Chengguangao Cultural Landscape (Guanghengfa Ruins) Introduction
On Taiwan's Provincial Highway 11 along the East Coast, there is a cultural heritage site known as the "Chengguangao Cultural Landscape" Park. It was originally the site of the "Guanghengfa Commercial Firm," which was the largest trading company in Eastern Taiwan. The architectural style features a Baroque three-arch gate and a brick archway "Tingzikau," all constructed from stone, reflecting the considerable wealth of the Wen family at that time. Chengguangao, also known as Xiaogang, is a natural deep-water harbor that has long served as a mooring point for merchant ships. Early on, Han Chinese came here to trade, and locals from the Hong Kong-Macau region referred to the harbor as "Aozai." Its shape resembles the pincers of a crab, encircling the bay, giving it the name "Xun Guangao," with the Sanxiantai (Three Immortals Terrace) visible in the distance. Chengguangao was an important foothold for early Han Chinese on the East Coast. Hakka people from Neipu, Pingtung, such as Wen Taikun, established the "Guanghengfa Commercial Firm" in Chengguangao, which became the largest grocery store along the Hualien-Taitung coastline, selling daily necessities like rice and salt. They made use of the port to directly transport goods from the western part of the island to the mountainous areas. Due to the widening project of the East Coast Highway, the northern archway was damaged, leaving only the facade of the Baroque commercial building and the Tingzikau clearly discernible, while about one-third of the ruins have become concealed amidst weeds and overgrowth. Today, the establishment of the "Chengguangao Cultural Landscape" serves as a testament to the history of Han Chinese development on the East Coast.
