Dongtai Island, Hsuichiu Introduction
After the end of the Sino-French War in 1885, the Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang, Yang Changjun, and the Taiwans' Governor Liu Mingchuan personally inspected Penghu and proposed that "the Penghu Island is isolated and dangerous, serving as the gateway between Fujian and Taiwan. It is essential to construct strong fortifications, purchase efficient cannons, and dispatch elite troops to guard it." They repeatedly petitioned for strengthened maritime defense at Penghu and suggested building a city in Magong. The Qing court adopted their recommendations and appointed Wu Hongluo as the first General of Penghu. Upon arriving in Penghu, Wu was tasked to build Magong City and new fortifications including the North Fortress, Jin Gui Tou Fortress, East Fortress on Xiyu, and West Fortress on Xiyu, which were equipped with new Armstrong rifled cannons. In the 21st year of Guangxu (1895), during the Battle of Penghu between Qing and Japan, Japanese troops landed on the east side of Penghu Island at the Longmenli Zhenjiao location and advanced westward to attack Magong City. There were recorded engagements between the garrison at the East Fortress on Xiyu and the Japanese troops. During World War II, the U.S. military utilized an island-hopping strategy and, after conquering the Philippines, skipped over Taiwan and Penghu to attack Okinawa directly. As a result, the fortifications on Penghu Island did not engage in direct cannon fire with American warships during World War II, allowing the fortifications to remain intact to this day. The East Fortress on Xiyu was designated as a national historic site by the Ministry of the Interior on November 23, 1991. Source: National Cultural Heritage Database【Recommended visiting time】 2 hours.
Dongtai Fort faces south and has a military barracks architectural style.
Dongtai Fort
