The year following the Sino-French War (1884-1885) at Danshui, for the sake of strengthening coastal defense in Taiwan, the Qing government decided to construct ten new forts at Penghu (Pescadores), Jilong, Huwei (Danshui), Anping (Tainan), and Qihou (Kaoshung); one of which was the Huwei Fort or “Bei Men Suo Yao”, meaning the gate keeper of the northern Taiwan.

　　In 1886, the appointed governor Liu Ming-Chuan hired German technician Max E. Hecht to oversee the construction project.  Hecht’s architectural design was base on western forts.  The construction completed in 1889 as the cannon deployed.  The top of the Huwei Fort bears the carving of “Bei Men Suo Yao” by the governor Liu himself.  Since the Fort has never been involved in actual war, the main structure of the fort remains intact and is well preserved.