Niu Ma Tou Site Cultural Park Introduction
The "Niumatou Site" is located in the Taichung City Qingshui District (formerly known as Niumatou) on Mount Aofeng, within the specific zone for Taichung Port's town park, which was formerly the Army Qingshui Camp. The "Niumatou Site" is a representative of the Mid-Neolithic culture in central Taiwan and names this cultural type. It is also the first "named site" in Taiwan, with excavated pottery primarily consisting of red and brown cord-marked ware. The cultural park at the Niumatou Site on Mount Aofeng is named after the discovery of this Mid-Neolithic culture, with many cultural layers buried underground, and the surface having undergone various changes over different periods. "Niumatou" is the old name for Qingshui District in Taichung, derived from the transliteration of the Papora tribe settlement, Gomach. The park is planned not only to preserve cultural heritage but also for educational purposes, showcasing cultural site introductions, artifacts, archaeological excavation methods, and allowing people to understand the historical lifestyle and land development in central Taiwan. It also features remnants of Shinto shrines from the Japanese colonial period and facilities from the original military camp, making it a space rich in historical and cultural significance. Over four thousand years ago, the site of the "Niumatou Site" preserved cultural layers like "Niumatou Culture," "Yingpu Culture," and "Fanziyuan Culture," and it had interactions with the "Niu-Chouzi Culture" in the south, influencing each other's development. The Papora people originally lived by fishing, hunting, and subsistence farming here until the mid-17th century, when they began to be affected by Dutch rule and a significant influx of Han Chinese during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which changed their lifestyle and traditional culture. In 1895, during the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese first built a sports field in this area due to the beautiful environment, and later constructed the "Qingshui Shrine," representing the integration of politics and religion and serving as a tool to control the beliefs of colonized people. After Taiwan's restoration, the area was converted to an Army artillery unit Qingshui Camp, and as the camp later consolidated and returned the land to the Taichung City government, the Niumatou Site was listed as a designated city site under the advice of several scholars and experts and revitalized into the Niumatou Site Cultural Park. At the entrance of the park, there is a pottery marker, symbolizing the Niumatou culture dating back approximately 4,500 to 3,000 years, primarily represented by red and brown cord-marked pottery. Inside the park, the former military barracks have been converted into exhibition spaces, with the camp number still clearly visible on the outer walls, witnessing the historical past. However, the Qingshui Shrine from the Japanese era was destroyed and dismantled by the public and the national army after Taiwan's restoration, and only a few remnants remain today, such as a pair of stone lions next to the commanding platform, the stone lantern bases along the worship path, and parts of the railing, allowing visitors to recall the former grandeur of the shrine. The park also has an observation platform for enjoying views of Qingshui District and is near the rear worship path, allowing visitors to experience the path taken when worshiping at the shrine, making it a great place for family outings on holidays. ► For details on the related facility usage management, please refer to the attached downloads on the official website.
