am new to this forum.   But intrugued by all the war history around Hong Kong.  Just today I was at South Bay Beach (Repulse Bay).....and saw at the end of the beach on the left side....a concreted over tunnel.  

Here's a link to a Japanese Wartime Tunnel located at the SW slope of Jardine's Lookout above PB JLO1 and 2. It's quite a complex one.

http://gwulo.com/node/11124

Regards,

vhhhatc

As it is finially cooling off, I've started to get out a bit more into the hills.

Over the weekend a couple of us went for a little poke around Tai Tam reservoir. We found a WW2 british shelter and a fairly large Japanese Tunnel close together.

It's pretty easy to find. We were on a little hill overlooking the start of the Boa Vista trail where it joins to Mt Parker Rd. There is a small path that heads up to an electricty pylon. When you walk past the pylon about 20 meters the tunnel is up to your left, and the shelter is a little higher up behind it.

I didn't have my light on me so I didn't enter it, but it does lead back around towards the pylon where there is another enterence (pretty well covered over). It may continue further, but I will have to check it out next time.

vhhhatc: Good work on your JLO tunnels. I've wanted to get into those since last year but haven't managed it yet, so it's great to see the layout and photos. A few of us are planning on exploring a few more tunnels which we have noted over the summer. If you would like to join us , please send a quick note to hk_splash@yahoo.com and I'll let you know.

Went there today and conditions the same.

Took another visit to this tunnel recently, the end of the tunnel shown in the picture is actually an exit being filled... the exit is next to Hong Park Trail towards the hillside which the department build a 'bridge' over the original cut into the mountain. 

I went exploring on Friday around Mt Collinson with another Gwulo member (Philip Craknell), who found a Japanese Tunnel on the summit.

While trekking up to the top we also found another set of Japanese tunnels. The first tunnels are about 1/3 of the way up. We took the only path marked on the map at the end of the Dragon's Back trail (near Tai Tam gap round-a-bout). This set had three openings; One entrance and two firing holes, joined by a tunnel that goes underneath the trail. This tunnel is probably about 50m in total. There is also a fourth tunnel very close by, but doesn't look complete as it doesn't join up to the others. 

What are unusual about both sets of tunnels is that they have one entrance connecting to other "exits" with stone walls with firing loop-holes for either Machine guns and at least one of them was for a bigger caliber gun, which was facing straight at Tai Tam road. They apear to have far more protection compared to other Japanese Tunnels.

The upper tunnel network is right under the summit. The entrance is located in valley between the two peaks. These tunnels are longer that the previous ones and tota about 80-100m and have a couple of bigger storage/living chambers inside. They also home quite a few hideously ugly big bugs. 

Lower Tunnels - Entrance

1st Machine Gun loop hole

2nd Bigger Loop Hole: One Artillery and One Gun hole.

Here are a couple of photos of the upper network just under the summit.

Entrance:

View out from one of the two other firing holes.

Hi David,

            They do look a lot more sturdy than most of the tunnel we have seen. They could well have been made earlier in the occupation. I get the impression that they built the main tunnel and firing hole and then added to them over time. It is not the first time we've come across partially made tunnel very close to a network which looks like they should join up.

That Stone covered entrance that you mention was only half way built up (again an unusual feature). It was pretty much on the shore line in Stanley Bay towards the prison. I think it was under one of the nice houses before you get to the actual prison.

Here are photos of that one. The entrance is just to the right of the firing hole obscured by the bushes.