Qihou Fort Introduction
Qihou Battery is located at the northernmost point of Cijin, on Qihou Mountain. This site guards the entrance to Kaohsiung Harbor, and its strategic geographical position has historically made it a military stronghold. There were troops stationed here during the early Qing Dynasty, and a battery was established. After the Mudan Incident in 1874, under the policy of strengthening coastal defense, the Qing government built new-style batteries at three locations: Qihou (middle level), Shaochuantou (lower level), and Chai Mountain (higher level) to comprehensively protect the safety of Kaohsiung Harbor. Qihou Battery is the largest and best-preserved of the three batteries, located on the southern side of Qihou Mountain, in distant view of the Qihou Lighthouse to the north. The design of Qihou Battery combines both Chinese and Western styles, constructed with red bricks and adorned with traditional patterns such as the paired "Joy" characters and bats. The entire area is divided into a drill field, a large gun area, and a command area, with "Weizhen Tiannan" (威震天南) inscribed at the entrance, echoing the "Xiongzhen Beimen" (雄鎮北門) at Shaochuantou. It was bombarded by Japanese ships during the Yiwei War, and the historical scars of war are still visible today. The high elevation advantage of the large guns allows for better potential and kinetic energy, making the site also a place with excellent scenery. In addition to exploring the layout of military architecture from the late Qing Dynasty, visitors to Qihou Battery can enjoy an open view that overlooks the breakwater extending from the first port to the ocean, the cooling summer destination of Cijin Beach, the urban skyline of Kaohsiung City, and the unique sight of "large ships entering the port."
