Kenting Old Town Introduction
Hengchun Old Town, designated as a national second-class historic site, is the best-preserved gate monument in Taiwan. The reason for building the old town was to resist foreign enemies, and it was approved for construction by Qing Dynasty official Shen Baozhen. The site was selected by Liu Zhi, who was experienced in surveying, and construction began in 1875 (the first year of the Guangxu era) and was completed after five years, making it over 130 years old today. The walls of Hengchun Old Town have a total length of about 3,208 meters and a thickness of approximately 6.6 meters. There are four gates—East, South, West, and North—each equipped with a gun platform at the highest point of the gate. Additionally, city towers, platforms, and battlements were constructed. Some sections of the city wall are still preserved, and only the exteriors of the four gates remain largely intact. Although the old town's towers no longer possess their former beauty, climbing the city gates today still evokes a sense of nostalgia. The East Gate is located on the main route from Hengchun to Manzhou, featuring a Pai Lou (a traditional archway) on top, along with visible gun platforms and ancient gun holes. Restoration efforts have rebuilt the city walls according to the original appearance of the old town, allowing for an understanding of how the four gates were originally encircled by the walls from the East Gate. The West Gate, with only its passage and crenellated parapets remaining, is situated on the bustling Zhongshan Road. Due to the surrounding buildings being closely packed together, the West Gate appears small. In the past, the area around the West Gate was a commercial zone, situated on a busy transportation route that locals and visitors had to pass through, making the current situation even more densely populated and commercially vibrant than before, leading to narrower and more crowded alleys surrounding the West Gate. The South Gate still retains its arched entrance, brick walls, and flying eaves of the Pai Lou, making it the most intact of the four gates. However, after multiple renovations, the South Gate is also the least reflective of its original appearance. Entering Hengchun from the Kenting direction, visitors will certainly pass through the South Gate, which has become the focal point of the Hengchun town roundabout. The North Gate was once the main entrance of Hengchun County, situated on an important transportation route. Visitors can ascend the gate via a slope on the right side, and it is the only gate open for tourists to climb and explore. The North Gate still retains the only stele built in the second year of the Guangxu era, commemorating Hengchun Old Town. The original pavilion with a single-eaved hip roof is no longer visible. To recreate the historical and cultural flavor of Hengchun Old Town and transform it into an artsy town that attracts tourism, the Pingtung County Government has promoted the "Hengchun Old Town Regeneration Plan," integrating Hengchun's cultural connotations and natural resources and introducing特色景點 such as the Forest of Ballads, Hengchun Story Museum, and Floating City Walls. It has planned four major tourism themes: Langjiao Avenue and Public Office Space, Film and Tourism Street Atmosphere, Monkey Cave Mountain Natural Performance Area, and Recreational Routes around the City, creating discussions around tourism, comfort, storytelling, and uniqueness, allowing visitors to fall in love with this century-old town effortlessly.
