Anping Fort: Witnessing Taiwan's History in Ancient Tainan

Anping Fort, also known as Fort Zeelandia or Fort Orange, is one of the most important historical sites in Taiwan's history. It is not only the starting point of Taiwan's history but also a symbol of the fusion of Taiwan's diverse cultures. This ancient castle is located in Anping District, Tainan City, and has undergone Dutch, Ming Zheng, Qing Dynasty, and Japanese colonial periods, each of which has left its unique imprint, making it a must-see destination for understanding Taiwanese history today.

In 1624, the Dutch East India Company established Fort Zeelandia in Anping as its trading base and ruling center in Taiwan. This castle was not only a military defense facility but also a center for the Dutch to conduct economic activities and cultural dissemination in Taiwan. In 1662, after Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) expelled the Dutch, he renamed the place Anping Town, changed the inner city to the Inner Prefecture, and became the residence of the three generations of the Zheng Dynasty, hence it was called the "Royal City" by the people.

During the Qing Dynasty (Kangxi period), this area lost its importance as the Taijiang Inner Sea gradually silted up. Qing soldiers destroyed some of the bricks of Fort Zeelandia to build Eternal Golden Castle, which led to the gradual abandonment of the fort.

During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese built customs dormitories, Japanese-style Western buildings, and observation decks here. In 1930, the Western building was converted into a historical museum, and in 1975, it was renovated and a pointed roof was added to the observation deck. After World War II, it was officially renamed "Anping Fort" and has been used to this day, becoming a famous historical site and tourist attraction.

The architectural appearance of Anping Fort seen today is mostly reconstructed during the late Qing Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period, blending architectural styles from different periods, but still preserving valuable historical remains.

The Dutch-era ruins, such as the ancient city wall in front of the fort, are the only remaining and most representative of the Dutch period. Old banyan trees are intertwined on it, full of vicissitudes. The red brick sticky rice wall is a building material from the Dutch period. The red bricks were transported from Batavia and were built with a three-in-one mixture of glutinous rice juice, syrup, sand, and oyster shell powder, commonly known as the "sticky rice wall" or "Ang Mo To" (red hair soil). Wall locks (iron scissors) can still be seen on the remaining walls, which were metal components installed at that time to consolidate the beams and prevent structural tilting.

When visiting Anping Fort, you cannot miss the observation deck built during the Japanese colonial period, which was rebuilt in 1975 with its current white pointed appearance. Climbing the platform, you can overlook the Anping area and the Taiwan Strait. The Fort Zeelandia Museum was originally the Customs Service Residence, but was later converted into a historical museum. It now displays models of Fort Zeelandia and related cultural relics and historical materials from the Dutch colonial period. The Historical Relics Memorial Hall displays the history and culture of Anping.

The fort's red brick walls, watchtower, and ancient cannons exude a strong historical atmosphere. The ancient wells, stone tablets, and old banyan trees inside the castle have witnessed hundreds of years of changes. In addition, the Western-style buildings built during the Japanese colonial period have also become another major feature of the fort.

Anping Fort is one of the oldest and most representative historical sites in Taiwan, witnessing nearly 400 years of turbulent history in Taiwan. It is now a national first-class historical site and an important tourist attraction in the Anping area of Tainan.

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『Anping Fort』

Address: No. 82, Guosheng Road, Anping District, Tainan City
Opening hours: Daily 08:30-17:30
Ticket fee: Full ticket 70 yuan, half ticket 35 yuan (Free for Tainan citizens with ID card)
Transportation: Take the Taiwan Railway to Tainan Station - transfer to Tainan City Bus (Route 2) and get off at Anping Fort Station.