The brick kilns industry has declined in Penghu and is now either no longer in production or has disappeared. Penghu once had four brick factories, all located in Huxi Township. Two in Honglu, one in Lintou, and one in Jian Shan. Currently, a trace of the Honglu brick kiln can still be found next to County Road 202. The Honglu brick kiln is a climbing kiln, also known as a tiered kiln, and the entire structure is built of red bricks. It is constructed almost at a slanted angle to facilitate the workers’ movement up and down the site. The Honglu brick kiln consists of three climbing kilns: two to the south and one to the north. The southern kiln has a floor area of 17 ping, the northern kiln 15 ping, each kiln floor ranging from 12 to 15 ping and measuring more than 150 meters in length, making it a scale unmatched in all of Taiwan. At its peak, a single climbing kiln could produce 450,000 bricks. Time takes its toll; as hollow bricks and mechanized brick factories swept through Penghu, the Honglu brick yard ultimately closed. The Honglu brick yard presents a rusty, ancient aesthetic, with arched doorways and square windows dotted throughout; from afar the chimney stands like a pillar, adding to its grandeur. The brick yard is privately owned, so visitors should greet the owner politely if they encounter them.
**Suggested visit duration:** 15 minutes