Draft:The Kungpei Fort of Huhsi

The Kungpei Fort of Huhsi, formerly known as North City Fort, is a crucial fort site in the Kungpei Mountains northeast of Magong City, Penghu County, Taiwan. It once protected the backside of Magong Port and is currently a national monument.

History

Kungpei Fort of Huhsi was first built in 1887 to defend against enemy ship attacks at sea. It was a new fort built by Penghu Commander-in-chief Wu Hongluo, commissioned by Taiwan Grand Coordinator Liu Mingchuan. Initially, the fort was brick and stone stacked into a triple-earth dome. It was a traditional old-style fort and the only inland fort in the Penghu area. In 1895, during the Japanese invasion of Taiwan, Japanese troops landed in Penghu. The Japanese army made Kungpei Fort at Huhsi its primary occupation target. On March 23, the first guerrillas landed from Lizhengjiao Coast, and gunboats fired at the Kungpei Fort of Huhsi. To resist the Japanese attack, the Qing army concentrated its troops in the Kungpei Fort of Huhsi area. The next day, the Japanese ordered the 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment to march urgently and the 2nd Battalion of the 12th Regiment to launch a full-scale attack. Eventually, with the joint efforts of the 7th and 8th Squadrons of the 1st Regiment, the Japanese Army conquered Kungpei Fort of Huhsi and annihilated the nearby Qing troops. The Japanese army immediately announced the occupation of Kungpei Fort of Huhsi, and Penghu was completely occupied within three days.

After occupying Penghu Island, the Japanese army immediately began surveying and mapping the elevation and equipment of each fort in Penghu. It rebuilt the Kungpei Fort of Huhsi, renaming it the “Kungbei Mountain Fortress Fort.” In 1901, the Japanese government began construction, renovating the original Kungpei Fort into a light artillery and machine gun mount. The Japanese government also built a new fort on the southwest highland. This construction project to expand the range was completed in 1904. In 1907, the Japanese government completed the artillery installation project for each fort.

In 1920, the Kungbei Mountain Fort was decommissioned. After WWII, it was taken over by the National Army and maintained in its original appearance with only a few additions and modifications. The current fort is under the management of the Logistics Office of the ROC Army Penghu Defense Command and is not open to visitors.

Facility

The current facility listed as a national monument was built during the period of Taiwan under Japanese rule. It consists of the Kungbei 1st and 2nd forts, the 2nd fort attached frame, the Kungbei Mountain fortress, and the Kungbei Mountain 2nd frame system. The fortresses between the various structures are connected by underground tunnels. The fort is slightly enclosed in a square shape, with gun mounts on the wall. The barracks are located in a dome-shaped space under part of the parapet wall. There are three observation posts, a gun side storage, dome gun mounts, and three semi-underground gun storages. The fort is also equipped with a well and two underground water storage tanks.