Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and is commonly known as the "Capital City" due to its more than 200 years of history as the capital of Taiwan under the rule of Koxinga and later the Qing Dynasty. The city's complex history of resurgence, redefinition, and renewal has earned it the popular nickname "Phoenix City." As Taiwan's oldest urban area, Tainan was established by the Dutch East India Company as a ruling and trading base known as Fort Zeelandia during the Dutch colonial period. The city's previous name, Tayouan, is believed to be the origin of the name "Taiwan."
Tainan is also regarded as one of Taiwan's cultural capitals, renowned for its rich folk cultures, including its famous street food and traditional cuisine. It has diligently preserved Taoist rituals and a wide range of living local traditions that encompass various aspects of life, from childbirth to funerals. The city is home to Taiwan's first Confucian school-temple, constructed in 1665, as well as remnants of the Eastern and Southern gates of the old city and numerous other historical landmarks.
Xunfang Fortress (臺灣府城 巽方砲台)
Xunfang Fortress, also known as Fangjing Town, is located in the eastern part of Tainan City. It is one of the two towers built during the construction of the East Gate and is the only remaining inland turret in Tainan.
The fortress was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1836 to protect the residents outside Dadongmen. It is constructed using coral reefs and triple concrete. The fortress has a square plane, with arches in the middle and banners on top. There are stairs leading to the top of the building and an original watchtower on the fort. Positioned in the southeast of the city, the fortress corresponds to the "Xun" position in the Eight Diagrams.
During the Japanese occupation, the city was heavily damaged, and the fortress was abandoned. After 1949, the Xunfang Fortress was occupied and rented by a Buddhist temple. Today, it serves as a pavilion and warehouse within the temple premises. As a result, there are many Buddhist scriptures displayed on the front of the fort.
Small East Gate (小東門段城桓殘蹟)
When City was constructed in 1735, the Xiaodongmen section encompassed several areas. Starting from Zhengdong Dongshan Temple, it extended from Dadongmen to Muzha and continued towards the right camp. From there, it turned northeast towards Xiaodongmen, then proceeded northwards, leading to the vicinity of the city guard camp and the Great North Gate. Therefore, the Xiaodongmen section refers to the two segments between Dadongmen City and Dabeimen City.
In the city of Tainan, the Xiaochengmen section is the only remaining part of the city and serves as a significant historical remnant. It represents a portion of the Xiaodongmen section of the Sanhe City Wall. The Xiaochengmen section stretches approximately 200 meters in length from Xiaodong Road in the north to around 65 meters in the south. It is hidden within dense woods. In 1966, when the National Cheng Kung University acquired the campus in the Guangfuying District, the southern section of the city wall was demolished to make way for the construction of the campus wall.
Former Tainan County Governor's Residence (原臺南縣知事官邸)
The former Tainan County Governor's Residence is a significant cultural asset in Tainan City. Originally serving as the official residence of the governor of Tainan County during the Japanese Occupation, it later became the official residence of the governor of Tainan Prefecture after the restructuring. The building had a dual purpose, serving as a residence and the "Imperial Pos" for the governor's inspection and the royal family.
After World War II, the building briefly housed the General Administration of Salt Affairs and Land Administration Office. In the 1980s, it was used as a civil defense command post and the Eastern District Office. The Tainan City Government Staff Consumer Cooperative Association was added to the front. Recognizing its historical significance, the building was designated as a municipal historic site in 1998.
Since 2006, the Governor's Residence has undergone several phases of renovation and maintenance. The Taiwan Artists Ensemble Cultural Foundation won the bid to transform it into the "Governor's Residence Concert Hall," which officially opened on October 8, 2011. Additionally, a Western restaurant called "Guandi Western Restaurant" was opened on the first floor in cooperation with Lang Yubin starting from June 28, 2012.
The Governor's Residence, a two-story British colonial-style building, features arcades on the front and back. The middle and both sides of the building protrude in an octagonal shape. The exposed bricks of the arcades and arch columns create a distinctive visual appearance, with the remaining parts painted in red and white. The interior showcases detailed carvings on the wooden handrails of the stairs, as well as unique designs on the wooden covers of curtains and door curtains. The original arc gable above the entrance was destroyed after the war and has been replaced with a simpler gable.
The residence is also known as the "Clock Tower" due to different interpretations. Some attribute the name to the presence of a clock that used to tell the time within the building, while others believe it originated from the circular shape of the original arc gable, which nearby residents mistook for a clock.
