In March 1853,
HMS Rattler struck a sunken rock at
Amoy,
China and was severely damaged. She was beached at Tae-tan (Dadan) for repairs. Since 1949, Dadan Island has several times become the battlefront of
conflicts between the
People's Liberation Army and the
Republic of China Armed Forces. On July 26, 1950, ROC forces on the island, in total 298 soldiers, repulsed an attack (
大擔島戰役) from a
People's Liberation Army force of 700 soldiers that landed on the island. In October 1951,
Chiang Ching-kuo visited the island and gave the island its current name. On May 9–10, 2002, President
Chen Shui-bian visited Dadan (Tatan) and delivered remarks concerning
Cross-Strait relations. From 26 July until 31 October 2018, the island was opened to the public on trial basis which attracted 3,000 people in total. On 1 March 2019, the island was officially opened for tourism. A maximum of 150 people can visit the island on a given day and sight-seers must apply for permission to visit ten days before their visit. Residents of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau are prohibited from visiting the island. In July 2024 the Kinmen County Government said tours to the island would resume on a trial basis. ==Geography==