Tamsui Customs Wharf Park Introduction
Located on Zhongzheng Road, the Customs Wharf was an extremely important port in Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, particularly after the Treaty of Tianjin in 1858 and the Treaty of Peking in 1860, which gave it a significant role in trade history. At that time, the port office and the British consulate boat house were established here. The Chinese government formally invited the British national Horatio N. Lay to serve as the "Chief Customs Officer," transferring customs management rights to foreigners, marking an important historical evidence of foreign invasions in northern Taiwan during the late Qing period. Within the Tamsui Customs Wharf area, there are Western-style buildings and two "Port Warehouses" constructed during the Japanese occupation, which are now designated as historic sites. From the riverside walkway, one can clearly see the Tamsui Customs Wharf, which is approximately 150 meters long and built with a gravity wall structure, made of hard stones with pebbles filling the interior to resist erosion from the tides. The main materials used for construction were Guanyin stone and Jiligan stone, along with "mooring stones" and "boarding areas" for loading and unloading goods. Currently, it serves as a naval base and falls within a military camp area. Looking out at this relic from the Qing Dynasty invokes images of the bustling port from a century ago. The area is open for bicycles to enter for touring, and it also features a "Bicycle Energy Station" providing rest, simple repairs, and consultation services. The landscape offers excellent views, allowing visitors to enjoy the sight of Guandu Bridge from the riverside and the beautiful sunset at the Tamsui River estuary. Nearby, there is the "Tamsui Fisheries Life Culture Image Museum," which displays many Tamsui scenic postcards, as well as a scenic café where visitors can enjoy mountain and sea views, as well as sunset scenery while resting.
