Hengchun Old Town Introduction
Hengchun Old Town, listed as a national second-class historic site, is the most well-preserved ancient city wall monument in Taiwan. The initial purpose of building the ancient city was to resist foreign enemies. It was authorized for construction by Qing Dynasty official Shen Baozhen, with the site selected by Liu Nao, an expert in land surveying. Construction began in 1875 (the first year of the Guangxu period) and took five years to complete, making it over 130 years old today. The total length of the Hengchun Old Town city wall is approximately 3,208 meters, with a thickness of about 6.6 meters. There are four city gates—east, south, west, and north—each equipped with a fortress at the high point of the gate. Additionally, watchtowers and crenels were built. Parts of the city wall have been preserved to this day, and only the appearances of the four city gates remain largely intact. Although the beauty of the Hengchun watchtowers is no longer what it once was, the historical sentiment is still evoked when one climbs the city gates today. The east gate is situated along the main road from Hengchun to Manzhou, featuring a decorative archway on top, along with remnants of the fortress and gun holes. During the restoration of the historic site, the city wall was rebuilt to reflect its original appearance. From the east gate, one can imagine how the four city gates were surrounded by the city wall. The west gate, which only retains the gate opening and parapets, is located on the bustling Zhongshan Road. Due to the tightly packed houses around it, the west gate appears small, but in the past, it was the commercial area. The west gate is positioned along a busy traffic route, making it mandatory for both local residents and visitors to pass through the city gate. Today, this area is even more densely populated and commercially vibrant, making the alleys around the west gate feel narrower and more crowded. The south gate is the most well-preserved gate among the four, still featuring an arched gate, brick walls, and a flying eave archway. However, it has undergone multiple renovations and is thus the least true to its original form. Visitors entering Hengchun from the Kenting direction will definitely pass through the south gate, which is the most visible one and has now become the central point of Hengchun Township's roundabout. The north gate was once the main entrance of Hengchun County and is situated on an important traffic artery. Visitors can ascend the north gate via a slope on its right side, making it the only gate open for visitors to climb and explore. The north gate still retains the only stele from the second year of the Guangxu period, commemorating Hengchun Old Town, although the original pavilion built in the resting-hill style with a single eave can no longer be seen. To revive the historical and cultural flavor of Hengchun Old Town and transform it into an artsy town that attracts tourists, the Pingtung County Government has promoted the "Hengchun Old Town Regeneration Project". This initiative integrates Hengchun's cultural connotations and natural resources, adding unique attractions such as the Forest of Folk Songs, the Hengchun Story Museum, and the Floating City Wall. It also plans four major tourism themes: Langjiao Boulevard and government office space, film and television tourism streets, the natural performance area of Hou Dong Mountain, and recreational routes around the city. The aim is to create buzz, comfort, storytelling, and uniqueness in tourism, allowing visitors to naturally fall in love with this century-old town.
