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Ershawan Fort is located in the center of Keelung near the Zhongzheng Park (中正公園). The Chinese name of the fort is 二沙灣砲臺 (Èr shā wān pàotái), but sometimes it is also called Urshawan Battery or in Chinese 海門天險 (Hǎimén tiānxiǎn) = Tenable Gate of the Sea.
Click here to read more about the other old fortresses in Keelung.
History
The artillery site Ershawan Fort was installed in 1840 during the Qing dynasty and was in operation until 1895. Originally the fort was used to defend Keelung harbor from attacks of the British navy during the Opium Wars (1839-1842). During the Sino-French War in 1884 the fort was expanded to the size we still see today and served as main defense for Keelung. On 5th August 1884 the fort was attacked by three French warships and conquered. French troops occupied the city until the end of the Sino-French War in 1885 and then left the island. During the Japanese invasion in 1895, Ershawan Fort was attacked by five Japanese warships on 3rd June and occupied. During the Japanese colonial period Ershawan Fort lost its military purpose and deteriorated. After World War II, the fort was classified by the R.O.C. government as Class One Historical Monument and restored.
Ershawan Fort
Yizheng Park 役政公園
Next to the fort is the Yizheng Park, which hosts an exhibition of old military equipment from the R.O.C. army and air force. In Taiwan you can find these exhibitions in many places. Often it feels like they randomly dropped some old tanks and air planes in remote places without any concept.
How to reach Ershawan Fort
The fort is located in Keelung Zhongzheng District, northeast of Zhongzheng Park (中正公園). The easiest way to reach it is by scooter or car. Simply follow the signs to Zhongzheng Park and from there to Ershawan Fort. As far as I remember the signs were very small and only in Chinese. There are a few parking lots close to the entrance.
Several bus lines stop at 海門天險 Hai Men Tien Xian. From there you need to walk uphill. I haven’t taken the bus, so no guarantee that this way works. It is also possible to walk from the harbor to Zhongzheng Park and from there to the fort.
Click here to see the location and directions to the fort in Google Maps.