Gushan District 鼓山區

History

The district takes its name from Mount Dagu (打鼓山), once home to the Makatao, a Pingpu (平埔) people also called Takau, whose name was transcribed as Dagou or Dagu. In 1923 the Japanese governor-general renamed the mountain Shoushan to mark the birthday of Crown Prince Hirohito. Under Japanese rule two seaside rail lines ran to the port, fishing harbour and fish market; the Japanese word hamasen, 'beach line', became the local name Hamasen, and the harbour and the old Kaohsiung station made the area the hub of land and sea transport and the city's political, economic and cultural centre. It faded after the station and fish market moved away. Limestone quarrying for cement on Shoushan ended in 1998.

What to see

The Former British Consulate at Takao Cultural Park (打狗英國領事館文化園區) stands on a hilltop above Sizihwan Bay (西子灣), looking over the bay on one side and the harbour on the other. Nearby, Syongjhen North Gate (雄鎮北門) is the gate of a Guangxu-era fort at Shaochuantou (哨船頭) that guarded the harbour mouth together with Cihou Fort across the water. The Wude martial arts hall (武德殿) was completed in 1924 for police and students to practise judo and kendo, and after restoration it keeps its original use. The Takao Railway Museum (打狗鐵道故事館) occupies the old harbour station. Ferries cross from the Gushan pier to Cijin, with views of the harbour on the way.

National Sun Yat-sen University (國立中山大學) reopened at Sizihwan in 1980 and has the 1937 Japanese-style Chiang Kai-shek Villa (蔣公行館) on its campus. On Shoushan are the Martyrs' Shrine (忠烈祠), a former Shinto shrine rebuilt in 1974, Yuanheng Temple (元亨寺), the 228 Memorial Monument of 1993 and Shoushan Zoo; the mountain falls within Shoushan National Nature Park (壽山國家自然公園), Taiwan's first national nature park. The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (高雄市立美術館) opened in 1994 in the Neiweipi Cultural Park (內惟埤文化園區).

Highlights

• Former British Consulate at Takao Cultural Park 打狗英國領事館文化園區: Hilltop consular building overlooking both Sizihwan Bay and the harbour.
• Syongjhen North Gate 雄鎮北門: Gate of the Guangxu-era Shaochuantou fort that guarded the harbour with Cihou Fort.
• Wude martial arts hall 武德殿: Completed in 1924 for judo and kendo; its original use continues after restoration.
• Shoushan National Nature Park 壽山國家自然公園: Taiwan's first national nature park, covering Mount Shoushan.
• Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts 高雄市立美術館: Opened in 1994 in the Neiweipi Cultural Park.
• Gushan ferry pier 鼓山輪渡站: Ferries to Cijin with views of the harbour.