Ahou City Gate (Chaoyang Gate) Introduction
Ahou is the old name for Pingtung City. In 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign during the Qing Dynasty), local gentry, concerned about possible bandit raids that could endanger the safety of the city's residents, privately raised funds to build Ahou City. As a result, Ahou City was not under the jurisdiction of the government, which is why there are no relevant records in the Fengshan County Chronicle, only a brief mention on the city gate's inscription. Originally, Ahou City had four complete gates in the east, south, west, and north, but due to neglect and the removal of most of the city walls during the Japanese colonial period for road repairs, only one gate, the East Gate (Chaoyang Gate), which is now located next to Zhongshan Park, remains. It has been designated as a national third-class historic site. The Chaoyang Gate is approximately 3.6 meters tall, with the upper half of the gate platform constructed of brick presenting a protruding shape, while the lower half features a symmetrical brick archway, with river stones on both sides. The main gate inscription is made of granite, with the words "Chaoyang Gate" inscribed. The gate platform has 17 crenellations made of red bricks, estimated to have been added in the 65th year of the Republic. The gate's archway structure is divided into three sections: the front and back sections are formed by long bricks creating an arch shape, with a rectangular space in the middle. The gate wall is constructed with black granite, and the corners are finished with clean bricks, while the center is made of red bricks forming a round archway. The arch has three different diameters, and the side walls have mortise holes for inserting bolts. Although the Ahou City Gate stands today as a solitary structure, lacking the former splendor, the visible architectural details, with its mottled red bricks and overgrown walls, contrasting with the modern park scenery nearby, convey a rich sense of history.
