lea pof travels: Kaoshiung, Taiwan - Cijin Island Daytrip

To the fort! To the lighthouse! It can get so unbearably hot in June in Kaoshiung, but it's worth a visit to Cijin Island. If not for the historic sites, come for panoramic views of the city, the resident dogs, or 100NT seafood (in that order).

If you have another day to spare, Sizihwan area and Cijin is a popular choice. Simply because Kaoshiung is a port city, so where better to bask in its glory but in and around the Sizihwan area? You can bike or walk around the island. I explored more places last time.

Alight at Sizihwan Station, snap a shot of the map and you don't have to worry about getting lost.

Board a ferry at Gushan Ferry Terminal

On Cijin Island, some popular places to visit include:

1. Tianhou Temple that is even on Facebook

Tianhou Temple, Cihou is the most ancient temple in Kaoshiung City. In 1673, the 12th year of Cing Kangsi Reign, a fisherman by the name of Syu A-hua was drifted to Cihou by a strong typhoon. He discovered that Cihou was an ideal place for fishing and habitats, so he went back to his hometown and invited his fellow fishermen to bring along their families and settle in Cihou. They had brought along their statue of Mazhu, the goddess they worshipped and built a thatched hut as Mazhu Temple. In 1691, the 30th year of Cing Kangsi Reign, the population of Cihou was getting larger. For fear that the temple would be invaded by bandits, Syu A-hua invited 6 groups of people with surnames of Hong, Wang, Cai, Li, Bai and Pan to guard each boundary of the temple, and signed up a treaty of reclamation to avoid disputes in future. Henceforth, Mazu Temple became the developmental center in Cihou, and the earliest commercial center in Kaoshiung City. In the 18th century of Cianlong Reign, the thatched Mazu Temple was rebuilt into a stone one by the villagers. In 1887, the 13th year of Guangsyu Reign, the temple was repaired by the people leaded by Jhang yi-ji, a businessman of foreign trade. During the Japanese sovereignty in 1926, Mazu disciple Cai Ji-Hou rebuilt the temple. The reconstructed temple was preserved most of the original features. It was evaluated by the Ministry of Interior asthe Third Class Historical Relic in 1979.

The temple is even on facebook

2. Winding around the streets to climb up

To the Cihou Fort and Lighthouse

2a. The fort is well-guarded...

by them! (clearly also in the shade from the sun) They don't bite nor chase, just walk calmly around them.

During the final years of the Cing (Qing) Dynasty, three forts were built along the height of Dapingding, Shaochuantou, and Mt Cihou on Mt Dagou to defend the Dagou Harbour area. The highest one, Dapingding Fort, had been buried underground. Cihou Fort was the second highest, and the fort of Syongjhen North Gate at Shanchuantou, meaning "defending the northern gate with mighty force," was the lowest one. Together, the three forts constituted triangular crossfires for defense. The earliest historic record of battery construction in Mt Cihou was found in the "Fongshan Sian Jhih" (History of Fongshan County) of 1720 (59th year of Kangsi Emperor): "A large battery, smoke tower and a watch tower were built near the shoreline of Cihou."

After the Mudan Tribe incident in 2874 (13th year of Tongjhih Emperor), the Cing administration sent Shen Bao-Jhan, the Minister of Naval Affairs, to Taiwan for coastal defense preparation. The Minister then ordered the commander of the Anhuei Army, Tang Ding-Kuei and the deputy lieutenant, Wang Fu-Lu to carry out the task. They hired an Englishman named J.W. Harwood as the fourth class director general to design the fort. The construction of this Chinese and Western combined style fort on Mt. Cihou began in 1875 (first year of Guangkyu Emperor) and was finished in the following year.

The foundation of Cihou Fort is large at the bottom and oval on the top, and is divided into three sections: the north section is barracks, the middle part is the command post, and the south one is the ammunition depot where four British-made 6.5 ton Armstrong cannons are installed. The main entrance of Cihou Fort is designed to Chinese style with wing walls and is characterised by the Chinese character meaning double happiness arranged in red bricks on each side of the entrance walls.

During the Battle Yiwei in 1895 (21st year of Guangsyu Emperor), at 06:55a.m. on October 15, the Japanese cruiser Yoshino lead cruiser Akitsushima and other combat vessels to attack Cihou and destroyed the entrance transom of Cihou Fort. Prior to the bombardment, Commander Liu Cheng-Liang escaped alone to Anping at 04:00. Due to the lack of command, only 5 rounds of balls were fired from the battery. The Japanese army landed at 14:30 and the unmanned Cihou Fort was quickly occupied. By the end of the Japanese occupation period in Taiwan, the cannons were dismantled and melted and Cihou Fort became a ruin.

After the Kuomintang Administration took over Taiwan, a new fortification was built by the National Army between the Fort and Cihou Lighthouse. In 1985, Cihou Fort was designated a second class historic site by the Ministry of the Interior, and now a municipal historic site under Kaoshiung City Government. In 1991, the City Government commenced a three-year restoration project and the Fort was reopened to the public on January 1, 1995.