The Path to the Fortress Introduction
Zuoying was the administrative center of Kaohsiung in the early Qing Dynasty and the first earthen city in Taiwan. It was breached during the Lin Shuangwen Incident, which led to the establishment of a new city in Fengshan, while Zuoying is referred to as the old city. In 1826, Zuoying was rebuilt as a stone city, which is today's most well-preserved city wall in Kaohsiung. The North Gate, East Gate, South Gate, and several hundred meters of city walls remain. The Jiancheng Plan excavated and revitalized the remnants of Zuoying City, establishing pathways that connect historical sites. The Jiancheng Path starts from the Jiancheng Pavilion and is built in the form of an aerial walkway along the old stone city, linking the existing trails of Little and Big Guishan, reuniting them separated by Shengli Road, and eventually reaching the North Gate, with a total length of 770 meters. The Guishan Viewing Platform is adjacent to the southern bank of Lianchi Lake, offering views of famous attractions such as the Dragon and Tiger Tower, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Yuan Dynasty Temple, and Banping Mountain. The design of the Jiancheng Path strives to blend with the existing landscape, simulating the original city walls in terms of color, volume, and height, recreating the historical space. Beneath the aerial walkway, red lanterns are hung, and as night falls, walking through the illuminated Jiancheng Path allows one to feel the historical depth of Kaohsiung.
