Kaohsiung British Consulate at Takao Cultural Park Introduction
The Shanshang Official Residence is currently undergoing maintenance work, but indoor operations continue normally. Please enter and exit through the historic main gate and follow the suggested alternate routes for your visit. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The Dagou British Consulate Cultural Park includes three locations: the Shanshang Consulate Official Residence, the Shansha Consulate Office, and the ancient hiking trail. It is the first consulate established by the British government in Taiwan and is the only consulate complex in Taiwan that preserves both the official residence and the office intact. In 2019, it was announced by the Ministry of Culture to be designated as a national historic site. The Dagou British Consulate Official Residence was built in 1879, situated on a small hill overlooking the harbor. It is the oldest existing Western-style modern building in Taiwan and the first consulate established by the British government in Taiwan. The office located below faces the harbor and is adjacent to the customs, facilitating consular business and commercial trade, featuring a police station and cells. The park preserves a well-maintained ancient hiking trail connecting the residence and the consulate, with intact stone steps, allowing visitors to walk from the office at the bottom to the official residence at the top. This area reflects the changes in Taiwan's colonial architectural styles. After the Treaty of Tianjin was signed in 1858, Taiwan was forced to gradually open trade ports. To expand economic interests in Taiwan, the British established a consulate in Dagou, which was completed and put into service in 1879. The residence was designed by a British architect, featuring a harmonious series of semi-circular arches that give the building a rhythmic appearance. The smaller arches at the corners and larger columns serve a practical structural purpose, while the bamboo joint-style downspouts are characteristic of Western-style buildings from the late Qing Dynasty. The office below adopts a colonial veranda architectural style, consisting of a clear three-part structure: roof, body, and base. The front emphasizes symmetry, and the corridors are an important feature, possibly influenced by colonial architectural styles from Shanghai. By lightly touching each red brick of the Dagou British Consulate Official Residence, you can feel the traces of time; history is in your hands, and the beautiful scenery of Kaohsiung is at your feet. At this juncture of mountains and seas, stunning views abound. One of Kaohsiung's eight scenic spots, "Xizi Twilight," is best viewed at the Dagou British Consulate Official Residence in the afternoon to evening. Looking east, the magnificent landscape of the Kaohsiung harbor area unfolds before your eyes, with the Kaohsiung 85 Building and Dream Mall Ferris Wheel creating a lively and colorful modern picture. Looking south, you can gaze towards Qijin Fishing Port, where fishing boats and ferries traverse back and forth, occasionally accompanied by the sound of foghorns, presenting a calm and leisurely scene. Looking west, you'll find "Xizi Twilight," one of Kaohsiung's eight scenic spots, sometimes calm and serene, sometimes grand and majestic. The park also combines leisure dining options, allowing visitors to have meals and enjoy tea, bringing new romantic elements to the historic architecture.
