Sanfenzi Japanese Army Shooting Range

The Sanfenzi shooting range was established in 1907 by the Imperial Japanese Army on elevated terrain in the northern part of Tainan, replacing an earlier range near the East Gate that had proven too constrained for expanded use. In the post-war era the land was appropriated by the ROC and gradually redeveloped into a cluster of military dependents’ villages, among them Zizhi New Village (自治新村), established in 1951; Guangfu New Village (光復新村) and Futai New Village (富台新村), both built in 1953; Ziqiang New Village (自強新村) and Guomao No. 2 Village (果貿二村) in 1959; Lequn New Village (樂群新村), 1960; and finally Ciguang No. 13 Village (慈光十三村) in 1981. A parcel of land in the north was allocated for use by US military personnel and their families, with the Tainan American School operating on the grounds from 1955 to 1976.

Remains of the target trenches (靶溝) were rediscovered in the late 2000s as the dependents’ villages were vacated and demolished, prompting an archaeological survey that turned up red bricks, earthworks, pottery shards, and spent ammunition. The remnants were designated a historic building in 2018 and can now be ofund in Sanfenzi Target Range Trench Park (三分子靶溝公園).