Britain Consulate Cultural Park Introduction
The Shanshang Official Residence is undergoing maintenance, but indoor operations are functioning normally. Please enter and exit through the historical monument entrance and follow the suggested alternative route for visiting. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. The Dagou British Consulate Cultural Park includes three main areas: the Shanshang Consulate Official Residence, the Shansha Consulate Office, and the hiking ancient trail. It is the first consulate established by the British government in Taiwan and the only consulate complex in Taiwan that has fully preserved both the official residence and the office, which was designated as a national historic site by the Ministry of Culture in 2019. The Dagou British Consulate Official Residence, built in 1879, is located on a small hillside overlooking the harbor, making it the oldest existing western modern building in Taiwan and the first consulate established by the British government in the country. The Shansha office faces the harbor and is adjacent to the customs, facilitating consular affairs and commercial trade; it is equipped with a police station and a jail. The park preserves a complete ancient hiking trail connecting the official residence and the consulate, maintained with intact stone steps, allowing visitors to walk from the office at the foot of the hill to the official residence at the top along the ancient path. After the signing of the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858, Taiwan was forced to gradually open trade ports. To expand its economic interests in Taiwan, Britain established a consulate in Dagou, which was completed and put into use in 1879. The designer of the official residence was British, characterized by a rhythmic overall architectural appearance with continuous semi-circular arches. The corners feature smaller arches with larger columns, providing robust structural integrity. The bamboo joint-style drainpipes are also a characteristic of western-style buildings from the late Qing Dynasty. The office below, however, has a colonial-style veranda architecture, distinctly designed into three segments: a prominent roof, a body, and a base, with a symmetrical façade, making the corridor a significant feature, possibly influenced by colonial architectural styles from Shanghai. Touching each red brick of the Dagou British Consulate Official Residence, one can feel the traces of time; history is in your hands, and the beautiful scenery of Kaohsiung is at your feet, capturing the stunning views of this mountain and sea intersection. One of Kaohsiung’s eight scenic spots, “Hsi-tzu Sunset,” is best visited during the afternoon to evening hours at the Dagou British Consulate Official Residence. Looking eastward, the magnificent landscape of the entire Kaohsiung port area unfolds, with the Kaohsiung 85 Building and the Dream Mall Ferris wheel creating a lively and colorful modern painting; looking south toward the Cijin Fishing Port, fishing boats and ferries shuttle back and forth, occasionally accompanied by the sound of whistles, presenting a tranquil and leisurely scene. Looking west, one can view “Hsi-tzu Sunset,” one of Kaohsiung’s eight scenic spots, which can appear calm at times and grandly tumultuous at others. The park also integrates leisure dining, allowing visitors to enjoy meals and tea amidst the ancient architecture, presenting a new romantic charm.
