The red-brick castle stands atop the hill, overlooking the mouth of the Tamsui River; red tiles paired with white colonnades cast elegant arc shadows in the sunlight; traversing the city walls, one ascends to the century-old battery. Tamsui’s Red Fort, Little White House, and Huwei Battery, together, perform a historical narrative, making this town ideal for a leisurely stroll. The Red Fort, which has stood in Tamsui for over 300 years, is one of Taiwan’s oldest existing structures and is currently designated as a national monument. The castle-style main fortress, the consulate-style official residence, and the Qing Dynasty city gate’s south gate, all serve various functions such as military defense, consulate office, and dungeon. Walking to the front square of the Red Fort, in addition to taking a photo at the premier photography spot of the Red Fort, don’t forget to look out at the scenery of the Tamsui River and Guanyin Mountain. One of the Tamsui Eight Scenic Spots, ‘Sunset at the Garrison,’ is located here, and the beauty of the sunset’s afterglow should not be missed. The Little White House, known as the ‘Former Qing Dynasty Tamsui Customs House,’ has a history of over a century and is named for its striking white Western architectural appearance. A visit to the Little White House must include viewing the neatly arranged ‘semi-circular arches.’ When sunlight spills down, the white building appears even more pure and elegant. This simple Spanish white chalk colonnade-style architecture, with its orange roof, is very dazzling against the blue sky, and the round arch corridor design adds much romantic sentiment to the Little White House. The Huwei Battery, located at a commanding geographical position, is a grand battery made with sturdy building materials and can be considered the premier military fortress of the 19th-century wars and garrisons, as well as an important modern coastal defense facility in Qing Dynasty Taiwan. The site is open year-round: Monday-Friday from 09:30 to 17:00; Saturday-Sunday from 09:30 to 18:00.
