In the past, this area was an ancient port city that thrived in trade, especially during the reign of Sultan Suleiman, which coincided with the era of King Prasat Thong of Ayutthaya. The layout of the old Songkhla city, known as "Khao Hua Jook," was designed by a French engineer and features a rectangular city plan with a total of 18 gun forts that served as fortified defenses against invasions from enemies arriving by sea from the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of these fortifications. At the Khao Hua Jook fort, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding community by the Songkhla Lake, with a stunning perspective of the city of Songkhla visible across the lake. Traveling to Khao Hua Jook can be done by taking a ferry service from the pier in downtown Songkhla (near Laem Son-On) across Songkhla Lake to the Khao Hua Jook area, or by driving from Singha Nakhon district using Highway 408 towards downtown Songkhla, then continuing on Highway 4222 to reach Khao Hua Jook.