Kaohsiung Travel - Day2! Zuoying Old Town

Travel Date: 2024/04/06

* It was pretty long post, thus I separated it into 2 parts - check out part 1 - LINK *

Check out also our first day travel, where we visited Tianliao Moon World, Stone Temple and Yangyu Mud Pond and Wushanding Mud Volcanoes

Afterwards, we went to find the ancient walls and gates of Zuoying, which at the time was called Fongshan Town. I like visiting places like this, I always enjoy the architecture. The wall is super big and you can take a walk above. The city walls were built during the Qing Dynasty, in the year 1722.

In the 17th century, Zuoying's strategic location on the Kaohsiung plain made it a crucial juncture, shielded by Turtle Mountain and Snake Mountain. When Taiwan was annexed by the Qing dynasty in 1684, they recognized its defensive potential, establishing Fengshan County seat there. But, rebellions erupted. Chu Yi-kuei's revolt in 1721 exposed Zuoying's vulnerability. Forced to fortify, Liu Kwang-shi built mud walls and moats. Years later, during Lin Shuang-wen's rebellion in 1787, the walls crumbled. Officials deemed the city cursed, relocating the county seat. Yet, invasions persisted. Tsai Chien breached Zuoying's defenses in 1805, prompting consideration to return the city. In 1824, Yang Liang-bin's revolt spurred action. Through public and official contributions, a robust stone wall arose by 1826, a testament to unity. Yet, misfortune seemed to shadow Zuoying. Rumors swirled of the governor's death, casting doubt on the city's fate. Fearful residents shunned the new city. It lay dormant until 1853 when the Qing government mandated its revival. Temples, administrative offices, and defense posts defined Zuoying's landscape. Under Japanese rule, Zuoying's military importance soared. It became a naval port, and the city served as a military district. Post-World War II, Zuoying retained its strategic significance. The gates endured, earning historic acclaim. In 1991, the remaining wall underwent restoration, preserving Zuoying's storied past.

East Gate:

The East Gate, also known as the Fongyi Gate (鳳儀門), is the best-preserved among the four gates of the walled city. A portion of the wall connected to the East Gate still remains. However, during its time as part of the military district, the gate lacked maintenance, allowing vines to grow on it. The gate underwent renovation after the military camp relocated. The North Gate, also called the Gongchen Gate (拱辰門), features two inscribed boards. One on the outside reads "Gongchen Gate," while the one on the inside reads "North Gate" (北門). The gate is adorned with sculptures of door gods named Shenshu (神荼) and Yulü (鬱壘). Nearby, the "Gongchen Well" (拱辰井), constructed approximately 200 years ago near the North Gate, was relied upon by local residents during Qing rule. However, it is no longer functional, and the post-war Republic of China government opted to demolish it. An iron lid now covers the remaining hole, which even bears zebra crossing marks due to the lack of careful preservation. The South Gate, known as the Ciwun Gate (啟文門), sits at the center of a traffic circle after the removal of its connecting walls. Like other gates, the South Gate was constructed with granite. In a 1961 renovation, reinforced concrete was added to the gate's four corners, and the stairways leading to the top were renewed. The West Gate, also referred to as the Dianhai Gate (奠海門), no longer exists, having been destroyed during the Japanese rule period. Evidence of its existence was scarce until a Japanese map of the region was discovered. In 2004, a monument was unveiled by then-mayor of Kaohsiung Frank Hsieh to commemorate the West Gate.

North Gate:

We also went to Lotus Pond, but unfortunately, the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda was under renovation, so we couldn't revisit this place. It was also getting late, and it was closing time for the temple, so that ended our trip. We drove back to the accommodation. That was the last part of our Kaohsiung trip, welcome to also see my previous post if you haven't where I introduce attractions of mountainous areas of Kaohsiung. 

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Kaohsiung Travel - Day2! Shoushan Zoo

Travel Date: 2024/04/06

* It was pretty long post, thus I separated it into 2 parts - check out part 2 - LINK *

Check out also our first day travel, where we visited Tianliao Moon World, Stone Temple and Yangyu Mud Pond and Wushanding Mud Volcanoes

The second day didn't start smoothly. We planned to go to Shoushan Zoo at the opening time to ensure a parking space, but... Either my alarm didn't work or I turned it off and fell asleep. I feel it's the first time I slept so well while not in my own bed. Normally when we travel, I sleep like 2-3 hours. So in the end, we arrived way after 10 am and there were really no parking lots available. We got a paper with the address of a nearby car park where we could park and take a shuttle bus to the zoo. The car parking costs only 40 NT for 4 hours and the shuttle bus 12 NT per person, super cheap. I maybe took the bus in Taiwan only 3 times, so it's hard to say, but it's my first time seeing a female bus driver. I took the bus several years in Poland when going to school and never saw a single female driver.

