Magong(馬公), formerly known as Magong(媽宮), was the earliest developed settlement in Penghu and served as the military defense center of the region. During the Qing rule, the area experienced significant growth, becoming a bustling hub of commerce and trade, forming a market and seven streets. After the Sino-French War, due to Magong's scattered layout and lack of defensive walls, Magong Ancient Castle was constructed in the 13th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1887) as a central defensive stronghold. Fortifications, including batteries, were installed around the city for protection. During the Japanese colonial period, parts of Magong Ancient Castle's walls were dismantled twice to accommodate urban development. However, the western section remained an important military outpost and the castle walls served as protective barriers, preserving them from demolition and ensuring their continued use. 
Magong Ancient Castle was the last coastal defense city built during the Qing rule. While its history is shorter compared to other ancient cities, its construction was a direct response to the Sino-French War and it bore witness to multiple significant battles and the development of urban settlements. As a key naval defense site for Taiwan, Magong Ancient Castle stands apart from other Qing-era fortifications on the main island of Taiwan due to its exclusive focus on military considerations, emphasizing its strategic significance and defensive value.
Magong Ancient Castle originally had six city gates: the North Gate, named Gongchen Gate; the East Gate, named Chaoyang Gate; the South Gate, named Yingxun Gate; the Small South Gate, named Jixu Gate; the Small West Gate, named Shuncheng Gate; and the Great West Gate, which did not have a watchtower. The castle walls were constructed using local igneous rock, with battlements made of coral stone, and coated with oyster shell lime as a protective layer. Unlike typical castle walls that featured rectangular openings for observation and shooting, Magong's walls had a distinct structural design. Magong Ancient Castle has now been designated as a national historic site. The remaining ruins include two gates: Shuncheng Gate and the Great West Gate (which now serves as part of the exterior wall of the Penghu Defense Command, known as Zhongxing Gate, although its structure has been extensively renovated), along with part of the western castle wall. Shuncheng Gate is the only surviving gate tower in the remains of Magong Ancient Castle.
  
Recommended Duration of Visit: 30 minutes

Source:Cultural Heritage Handbook of Penghu County (2010 Edition)、Research and Conservation Project of the Makung Old Walled City, a National Historic Monument in Penghu County