Dawulun Fort, Military fort in Anle District, Keelung, Taiwan
Dawulun Fort is a military installation from the Japanese colonial period located in Anle District, Keelung, built on a hilltop at roughly 231 meters elevation. The compound features two cannon platforms equipped with heavy artillery, stone barracks, and defensive walls that command both land and sea approaches to the harbor.
The fort was built in 1902 during Japanese rule as a defensive structure against potential naval attacks on Keelung. It represents a period when the island modernized its defensive infrastructure to match its growing strategic importance.
The fort represents Taiwan's maritime defense heritage through its architecture, which combines gun positions with infantry defensive structures. Its hilltop setting allows visitors to understand the strategic thinking behind controlling the harbor.
The location is accessible via the Lover's Lake bus stop, from which a marked trail climbs steeply upward to reach the site. Visitors should allow time for the ascent and wear sturdy footwear, as the path can be challenging depending on weather and fitness level.
The fort includes cave-style barracks carved into the mountainside, designed to protect soldiers from artillery fire. This underground construction method was an advanced solution at the time for safer troop housing during potential bombardment.
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