Fort Mountain Scenic Area Introduction
The Fort Hill Scenic Area is located next to the Suhua Highway, at an elevation of approximately 200 meters. In the 15th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty, in response to the French military's intention to invade Suao, the Qing government established two coastal defense forts and barracks here, hence the name. In addition to the forts set up by the Qing army, there are also remnants of the "Kotohira Shrine" established during the Japanese occupation. Kotohira is revered in Japan as the guardian deity of maritime traffic, where ship captains or shipyards would come to pray for safe voyages before launching their vessels. Currently, after renovations, only the foundation of the old fort remains, while the upper fort was newly built later. The pair of stone lanterns dedicated to Kotohira has now been moved to either side of the entrance to the Tianjun Temple on the mountain. Although the ancient ruins no longer exist, the gnarled branches and lush leaves of old banyan trees provide a shady retreat beneath their cover. Looking eastward, the view is expansive, with the picturesque Suao Harbor in full sight.