Former Tainan Minister's Residence (原臺南廳長官邸)
The former official residence of the Tainan Minister, which had been abandoned for a long time, has now been restored. Originally used as the "Minister of Internal Affairs Office," the building underwent various transformations over the years. After the restructuring of Tainan County into the Tainan Office in 1901, it became the dormitory for the Tainan Office Director, the Supreme Chief Executive of the Tainan District. From 1901 to 1920, six ministers lived in the residence. With the abolition of the local administrative system, the building transitioned into the official residence of the Minister of the Interior under the state system.
Following World War II, the building served as the residence of a senior official of the Republic of China government and was guarded by plainclothes personnel. Later, the National Tainan No. 1 High School took over the building and used it for various purposes. The land was eventually allocated to the Tainan City Government. The original main entrance on the west side of the residence was divided, and a two-story reception area was added to the principal's dormitory. The adjacent land on the east side was divided, leading to the construction of a two-story dormitory building for Tainan No. 1 Middle School. Over time, the area of the former Tainan Office Chief's residence gradually diminished. The main part of the mansion has been utilized as a dormitory for the school's faculty and staff. About 20 years ago, the last faculty member residing in the building relocated to the United States, leaving it vacant. The southern Japanese-style building within the complex experienced two fires, resulting in the complete destruction of the original structure, with only bricks and remnants remaining.
The building was designated as a municipal monument on July 16, 2001. Prior to its restoration, the structure was in a state of near-collapse. The restoration process commenced in 2010, and repairs to the emergency protection scaffolding, porch, and other elements were completed in 2016.
The building features a fusion of Japanese and Western architectural styles. The western pavilion located on the north side of the building likely served as an office and reception space, while the southern pavilion functioned as a living area. Unfortunately, the pavilion on the south side was destroyed by fire, leaving only partial remains. The mansion's roof is adorned with Japanese-style cement tiles, while the walls are constructed from bamboo and mortar. Ventilation holes are present on the raised base, and an external corridor surrounds the building. Originally, there was a porch at the west entrance, but it was demolished by Tainan No. 1 High School in 2008 as part of an effort to improve the environment and prevent dengue fever. When the building was restored in 2015, it was reconstructed to resemble its original form.
Yingchunmen (臺灣府城-東門城(迎春門) )
Yingchunmen, also known as Taiwan's Fucheng Dadongmen, was built in 1725 as one of the 14 gates of the Taiwanese capital during the Qing Dynasty. It is the largest existing city gate in Taiwan.
The Great East Gate was initially constructed with wooden floors, but in 1736, the wooden gate was replaced with a masonry gate. In 1786, the Lin Shuangwen incident broke out in Taiwan, and as a result, the city was renamed Sanhe in 1788. The Dongdong Gate was converted into a two-story tower, and additional gates and towers were constructed in the surrounding corridors to enhance the defense capabilities of Fucheng. Many houses are located around Dadongmen, and the residents live near the stone walls of the city gate.
In 1895, the Japanese attacked Tainan Fucheng from three sides, and on October 22, the Japanese army entered the city. Since then, the city has faced the fate of demolition, and the city gate has fallen into disrepair. In 1901, the government issued a plan for urban correction, and Dadongmen was intended to be preserved as a ring green park.
After World War II, Dadongmen was occupied by illegal buildings, and the tower was demolished in 1952. In August 1955, Typhoon Ayres brought heavy rains, leading to the collapse of the tower and the destruction of houses nearby, resulting in a tragedy where ten people were buried. Only the pedestal of Dadongmen remained.
In 1975, the city tower was rebuilt, preserving its ancient features. While the shape of the windows has changed, the government reconstructed Dadongmen in its original form in 1977. In 1985, the government designated Dadongmen as a three-level monument.
The Dadongmen City Tower is a two-story structure with a robust mountain design featuring orange cylinders. All four sides of the tower are white, and the second floor is adorned with octagonal and fan-shaped windows. It remains the largest existing city gate in Taiwan. The city gate of Dadongmen is constructed with long strips of granite. The city base is grand, and the doorway is centered. The west side arch is engraved with "Yingchunmen," while the east side features a stone banner titled "Donganmen".
Old City Wall Remains (成功堂舊址)
Taiwan's Fucheng Town was indeed established in 1788, and today only a few remnants of the town remain. Two of these remnants are large in size and have been designated as three-level monuments for preservation, while another smaller section is listed as a municipal monument.
Originally, the town was constructed using clay as the primary material. However, due to the heavy rains during Tainan's spring and summer seasons, additional layers of soil were added for protection. The remaining section of the town is approximately 64 meters long and 5 meters high.
In 1982, the National Cheng Kung University dismantled a portion of this city section, approximately 100 meters in length, in order to construct new classrooms. This removal affected the historical remains of the town.
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