Keelung was occupied by the French army for almost a year during the Sino-French War (1884-85). The war was triggered by France’s attempt to colonize Vietnam. After the war the fortifications were reconstructed and expanded to protect the important harbor.
If you are interested in the events of the Sino-French War visit Fort Ershawan (二沙灣炮臺). It is located on a hill east of the harbor and offers a great view over it. It was built in 1841 during the first Opium War to prevent a possible British landing in Keelung and modernized in 1884 in preparation for a French landing. During the French invasion, it served as a command post for Chinese General Liu Mingchuan, but was destroyed on 5 August 1884 by the bombardment of three French warships and then captured by the French. It was rebuild, but not further modernized after the Japanese takeover.
Today, most of the fortress is used as a park. Its a great place to enjoy the view over the harbor.
The second of the 7 historic forts is ...
In the center of Tashkent stands the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre, designed by Alexey Shchusev and opened in 1947. Its exterior mixes Soviet neoclassicism with Central Asian arches and minaret like turrets, while the interior features six foyers decorated in the styles of Uzbekistan’s historic regions and an auditorium seating around fourteen hundred. Built partly with Japanese prisoner of war labour on the site of the old Voskresensky Market, it remains the country’s leading opera and ballet house.
A short walk leads into Sailgokh Street, known as Broadway and the Night Lights Walking District.
This pedestrian promenade comes alive after sunset with families, street artists, musicians, food stalls and casual games. Once a commercial artery of the nineteenth century Russian New City, it was fully pedestrianised after independence and now forms one of Tashkent’s most popular evening gathering places.
At its northern end opens Amir Temur Square, centred on the bronze ...
Port FC, one of the oldest professional clubs in Thai football, was founded in 1967 as Port Authority of Thailand Football Club by the Port Authority itself. Based in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok and playing at the intimate PAT Stadium, the side quickly established itself as a force in the pre-league era, collecting multiple Kor Royal Cup titles in the late 1960s and 1970s along with a string of Queen’s Cup triumphs. Known as the Lions or Singha Chao Tha, the club has experienced periods of both dominance and struggle, including a brief drop to the second tier before returning to the top flight. In recent seasons it has re-emerged as a consistent contender, finishing as high as runners-up and lifting the Muang Thai Cup last season after a hard-fought campaign that included a dramatic semi-final victory over Chonburi.
Chonburi FC traces its roots to the late 1990s, evolving from school and provincial sides linked to Assumption College Sriracha before formally taking shape as a ...
Alay Bazaar, known in Uzbek as Oloy Bozori, is one of the oldest and most well-known markets in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It sits in the Yunusabad district in the central part of the city and occupies roughly 7.8 hectares. The market is easily reached by metro at the nearby Abdulla Qodiriy station and remains a popular destination for both locals and visitors seeking fresh produce and traditional goods.
There is no single agreed origin for the bazaar or its name. One popular legend links it to the Silk Road era, claiming that trade took place as early as the 12th or 13th century near a mountain called Oloy (or Alay) along the caravan route running from Eastern Turkestan through the Fergana Valley, where livestock and meat were exchanged. A more historically grounded account, supported by architect A. Ziyayev in his book on Tashkent’s bazaars and accepted by many local sources, places the market’s beginnings in the second half of the 19th century.
After the Russian conquest of Tashkent, the city ...
