Fangli River Yidu Pavilion Introduction
In the early days, there was no clear distinction between the channels of the Fangli River and the Daan River. The Yi Ferry Monument indicates that the river water flowing to Liyutan was called the "Fangli River" as it entered the sea from the northwest via the coastline of Fangli Township, while the water that flowed southwest into Daan Harbor was referred to as the "Daan River." However, during heavy rains, both rivers would often flood, and the water flow downstream would become chaotic, with the waters of the two rivers intertwining over a wide area of ten miles, making it very difficult for pedestrians to cross. Local bullies would frequently hire people to ferry across the river, taking the opportunity to extort high transportation fees from travelers. Those who refused to pay could be violently robbed, causing great suffering for the ordinary people. In the 17th year of the Daoguang reign, the Tamsui District magistrate Lou Yun took action to eliminate these abuses by inviting local gentry to donate to a public ferry fund, purchasing public land, and using the annual rental income from this land to cover ferry costs. Six public ferry points were established at various river crossings all at once. This initiative not only solved the problem of crossing the river for pedestrians but also greatly aided the development of local transportation and promoted colonization efforts. The inscription on the Yi Ferry Monument states, "Lou shows from Tamsui Sub-District," with "Official Yi Ferry of the Fangli River" inscribed in the middle, and on the right, "Established in the year Dingyou of the Daoguang era, with public funding for labor and food, travelers can cross anytime without needing to pay a fee. Violators will be dealt with severely by the authorities." On the left, it reads, "Established by Lou Yun, Mountain Yin of Tamsui Sub-District." Initially, the Yi Ferry Monument was located by the Fangli River, but as transportation developed, the demand for the ferry decreased, leading to the monument going missing for a time. It has now been recovered and is placed in front of Shuntian Temple at the Yi Ferry Pavilion for future generations to remember.
