Taku Forts, Military fortress in Tanggu District, China
Taku Forts are four main fortifications built at the Hai River estuary with stone walls and multiple cannon positions set throughout the structures. The site displays nineteenth-century defensive architecture with original construction features that remain visible today.
The forts began as defensive positions needed against Western naval forces arriving at the river mouth. After 1841, they were expanded and strengthened to resist increasing pressure from foreign fleets seeking access to the region.
These fortifications were key defense points where Chinese forces tried to resist foreign naval powers entering their waters. Walking through the remains today gives a sense of how people viewed protection of their territory during a time of outside pressure.
The site is reachable by public transportation from central Tianjin with bus services stopping near the main entrance. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the grounds are uneven and include stairs climbing to different levels of the fortifications.
The cannon positions were built with reinforced concrete foundations designed to withstand heavy artillery fire. This sturdy construction shows how technically the defenders planned to protect their positions against weapons fire.
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