Hengchun Old Town Introduction
Kenting Ancient City, listed as a national second-class historic site, is the most well-preserved ancient city gate structure in Taiwan. The city was constructed to defend against foreign enemies, authorized by Qing Dynasty official Shen Baozhen. The location was selected by Liu Ao, an expert in surveying, and construction began in 1875 (the first year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty), taking five years to complete, making it over 130 years old today. The city wall of Kenting Ancient City measures approximately 3,208 meters in length and 6.6 meters in thickness, featuring four gates: east, south, west, and north. Each gate is equipped with a gun platform at its highest point, and there are also city towers, battlements, and crenellations. Parts of the wall have been preserved to this day, with only the four gates remaining in relatively complete condition. Despite the loss of its original charm, climbing the city gate today still evokes a sense of nostalgia. The East Gate is located on the main road from Kenting to Manzhou, adorned with a paifang (traditional archway), allowing views of historical gun platforms and gun holes. During the restoration of the ancient city, the city wall was reconstructed to resemble its original state, and the East Gate provides a glimpse of what the four gates surrounded by the city wall originally looked like. The West Gate, located on the bustling Zhongshan Road, appears small due to the surrounding buildings, but it was historically a commercial area situated on a busy route that both residents and visitors had to pass through. Today, the area remains densely populated and commercially vibrant, making the alleys around the West Gate feel even narrower and more crowded. The South Gate retains its arched entrance, brick walls, and flying eaves paifang, making it the most well-preserved of the four gates. However, after multiple renovations, it is also the gate that has strayed furthest from its original appearance. The South Gate is passed by anyone entering Kenting Town from the direction of Kenting and is the most easily visible gate, now serving as the focal point of the Kenting Town roundabout. The North Gate once served as the main entrance to Hengchun County, strategically located on an important traffic route. Visitors can ascend the city gate via a ramp on the right side, making it the only gate open to tourists for wall tours. The North Gate still retains the only stone tablet of Kenting Ancient City, erected in the second year of Guangxu during the Qing Dynasty, although the pavilion that once had a hipped roof has since been lost. To revitalize the historical and cultural flavor of Kenting Ancient City and transform it into a vibrant artistic town that attracts tourism, the Pingtung County Government has launched the "Kenting Ancient City Regeneration Project." This initiative integrates the region's cultural heritage and natural resources, incorporating attractions such as the Folk Song Forest, Kenting Story House, and Floating City Wall, while also planning four major tourism themes: Langjiao Avenue and public space, film and television tourism streets, Monkey Cave Mountain natural performance area, and a recreational route around the city. These efforts aim to create a unique, comfortable, and story-rich tourism experience that naturally endears visitors to this century-old town.
