Xiyu West Fort (National Historic Site) was built in 1887, the 13th year of the Guangxu reign, and is the largest and best-preserved Qing-dynasty coastal battery surviving in the Penghu archipelago. During the Sino-French War of 1884–1885, a French fleet blockaded the Taiwan Strait and Penghu faced a direct threat. In the aftermath, the Qing court resolved to strengthen its coastal defenses and tasked Taiwan Governor Liu Mingchuan with overhauling the fortifications of Taiwan and Penghu; Xiyu West Fort was the centrepiece of that emergency construction programme. Positioned on the commanding heights at the southwestern tip of Xiyu Island (also known as Yuweng Island), the fort overlooks Houmen Channel and the sea approaches from the west, complementing Xiyu East Fort on the island’s eastern side to form a comprehensive island defense perimeter. The site suits history enthusiasts, families, and architectural photographers; it is easily reached by bus on a day trip from Magong or by private vehicle, and a full visit takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.
Highlights
The fort was built using a semi-subterranean method: the main structure was rammed with sanhetu (a traditional lime-sand-clay mortar) and covered with a thick earthen mound, making the battery’s profile nearly invisible from the sea and greatly reducing its vulnerability to naval bombardment — a technique that became common in East Asia as Western coastal fortification engineering spread during the late 19th century. The semicircular brick-arched gateway at the entrance (commonly called the “castle gate”) is one of the best-preserved examples among Qing-dynasty batteries in Taiwan; the brickwork is finely jointed, the arch passage runs several metres deep, and looking outward from the opening naturally frames the strait — the most photogenic angle at the site.
Inside, three gun emplacement pits are arranged at different elevations following the terrain. The original armament consisted of British Armstrong breech-loading guns; a reproduction cannon is displayed beside one emplacement for reference. Behind the emplacements, the curved brick-arched ammunition magazine is a rare intact example of its type among Qing-dynasty batteries in Taiwan: the vault’s brick layers are several tens of centimetres thick, providing structural strength as well as insulation and moisture control, and the interior still maintains a relatively stable temperature and humidity today. The adjacent barracks rooms are also open to walk through; the original layout remains clearly legible and conveys a tangible sense of the garrison’s daily routines and the actual scale of the weapons and equipment. From the fort’s highest point, Houmen Channel, the low skyline of Magong main island, and the open sea stretching to the north are all in view; on a clear day the coastline of Baisha and Huxi can be made out, and the panorama is considerably broader than most visitors expect.
Getting There and Nearby
Xiyu is connected to Magong main island by the Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge and is accessible along Provincial Highway 203 — no ferry crossing is required. By bus, take a service from Magong Main Station toward Wai-an and alight at the Xitai Gupu stop (PEN299545); the stop is about 290 metres from the fort entrance, a 3–4 minute walk. Buses run approximately every 60–90 minutes; check the day’s schedule before departing to avoid a long wait. If you ride past the stop to the end of the line, Wai-an Terminus (PEN299550) is about 630 metres from the entrance — roughly an 8-minute walk back. Wai-an Police Station stop (PEN299546) is approximately 720 metres away and is also within comfortable walking distance. Drivers can park in the roadside bays near the entrance; spaces are generally adequate on ordinary days, though during public holidays you may need to park a short distance away and walk.
Nearby sights worth combining into the same itinerary: a roughly 20-minute walk (about 5 minutes by bicycle) along the coast to the north leads to Xiyu Lighthouse, built in 1778 (the 44th year of the Qianlong reign) and one of the oldest lighthouses still standing in Taiwan — also a National Historic Site, with an excellent viewing platform. In the direction of Wai-an, Wai-an Fishing Village with its traditional stone-wall houses and Wai-an Lover’s Bridge are pleasant stops, particularly in the late afternoon when the light is ideal for photography. If you have a motorized vehicle, Erkan Village in the southern part of Xiyu — a well-preserved cluster of traditional Penghu courtyard compounds and a designated cultural landscape — is also worth adding to a half-day itinerary; it is about 10 minutes by road from Xiyu West Fort.