On the way to Kaohsiung, we decided to make a stop in Tainan and visit the Anping District, which has some interesting historical sites. We purchased tickets to visit multiple places at once to save on costs. The entrance fee for each place is around 50 NTD.
Anping was originally called Tayouan by the Dutch and Portuguese, and there were various versions of the name, including different Chinese transliterations. The Dutch occupied Anping in 1624 and built a defensive fortress, which was completed in 1634. The fortress, initially constructed with sand and wood due to a lack of masonry materials, was named Zeelandia. In 1662, Zheng Chenggong captured the Dutch-controlled city and renamed it Anping Town. He transformed the inner city into the inner government. In 1683, the name Formosa was changed to Taiwan, and Fort Zeelandia served as an international business center during the 17th century when Europeans sailed to Asia for trade. In the same year, the entire island was officially named Taiwan, replacing its previous name of Formosa.
Unfortunately, I encountered a problem with my phone and lost some of the pictures. However, we also visited the museum of Fort Zeelandia, which had a nice exhibition showcasing old vases and other artifacts found on the grounds. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to visit Anping Old Street on this occasion as it was very crowded, and we couldn't find any available parking spaces.
See also: Anping Fort and Eternal Golden Castle
Anping Old Fort (安平古堡)
One of the places to visit is Anping Old Fort (安平古堡), also known as Fort Zeelandia. The fort was built in 1634 and took 10 years to complete. It was constructed by the Dutch East India Company during their 38-year rule over the western part of the island. Anping Old Fort became an international business center during the 17th century, attracting European traders. Today, the remaining Dutch-era structures consist of the brick walls in front of the old castle in the south of the city.
Eternal Gold Castle (億載金城)
Another place to explore is the Eternal Golden Castle (億載金城). Built in 1876, the castle took only 2 years to complete. It was established by Qing officials to defend the island against Japanese invasion. However, during the Japanese occupation, the fortress was not properly maintained. During the Japanese-Russian War, some of the cannons from the Golden Castle were sold to compensate for the economic losses caused by the war. Furthermore, due to advancements in weaponry and changes in military strategies, the fortress lost its military value. Nevertheless, the Japanese government later listed it as a tourist attraction in Fucheng and renovated it, including changing the wooden bridge leading to the fort into a reinforced concrete bridge adorned with stone.
Anping Tree House and Tait & Co. Merchant House
We also visited the Anping Tree House and Tait & Co. Merchant House. Originally a trading company's warehouse in 1867, it later served as the office and warehouse for the Japanese Salt Company in 1911. After World War II, it became the office for the Tainan Salt Field. In 1979, the Tainan Municipal Government took over the building, and with sponsorship from Chi Mei, it was transformed into a museum. Today, the abandoned building is overgrown with banyan trees, giving it an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of a horror movie set. The Anping Tree House has been open to the public since 2004.
See also: Anping Old Street
Deyang Battleship
Another interesting attraction in Anping is the Deyang Battleship. After its retirement in 1978, the ship was transported and converted into an exhibition. Visitors can explore the ship's interior, view old maps and machinery, and even sit behind the steering wheel to imagine how it operated during its active service.
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