Chao Yang Gate (Ahou City Gate) Introduction
Ahou was the old name of Pingtung City. In 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang era of the Qing dynasty), local gentry were concerned about potential riots by indigenous people that could threaten the safety of the city's residents, so they privately raised funds to build Ahou City. Consequently, Ahou City was not under the jurisdiction of the government, which is why there is no related record of it in the Fengshan County Gazetteer, and it is only briefly mentioned on the plaque of the city gate. Originally, Ahou City had four complete gates located to the east, south, west, and north, but due to neglect and the dismantling of most of the city walls during the Japanese colonial period for road repairs, only one gate remains today— the "Chaoyang Gate," located next to Zhongshan Park, which has been designated as a national third-class historic site. The Chaoyang Gate stands about 3.6 meters high, with the upper half of the gate tower built from bricks, forming a protruding structure. The lower half of the gate opening features a symmetric arched structure made of bricks, with cobblestones on both sides. The main gate plaque is made of granite and inscribed with the words "Chaoyang Gate." On the gate tower, there are 17 battlements constructed from red bricks, which are estimated to have been added in the 65th year of the Republic of China. The gate opening consists of three sections: the front and back sections are arched and made from long bricks, with a rectangular space in the middle. The wall surface of the gate is made of stacked basalt granite, and the corners of the wall are treated with clear water bricks, while the central part is built in an arched opening with red bricks. The arches vary in three different diameters, and the side walls also have mortise holes for door bolts. Although the Ahou City gate stands alone today and no longer exhibits its former grandeur, the visible architectural structure, with its mottled red bricks and wild vines growing on the foundation, contrasts starkly with the modern park landscape beside it, evoking a strong sense of antiquity.
