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The Officer's Quarters at the hilltop are undergoing maintenance. Indoor operations remain open. Please access the site through the historic main gate and follow the recommended alternate routes for visiting. We appreciate your understanding for any inconvenience. The Takao British Consule General Cultural Park includes three attractions: the hilltop Officer's Quarters, the hillside Consulate Office, and the mountain path linking them. Established in 1879, it serves as the first British consulate built by the UK government in Taiwan and is the only one in Taiwan that has preserved both the officer's quarters and office buildings in their entirety, officially designated as a national historic site in 2019 by the Ministry of Culture. Located on a hill overlooking the port, the Officer's Quarters built in 1879 represents Taiwan's oldest extant example of Western modern architecture. It was designated as the first British consulate of the UK government in Taiwan. Situated below at the portside customs area is the office building for administrative functions. The park has preserved a complete historical mountain path with well-maintained stone steps, allowing visitors to walk from the office on the hillside up to the Officer's Quarters on the hilltop. Witness the architectural evolution of colonial-style buildings. After the signing of the Tianjin Treaty in 1858, Taiwan was gradually forced open for foreign trade. To expand trade interests in Taiwan, the British established this consulate that officially opened in 1879. The designer was British, creating an elegant architectural rhythm with continuous semi-circular arches. Smaller arches at the corners and larger columns were structurally reinforced by mechanics principles. Bamboo-shaped downspouts were signature features of Western-style buildings in late Qing dynasty. While the office building below showcases colonial veranda-style architecture with a clear three-part structure of roof, body, and base. Symmetrical facades and colonnades emphasize this colonial style, possibly influenced by similar architectural styles in Shanghai. By tracing the red bricks of the Officer's Quarters with your hands, you can touch the traces of history. As the cityscape of Kaohsiung sprawls beneath your feet, a magnificent scenery awaits at this mountain-meets-sea junction. For the best visit to experience one of Kaohsiung's "Eight Sceneries" - "Dusk at Xizi Lake" (literally "West Suburb Sunset"), the recommended time is afternoon to dusk. Facing east, the grand harbor view of Kaohsiung, including the 85 Sky Tower and Dream Time Ferris Wheel, presents a vibrant modern canvas. Looking south toward Ziqian Fishing Port, fishermen boats and ferries shuttle by with occasional horn calls in peaceful leisure. Facing west, you witness another of Kaohsiung's Eight Sceneries: the "Dusk at Xizi Lake" (literally "West Suburb Sunset"), offering either calm waters or dramatic waves. The park also integrates casual dining and tea service, allowing visitors to enjoy meals and tea at this historic site in a romantic revival setting.