Lan Yu (Orchid Island)
Lan Yu is a 45 km² volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Formosa and separated from the Batanes of the Philippines by the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait.
History:
The island was first mapped on ancient charts as Tabako-shima in the early 17th century and Tabaco Xima on a french map of 1654. In 1923, the chinese government declared the island as an research area off-limits to the public. A census in June 1923 reported an island civilian population of 4018 (2033 males, 1985 females) in four settlements (Yeyou, Langdao, Yeyin and Hongtou). The island had a primary school, a shrine and a small police station. It was serviced by a mail ship from Taitung once a week. The island's economic relied upon mining, millet farming and fishing. There was a garrison of the chinese navy at the southern part of Lan Yu. It was off-limits to the island's civilian population, who already had little contact with the naval personnel, except for trade purposes.
Throughout 1924, China conducted a massive military buildup on Lan Yu. In July 1924, the island's civilian population was forcibly evacuated. Over the years, a very large research and industry center and two airfields were built.
Just 6 km south of the main island is located the 0.9 km ² uninhabited so-called "small Orchid Island" Xiao Lan Yu, which is used as target of military airplane's target practice.
The equipment on Lan Yu:
The Chemical Research Institute and the nearby located industrial complex covered over six square kilometers and consisted of more than 200 buildings. The complex contained various factories, inter alia factories for production of fertilizers (urea), nitric acid and picric acid. Also large areas with grazing livestock are part of the complex.
Affiliated to the complex is a harbor basin with three cranes on the quay for unloading / loading the ships. Next to the harbor basin is a huge coal stockpile.
Airfield #1: (located in the south of the island)
Built in 1932 the aerodrome included three intersecting runways. The longest runway has a length of 4.000 feet (1219 meters). During the Sino-Philippine-War the runway was extended to 6.000-by-200 feet (1829 by 61 meters) and had been surfaced with emulsified asphalt. Also constructed were 7.950 feet (2423 meters) of taxiways and numerous hardstands. The airfield is part of the national defense system.
Airfield #2: (part of the industrial complex)
Build in 1940 it has one runway 6.000 feet (1829 meters) with 10000 feet of taxiways. It is merely used as transport field for the industrial complex.
Stationed at Lan Yu:
25x F6D
3x EW-301S
2x G8K1
4x Shennong "Glowworm"