Magong City (Shun Cheng Gate) Introduction
In the 12th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1886), Governor Yang Changjun of Fujian and Zhejiang and Taiwan's Governor Liu Mingchuan personally came to Penghu to survey the terrain. They decided to build Magong City for defensive purposes. Subsequently, Penghu's General Wu Honglu was responsible for overseeing its construction. The construction began in December of the next year, the 13th year of Guangxu (1887), and after 1 year and 10 months, it was completed in October of the 15th year of Guangxu (1889). This was the last city wall built by the Qing Dynasty in Taiwan. The construction of Magong City also consolidated Penghu’s military, economic, and administrative centers. Magong City is also known as "Penghu City" or "Guangxu City," and it is the latest official city built in Taiwan. During the Sino-French War, Penghu was easily captured by the French forces. After the treaty, Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan and Governor Yang Changjun of Fujian and Zhejiang discussed defense matters and deemed it necessary to establish a military defensive city in Penghu, leading to the supervision of its construction by General Wu Honglu, which was completed in the 15th year of Guangxu (1889). The scale of the ancient city of Magong is 789.2 zhang, 2 chi, and 5 cun around. It has 570 crenels, with a wall height connecting to the crenel of 1 zhang and 8 chi, a foundation depth of 3 chi and 5 cun, and a thickness of 2 zhang and 4 chi. Magong Ancient City has six gates: the East Gate is named Chaoyang Gate, the Small West Gate is called Shun Cheng Gate, the South Gate is named Jixu Gate, the North Gate is called Gongchen Gate, the Small South Gate is named Yingxun Gate, and the West Gate does not have a city tower. Currently, Shun Cheng Gate is regarded as the Small West Gate. Unlike typical city walls that reserve square holes for observation and shooting, Shun Cheng Gate is built with local volcanic rock, topped with crenels made of old stones, with a layer of brick placed in between for decoration, and covered with oyster shell lime for protection. Currently, the ruins of Magong City include only Shun Cheng Gate, the Big West Gate, and part of the western city wall. Shun Cheng Gate is the only preserved gate tower structure among the remaining ruins of Magong Ancient City and is categorized as a second-class historical site. 【Recommended Stay Time】 0.5 hours
Magong Old City (Shun Cheng Gate)
