Zuoying Old City Ruins | Kaohsiung Attraction

Zuoying Old City (also known as Fengshan County Old City) was the original seat of Qing-dynasty Fengshan County. First built with earth and stone, the walls were rebuilt in dressed stone during the Jiaqing reign — making this the oldest surviving stone-built city walls in Taiwan. Several sections of the walls remain intact to this day. As a National Historic Monument, the site bears witness to the establishment of the administrative center of southern Taiwan under the Qing dynasty.

Highlights of Zuoying Old City Ruins

Zuoying Old City, also called Fengshan County Old City, was established in the 61st year of the Kangxi reign (1722) and underwent multiple reconstructions, including a full stone rebuild in the 9th year of the Jiaqing reign (1804). The walls were built on a substantial scale. The best-preserved sections today are around the East Gate (Fengyi Gate) and South Gate (Qiwen Gate), where the stonework technique reflects Qing-dynasty wall-building craftsmanship in Taiwan — an important physical record of the island's city fortification history.

The surrounding area includes city gates, moat remnants, and nearby temples, creating a walking route rich in historical layers. The adjacent Lotus Pond Scenic Area, with its Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and other temple buildings, is not far away and can be combined into one itinerary. Zuoying is also home to a naval harbor, and the overlap of juancun culture and Qing-dynasty monuments in the same area creates an especially dense historical atmosphere.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

🏰

Study the East Gate stonework up closeThe stone courses of the East Gate (Fengyi Gate) walls remain clearly visible today. Observe the Qing-dynasty limestone masonry technique and the arched gate passage structure — a textbook case in city fortification architecture.

🗺️

Bring a historical map for comparisonDownload a Qing-dynasty Fengshan County map beforehand, then match the gate positions and moat route on site — a concrete way to reconstruct the spatial layout of the old county seat.

🌿

Moat path strollThe area around the moat remnants retains a fair amount of greenery, pleasant for an early-morning walk. Observe the waterbirds and the city walls in a landscape that mixes history and nature.

⛩️

Connect to the Lotus Pond temple clusterLotus Pond (Lianchi Tan) is within walking distance of the Old City ruins. The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and Xuantian Temple feature a style distinctively rooted in Taiwan's folk religion traditions — a natural half-day pairing.

Practical Information

Getting There & Timing

Take the MRT Red Line to Zuoying Station or Nan Gangshan Station, then walk or transfer by bus. Parking is available near the Lotus Pond scenic area for those driving.
The city gate ruins are an outdoor open space accessible at any time. Avoid midday when the sun is at its harshest — early morning light is best for photographing the stone details of the city walls.

Nearby Connections

Lotus Pond Scenic Area is about 10 minutes on foot from the Old City ruins — easy to combine into a half-day historic monument and temple ecology itinerary.
Zuoying Hanshin Department Store and the Kaohsiung Main Station shopping district are not far — a convenient option for a meal in the city after your visit.

Sources: Ministry of Culture, Cultural Heritage Bureau national historic monument records; Wikipedia entry on Fengshan County Old City. Photos pending Dio's own photography.

🗺️ View on the map ← All Kaohsiung attractions