Cheng-Kuang-Ao Cultural Landscape (Guang-Heng-Fa Ruins) Introduction
On the Taiwan Provincial Highway 11 along the eastern coast in Chenggong Township, Taitung County, there is a cultural heritage site known as the "Chengguangao Cultural Landscape" Park. This site was originally the "Guanghengfa Trading Company" ruins, which was the largest trading company in eastern Taiwan at the time. The architectural style is Baroque, featuring a three-arch gate and a brick arcade-style pavilion, both constructed with stone, showcasing the significant financial strength of the Weng family at that time. Chengguangao, also known as Xiaogang, is a natural deep-water harbor that has been a docking area for fishing boats for a long time. Early Han Chinese merchants came here to trade, and locals referred to this harbor as "Aozai," similar to how it was called in the Hong Kong-Macau area. Additionally, due to its shape resembling the claws of a crab, encircling the bay, it is also called "Xun Guangao." In the distance, one can see Sanxiantai. Chengguangao served as an important stronghold for early Han settlers on the east coast. Wen Taikun, a Hakka from Neipu, Pingtung, established the "Guanghengfa Trading Company" in Chengguangao, becoming the largest grocery store along the Huadong coastline at that time, selling daily necessities like rice and salt, and taking advantage of the port to transport goods directly from the west to the mountainous areas. Due to road widening works on the eastern coastal highway, the northern side of the gate was damaged, leaving only the facade of the Baroque-style trading company and the pavilion clearly identifiable, while about one-third of the remaining walls are now concealed among wild grasses. Today, the establishment of the "Chengguangao Cultural Landscape" serves as a testament to the history of Han people's reclamation and development on the eastern coast.
