During the Ching dynasty, the port of Lukang on Taiwan's west-central coast was one of the island's most important ports, and along with Tainan and Mengchia (currently the Wanhua district of Taipei) was a main point of entry for immigrants from the China mainland.
鹿港在清朝以前是個重要海港，與台南、艋舺（萬華）並稱台灣三大門戶。「一府、二鹿、三艋舺」當中的「鹿」，指的就是鹿港。鹿港開發甚早，曾舟車輻輳，繁華一時；後因港口淤淺，交通不便，逐漸沒落。