Sihwei Park Introduction
Shihpai Park was originally known as "Monkey Cave Mountain" during the Qing Dynasty because it was a habitat for monkeys. During the Japanese colonial period, it was renamed "Hengchun Park." Early on, Monkey Cave Mountain was often used by indigenous people for rituals to worship deities and ancestors, leading Han settlers during the Qing Dynasty to refer to this place as "Xiang Mountain." Legend has it that Monkey Cave Mountain is located on the dragon vein of the city of Hengchun, and it has excellent geographical feng shui. In the Qing Dynasty, a pavilion called Chengxin Pavilion (later transformed into a Confucian temple) and a rain listening lodge were built at the summit, attracting many literati and scholars to gather here. In addition, nearby temples such as Guangning Temple, Mazu Temple, Longquan Cave, and Fude Temple gradually made this location the cultural and religious center of the time. The biggest feature of Monkey Cave Mountain is the uniquely shaped coral reef rocks found in the area, making it the only urban coral reef park in Taiwan, and it was listed as one of the eight scenic spots in Hengchun during the Qing Dynasty. As you enter Shihpai Park, the first thing you see are four stone monuments left from the Japanese colonial period, including the Loyalty Monument, the Armament Maintenance Memorial, the Commemorative Monument for the Japanese army's capture of Hengchun City, and the boundary stone marking the southernmost point of Japanese-ruled Taiwan, which document segments of the history of Japanese rule over Hengchun. The park also features pavilions, observation platforms, and hiking trails, with enhanced greenery and beautification. Here, you can not only appreciate the unique coral reef rock formations but also enjoy a panoramic view of the streets of Hengchun, making it a natural, simple, leisurely, and pleasant recreational environment. In the "Hengchun Ancient City Regeneration Plan" promoted by the Pingtung County Government, Shihpai Park will be transformed into a natural performance venue. The plan aims to integrate Monkey Cave Mountain Park with adjacent old houses. In addition to renovating the existing trails in the park, new wooden platforms, public art pieces with entrance imagery, a shaped canopy performance stage, and terraced grassy amphitheater will be created, turning the area into a cultural and artistic performance center for Hengchun Ancient City.
