Hengchun Old Town Gate Introduction
Kenting Old Town was built in the first year of the Guangxu era and completed in the fifth year. It is located in the center of the Hengchun Plain, surrounded by mountains such as Sandiao Mountain, Huxi Mountain, Longluan Mountain, and Xiping Mountain. The prominent civil official "Liu Yao", known for his expertise in geomancy, was hired to analyze the feng shui, using Monkey Cave Mountain as the dragon vein. Four city gates were constructed in the east, west, south, and north, each equipped with a cannon platform, and fortified with a moat surrounding the city wall. It is one of the few well-preserved ancient gate monuments in Taiwan. With a history of over a hundred years since its establishment, Hengchun Old Town is an important national historic site in Taiwan. What are the unique features of the city gate structure? Among various counties and cities that preserve ancient city remnants, the basic components include city walls, city gates, cannon platforms, gate towers, ditches, slow paths, and horse paths. Let's illustrate this with the east gate of Hengchun Old Town: City Wall: The materials used include glutinous rice paste, cane syrup, and shell ash, constructed using the "rammed earth technique," which is the oldest construction method. Today, horizontal lines can be observed on the surface of the city wall, remnants from when it was rammed. City Gate: Hengchun has a total of four city gates. Each gate consists of a city platform, with the upper part being the "gate tower" and the lower part being the "gate opening." The upper half of the city platform is made of bricks, while the lower half is constructed of gravel and mortar, with granite paving at the bottom. Gate Frame: The sizes of the gate frames at the four gates vary, made of basalt, and each gate frame is adorned with decorative framing. Cannon Platform: This is a protruding part of the city wall, where cannons can be placed. There are four cannons on the platform, two facing forward, with the other two tilted forward at a 45-degree angle. They are constructed from granite to withstand the recoil of cannon fire. Moat: The moat serves to enhance defense and was dug from the earth used for the construction of the city. Currently, the moat has been filled in or converted into drainage ditches. Battlements: These protruding sections of the city wall add to its shape and function as a defensive feature, with small openings in the center for soldiers to use as shooting cover, enhancing offensive and defensive advantages. Slow Path: Also known as the "footpath," it serves as a convenient pathway for entering the city. Horse Path: This is the road along the city wall used by guards for passage. Parapet: Located on the outer city wall, it functions similarly to a railing.
Hengchun Ancient City Gate - South Gate
East Gate of Hengchun Old Town
