The Old City Wall of Tamsui

The Old City Wall of Tamsui

The Old City Wall of Tamsui is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Old City Wall of Tamsui —— Former Site of the Battle of Tamsui during the Eastern Expedition

The Old City Wall of Tamsui is located within the market area of Tamsui Subdistrict in Huiyang and was built in the early years of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It served as a vital defensive structure encircling the city of Tamsui. The wall had gates on the east, south, and north sides, which were key passages for entering and exiting the city.

In January 1925, with the promotion and support of the Communist Party of China, the Guangdong Revolutionary Government launched a campaign against Chen Jiongming. In February of the same year, after sweeping through the Guangzhou–Kowloon Railway, the Eastern Expedition forces—comprising the Guangdong Army and the Whampoa Military Academy training units—advanced toward the Dongjiang region. Over 3,000 troops of Chen Jiongming’s forces gathered in Tamsui, Huiyang, and held the city. In the early hours of February 15, the Whampoa Military Academy training unit selected 200 officers and soldiers to form a daring assault team. Braving heavy gunfire, they climbed the walls using ladders and launched an attack from within Chen Jiongming’s camp, capturing over 1,000 enemies and seizing more than 1,000 weapons. This marked the first major victory of the Eastern Expedition.

Today, only small, fragmented sections of the Old City Wall of Tamsui remain near the east, south, and north gates. Each section is no longer than 300 meters and no higher than 3 meters, with significant natural and man-made damage.

Tamsui Subdistrict: Located at the core of the Huiyang-Diaowan Economic Corridor, Tamsui Subdistrict boasts significant transportation and geographical advantages. Historically known as “a place thriving by the river and flourishing through fishing and salt,” it was one of the most bustling commercial towns in the Dongjiang River Basin. With a long history and rich cultural heritage, Tamsui is a settlement of the Hakka people and a place that values culture, having produced notable figures such as Deng Chengxiu and Deng Zhongyuan. The subdistrict preserves well-preserved historic architecture, with prominent commercial characteristics in its traditional streets. There are 10 protected cultural heritage sites and 104 historic buildings, including temples, residences, ancestral halls, guildhalls, academies, and teahouses, featuring a wealth of cultural relics and historical remains... More details about Tamsui Subdistrict++