We arrived at the zoo, and it was really crowded. Also, the weather in Kaohsiung is pretty hot, but I love it. Our son was way too excited and ran from one enclosure to another, I had to keep up. Not really what I thought a trip to the zoo would be like, probably more of a slow walk and enjoying the view. We also spotted several wild monkeys. There are many warnings about monkeys stealing food or bags, but I feel they were polite this time, nothing happened. It reminds me of one story, it happened maybe 4 years ago when we went to Taitung. Poland doesn't have wild monkeys, so the thought of seeing any was interesting, thus we drove to Donghe Village, which is famous for wild monkeys. I got out of the car, not thinking much, I took food to have a snack outside and I only took a few steps and was chased by a monkey. I was super scared and jumped into the car, locking the doors. The monkey, of course, tried to open the door. It's funny to think about it now, but at that time it was terrible.

We probably spent 3 hours in the zoo, our son was happy to get the gift. It was around Children's Day, so there were plenty of kids and the entrance was free for them, but overall Kaohsiung is super cheap to enter, a ticket for an adult is only 40 NT.

I still had other plans for the afternoon, so we drove to Zuoying. We parked near Lotus Lake. There weren't many food options, but one beef noodle shop had plenty of reviews, so we decided to try it out. This big bowl of noodles is really too much for a single person, unless you love to eat a lot. The taste was super good, I recommend trying it.

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Kaohsiung Travel - Day1! Yangyu Mud Pond, Wushanding Mud Volcanoes

 

Travel Date: 2024/04/05

* It was pretty long post, thus I separated it into 2 parts - check out part 1 - LINK *

Check out also our first day travel, where we visited Shoushan Zoo and Zuoying Old Town

As I was about to search for our last destination on Google Maps, I stumbled upon a new place—a truly recent discovery, as we learned it had only been around for just over a year: the New Yangnyu Mud Pond. Located in the Yanchao District, which boasts the highest density of mud volcanoes in Taiwan, this new attraction offers a unique experience for visitors.

Adjacent to the "Wushanding Mud Volcano Nature Reserve," the discovery of "Xinyangnu Lake" occurred at the end of 2022. This discovery has added to the geological wonders of the area, further enhancing its appeal.

Yangnu Lake is distinguished by its distinctive sounds—the release of gases creates a bubbling reminiscent of boiling hot water—as mud is sprayed into the air. 

At the entrance, visitors are given newspapers, and they have the opportunity to set the mud pool on fire.

You can also purchase something I've never seen in other places: eggs cooked in the local mud. 

If you're wondering, the eggs tasted just like any normal boiled eggs, so there was nothing unique added to the flavor. Additionally, there are popsicles and honey available for purchase.

Our last stop before heading to Kaohsiung City was the Wushanding Mud Volcano Natural Reserve (烏山頂泥火山自然保留區) located nearby. Before entering the reserve area, it's necessary to fill out an application form for entry.

Protected since 1992 as part of Taiwan's smallest nature reserve (less than 5 hectares in area), the mud volcano found here is the largest and most impressive among others scattered around Taiwan. This area is the most densely populated with mud volcanoes in Taiwan and is also the most developed area for the mud cone. Due to the spectacular and highly active nature of the cone-shaped mud volcano, the Wushanding Mud Volcano was designated as a natural reserve.

The place has also changed a lot over the years. Here is a picture from 2019 to compare. There was also a free guide available when we visited that explained how the mud volcanoes form and talked about the fauna and flora of the area.

Mud volcanoes do not produce lava and are not necessarily driven by magmatic activity. The mud produced by mud volcanoes is mostly formed from hot water that has been heated deep below the Earth's surface, mixed and blended with subterranean mineral deposits. The temperature of the mud volcano in the area is about 25 degrees Celsius.

At the end of our journey, we drove to Kaohsiung City and found accommodation in one of the budget-friendly options around 85 Sky Tower. It's always a bit challenging to find a hotel last minute, especially without breaking the bank on those crazy expensive ones.

After settling in, we took a leisurely walk to the nearby harbor and decided to dine at an Indian restaurant in the area. It turned out to be such a fun time, reminding me why I enjoy Kaohsiung so much and how much I missed visiting the area.

Deep down, I couldn't help but hope that my husband could change jobs and we could move back to the south. However, I realize that it's not an easy decision, at least not in the near future. Nonetheless, our time in Kaohsiung was a wonderful reminder of the charm and allure of southern Taiwan.

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