The Xiongzhen North Gate Fort Reopens as the Prime Spot to View Large Ships Entering Kaohsiung Harbor

By Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

The Xiongzhen North Gate Fort, a municipal-designated historic site in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, is one of three forts in the Takao area. For years, it was under military control and inaccessible to the public. Now, after coordination between the Kaohsiung City Government’s Urban Development Bureau and the military, it has been fully opened. A viewing platform has been constructed using methods that do not damage the original structure of the fort. Visitors can now experience the spectacular sight of large ships entering the harbor from the very front line of Kaohsiung Harbor’s First Port, as well as enjoy distant views of the Qihou Lighthouse on Qijin Island.

Originally known as Takao Port, Kaohsiung Harbor was the second-largest port in southern Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, after Anping Port. The Xiongzhen North Gate Fort was built in the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875), alongside the Qihou Fort, following the Mudan Incident, to guard Kaohsiung Harbor. The entrance of the Xiongzhen North Gate is a Chinese-style gate made of red bricks, with the inscription “Xiongzhen North Gate” on the lintel. The front wall of the gun emplacement was constructed using the rammed earth method. In 1994, the Kaohsiung City Government designated it as a historic site, and it was restored in 1995.

Due to the naturally strategic elevated terrain on both sides of Kaohsiung Harbor, the Xiongzhen North Gate Fort long served as a key military post for harbor defense and was under prolonged military control as a strategic artillery position. Now that its military role has diminished, the site has been opened to the public. It will be connected with nearby attractions such as Shiziwan, the Former British Consulate at Takao, Shaochuan Street, and the Gushan Ferry Terminal, enriching the range of recreational activities including sunset viewing, ferry rides, and ship-watching.

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