Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣's video: Ershawan Fort

Full blog: https://www.foreignersintaiwan.com/blog-370963385326684/ershawan-fort Ershawan Fort (aka Ershawan battery or Tenable Gate of the Sea 海門天險), is a fort with multiple canons that once guarded Keelung Harbor, and foe a breif time was taken over byt the French during the Sino-French War. Now it stands as a wonderfully preserved monument to the past, with great views of Keelung Harbor. Background: Ershawan Fort started as a seaside fortification in 1841 as a response to the First Opium War. During the war, a British ship called the Nerbudda fired on the fort, destroying one of the soldier dorm rooms. The ship later bottomed out on a coral reef and the sailors were imprisoned. In an effort to protect the coal reserves near Keelung from the French, the then Imperial Inspector on Military Affairs Liu Mingchuan decided to improve fortifications in Keelung by relocating the Ershawan fortress to the nearby hillside. The new fortress was built in western style with the help of German technicians. The new fortess was completed in 1884 and included two 6 inch Armstrong guns and one 8 inch Armstrong gun. In August of 1884, 5 French ships under direction of general S. N. J. Lespes attacked the forts at Keelung, attacking from the side. Because the cannons could not rotate, they were useless against the ships. Most of the canons and gunpowder were detroyed or exploded. The next day the French Forces invaded Keelung with a force of about 500 men. They made a cemetary nearby for their men, which was later moved to Ershawan Fort were it still remains to this day. After the Sino-French War, Liu Mingchuan installed new revolving batteries for the cannons, and created a camp below with the "Tenable Gate of the Sea." After the Japanese took Taiwan, the fort was barely used and fell into decay. The fort was declared a national historic monument in 1997. Now it is a popular attraction in the area especially because of the great view of Keelung Harbor that can be seen from the fort. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Keelung, take Shoushan Road up the hill on the east part of the city and the fort is at the very top of the hill. There is limited free parking near the top. By Bus: There is no direct way to get there by bus, but you can take the 204 bus from Keelung Station to Keeling Stadium station and then walk up the hill about 1 KM to the fort. Music: Bensound