The Way of the Sightseeing City Introduction
Zuoying was the administrative center of Kaohsiung in the early Qing dynasty and is the first earthen city in Taiwan. It was breached during the Lin Shuangwen incident, leading to the establishment of a new city in Fengshan, while Zuoying became known as the old city. In 1826, Zuoying was rebuilt as a stone city, making it the most well-preserved fortress in present-day Kaohsiung, with remnants of the North Gate, East Gate, South Gate, and several hundred meters of city walls still in existence. The Jiancheng Project excavated and restored the remnants of Zuoying City, establishing a pathway that connects historical sites. The Jiancheng Path begins at the Jiancheng Pavilion and is built in the form of an aerial walkway along the old stone city, linking the existing trails of大小龜山 (Big and Small Guishan) and reuniting the areas divided by Shengli Road, ultimately reaching the North Gate, with a total length of 770 meters. The Guishan Viewing Platform is located adjacent to the southern bank of Lianchitan, providing views of iconic landmarks such as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, the Yuan Emperor Temple, and Banping Mountain. The design of the Jiancheng Path aims to integrate with the existing landscape, simulating the original city walls in color, volume, and height, recreating the historical site. Beneath the aerial walkway, red lanterns are hung, and as night falls, traversing the illuminated Jiancheng Path allows visitors to experience the historical depth of Kaohsiung.
