aeeble

Hongsan Castle, originally named "San Domingo Castle," was built by the Spanish in the 17th century. Later, the Dutch defeated the Spanish and took over the castle. As the Dutch were called "Hongmao" (Red Hair) at that time, the castle came to be known as "Hongsan Castle." For more than 300 years, Hongsan Castle changed hands many times. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was converted into the British Consulate. In 1980 (the 69th year of the Republic of China), it was returned to our country. On December 25, 1984 (the 73rd year of the Republic of China), the renovation was completed and it was officially opened for the public to visit. The entire area is divided into two parts: Hongsan Castle and the British Consulate Residence. From here, you can enjoy the sunset, which was one of the eight scenic views of the past Tamsui, called "Xitai Xiyang" (Evening Glow of the Western Fort). Hongsan Castle is a Western-style red brick fortress. The outer walls are 1.9 meters thick, and the main building's walls are about 9 meters high. The flagpole on the roof is about 12 meters high. The ancient cannon below the castle was cast in the 18th year of Jiaqing's reign and was transported here by the British as a decoration. Inside the building, there are warehouses, prison cells, and gun emplacements. Next to the castle is the British Consulate Residence (built in 1891), a two-story Western-style building, representing a typical colonial-style architecture. Most of the building materials were sourced from Taiwan. The walls are made of exposed red bricks, and the roof is covered with Fujian-style red tiles. The green bottle railing on the veranda is eye-catching. On the walls inside the house are historical photographs, and the furniture arrangements vary according to the living conditions of the previous consuls.