Fangli Creek Ferry Pavilion Introduction
In the early days, the river channels of Fangli Creek and Daan Creek did not have a clear distinction. The Yidu Monument indicated that the creek water flowing to Qiyutan after the confluence was referred to as "Fangli Creek" as it traveled northwest through Fangli Village's coast into the sea, while the water flowing southwest into Daan Harbor was called "Daan Creek." However, during heavy rains, both Fangli Creek and Daan Creek frequently flooded, with the downstream currents often chaotic. The river surfaces of the two creeks intertwined, stretching up to ten miles, making it very difficult for pedestrians to cross the river. Local wealthy landlords often hired people to operate boats for ferrying, using this as an excuse to extort high transportation fees, and travelers who refused to pay could even be robbed violently, causing suffering for the common people. In the seventeenth year of the Daoguang era, a local magistrate in Tamsui, Liu Yun, aimed to eliminate these abuses by gathering local gentry to donate to a charity ferry fund, purchasing land for charity. The rental income from this land would fund the ferry services, and ultimately, six charity ferry points were established at river crossings. This not only addressed the issue of crossing for pedestrians but also significantly aided the development of local transportation and promoted settlement activities. The inscription on the Yidu Monument states, “Liu demonstrates of Tamsui Prefecture,” with “Official charity ferry of Fangli Creek” written in the center. The right side reads, “Established in the Dingyou year of Daoguang, with official labor and food provided for the ferry, pedestrians may cross as needed without having to pay a cent. Violators will be dealt with severely by the authorities.” The left side notes, “Established by Liu Yun, the governor of Tamsui Prefecture.” The Yidu Monument was initially located by Fangli Creek, but as transportation improved and the demand for ferries decreased, the monument went missing for a time. It has since been recovered and is now placed at Yidu Pavilion in front of Shuntian Temple for future generations to remember.
