Chihou Fort Introduction
The Cihou Fort is located at the northernmost end of Cijin Island on Cihou Mountain. It guards the entrance of Kaohsiung Port, making its geographical position crucial. Historically, it has been a military stronghold since ancient times, with garrisons established during the early Qing Dynasty, leading to the construction of the fort. After the Mudan incident in 1874 and under the enhanced coastal defense policy, the Qing government constructed new-style forts at three locations: Cihou (middle level), Shanchuantou (lower level), and Chai Mountain (upper level) to comprehensively protect the safety of Kaohsiung Port. Among these three forts, the Cihou Fort is the largest and most well-preserved, situated on the southern side of Cihou Mountain, with the Cihou Lighthouse on the northern side in the distance. The design of the Cihou Fort combines Eastern and Western architectural styles, built with red bricks and adorned with traditional decorations such as the symmetrical "double happiness" characters and bats. The entire area is divided into a training ground, a large gun area, and a command area, with an entrance inscribed with the words "Wei Zhen Tian Nan" (威震天南), echoing the inscription "Xiong Zhen Bei Men" (雄鎮北門) at Shanchuantou. The fort was bombarded by Japanese warships during the Taiwan Expedition, and the scars of battle can still be seen today. The elevated position of the fort allows for better potential and kinetic energy, and thus, the location also offers breathtaking views. A visit to Cihou Fort allows exploration of the military architecture from the late Qing Dynasty and provides panoramic vistas of the breakwater extending out to sea, the summer retreat of Cijin Swimming Beach, the city skyline of Kaohsiung, and the unique sight of "large ships entering the port."
