A bit more Tainan - Anping

Anping Old Fort, Tainan

One of the main tourist areas in Tainan is Anping, which is the oldest parts of town. You can get a free shuttle bus there from town.

The Old Fort was one of the earliest settlements, the Dutch fort was originally called Orlando, then Fort Zeelandia. The Dutch were forced out by Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), who had come from China with a couple of thousand soldiers, intending to establish Taiwan as his base from which to increase his army, to invade China.



Anping Old Fort, Tainan

Although Zheng's army was larger than the Dutch forces, the Dutch at Fort Zeelandia were superior. Force of numbers led the Dutch at take Fort Provintia (now the Chihkan Tower) in town, to surrender to Zheng, who then executed them, but he could not initially take this one.



Anping Old Fort, Tainan

He laid siege to Fort Zeelandia for nine months, which left the Dutch hungry and disease ridden, causing one of them to detect and give important military information to Zheng. With that knowledge, and a severely weakened target, he attacked, and this time was successful. The Dutch surrendered on 1 February 1662, and as a mark of respect for their determination, he allowed them to leave safely.



Anping area, Tainan

The fort then became Anping Castle, until the Japanese came and renamed it Dutch Fort, before destroying it and rebuilding it as Anping Fort, which is not really a fort. A few bits of the original remain, a couple of sections of walk and the remnants of two bastions, but most is new, including an observation tower. The fort now houses a museum, but again, the information available in English is limited.

Anping Treehouse, Tainan

In Dutch times, the area was the centre of shipping trade for Tainan, and there were five foreign merchant houses, some of which can still be seen. These largely went out of business when the Japanese took control in 1895, and took the monopolies for trade in camphor and opium, leaving them only sugar.


Anping Treehouse, Tainan

One of the merchant houses, Tait & Co, later the Taiwan Salt Corporation, had a warehouse next door.





Anping Treehouse, Tainan

It fell into disuse in the second half of last century, and was left to nature. Pagoda trees took root in the buildings, and have grown around and through the walls. This mix of man made building and nature is now being preserved, and is worth a quick visit if you're in the area.



Coffin Toast, Tainan

There are a number of places to eat in the area, including places to try the coffin toast, which is basically a box made out of fried bread with a thick seafood broth inside it. Nic liked it.


Tianhou Temple, Tainan

 Needless to say, there are a few temples here too. We visited the ones close by, which were the Anping Tianhou Temple, dedicated to Mazu and Koxinga, and the Miaoshou Temple, which had some great pieces of origami.

Tianhou Temple, Tainan

Tianhou Temple, Tainan

Miaoshou Temple, Tainan



Miaoshou Temple, Tainan

Miaoshou Temple, Tainan