Scenic Spots Information
27440
In early Qing Dynasty, “Magong (“Ma” with the third tone in Chinese) City” was called “Magongcheng (“Ma” with the first tone in Chinese).”
In the 12th year of the reign of Qing Guangxu Emperor (1886), the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang Yang Chang-Chun, and Taiwan Provincial Governor Liu Ming-Chuan personally surveyed the terrain of Penghu, and decided to build Magong Castle for defensive purpose.
After that, the Commander Wu Hung was responsible for supervising the construction.
After a century, most of the walls had been destroyed as a result of the passage of time. Now among six gates, only Shuncheng Gate remains as part of the city walls near the north gate.
In terms of size, Magong Ancient Castle is 2631.5m in circumference, and has 570 battlements in a total height of 6m together with the wall, of which the groundwork is 1.17m in depth and 8m in thickness. Magong Ancient Castle has six city gates: the east
gate
is called Chaoyang Gat the small west gate is called Shuncheng Gate the south gate is called Jixu Gate the north gate is called Gongcheng Gate the small south gate is called Yingxun Gate and there is no city-gate tower at the west gate.
The Shuncheng Gate we see now is the small west gate. Different from common city wall which will remain square holes for observation and fire, Shuncheng Gate was built by laying the local fire-resistant stones produced by Penghu, and in connection with battlement
above built by laying Lao-Gu stones. Between the two stories, an inch-height bricks were piled for decoration purpose, and then oyster shell ash was painted on the surface for protection purpose. At present, the relics of Penghu Magong Castle only left Shuncheng
Gate and West Gate two gates and a part of the western city wall. In addition, this Shuncheng Gate is the solely preserved gate house building in the relics of Magong Ancient Castle.
Directly from the right of Shuncheng Gate, you can go upstairs to the second floor battlement, which applied double swinging doors so that visitors can access freely. When overlooking the Penghu Sea from the door frames in the distance, it is really refreshing
the see the sky and sea connected together. This Shuncheng Gate is also a Class B heritage where visitors are recommended to save the integrity and beauty of it when enjoying its beauty.
Magong City, also known as Penghu City or Guangxu City, is the last official city of Qing Dynasty built in Taiwan.
During the Sino-French War, Penghu was easily taken by the French military. After a peace treaty was drawn, Governor of Taiwan and Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang met to plan defense strategies and both them thought that there was a need build defensive facilities
for Penghu. Thus, they appointed General Wu Hong-Luo who stationed in Penghu at the time to oversee the construction. Magong City was completed in the 15th year of Guangxu Period (1889).