Scenic Spots Information
31800
Located in Magong City, the Jinguitou Fortress sits in the westernmost of the Magong Peninsula west of the Penghu Island outside the southwestern gate of Magong Castle
over the
Guitou Hill in the southwest of Magong Ao (Magong Bay today). It was one of the fortresses protecting the Penghu Prefecture Hall in the Qing dynasty and embracing Magong Port together with the Dashan Island (Fongguei Cave on Shetou Hill, formerly
called the
“snake head”) on the opposite side. In 21 November 2001, it was announced as a national historical monument.
In January 1886, Taiwan Provincial Governor Ming-chun Liu ordered Hong-lo Wu, head of the Penghu Military Headquarters, to build four fortresses for the new Armstrong's rifled breechloader gun. Those new fortresses were the Jingguitou Fortress, Xiyu West
Fortress,
Xiyu East Fortress, and Dacheng North Fortress (Gongbei Fortress).
After the Japanese occupation, the Sino-French War of 1884-85, and WWII, the National Army of the republican China garrisoned those fortresses. As the original cannons were non-defensive anymore, they all were scraped in 1951, and the base became the barrack
of Tiannan Battalion (signal battalion) under the Penghu Defense Command. A subway was then built on the south side of the fortress leading to coast beneath the cliff in the south. Later, the military hand the barrack over to the Penghu County Government.
As the most powerful fortress in Taiwan, the Jinguitou Fortress was equipped with one 7-inch, one 10-inch, and one 12-inch caliber Armstrong's rifled breechloader gun. The style of this fortress is similar to that of the Xiyu West Fortress, Xiyu East Fortress,
and Dacheng North Fortress. All were in a dome-shaped cement and brick structure. On the entrance gatehouse, a tablet reads “Tianna Yaoshi” (Key to Tiannan) was hoisted. The city wall is a concrete structure bonded with basalt. There is also vegetation, such
as the cactus and sisal hemp, which forms the unique landscape of the fortress.
The clay wall, fortress blindage, fortress base, and entrance gatehouse are all well preserved. The clay wall was made with the basalt from Penghu and bonded with cement.
As it was a barrack of the signal battalion and all military quarters have been used, the quarters are less moist. There are spaces of different sizes inside these quarters in less than good condition. They were refurbished and restored after the battalion
moved out. Models of different types of troops are put inside to restore the looks of yesteryear with a modern touch.
The fortress has been re-opened for tourism. There are models of different types of troops and cannonballs in the park. Next to the command of the Qing dynasty, there are cannonball models and one retired M1 40mm anti-aircraft gun. Combined with the demonstration
of the underground tunnel warfare of the fortress, this historical monument has been revitalized for reuse and has become a new highlight of the cultural tours on Penghu.
【Recommended length of stay】2.5 hour