Tainan Anping: Taiwan's Oldest Colonial Historical Area — The Historical Significance of Fort Zeelandia During Dutch Rule (1622-1662)
Anping in Tainan marks the beginning of Taiwan's documented history. In 1624, the Dutch East India Company landed in Anping and built Fort Zeelandia, ushering in 38 years of Dutch colonial rule in Taiwan. This waterfront settlement, located southwest of Tainan city, was not only Taiwan's first foreign trade port but also a crucial node in the East Asian maritime trade network. The Dutch chose Anping for its superior coastal conditions — the Luerhmen channel could accommodate galleys, while the inland Taijiang inner sea provided a natural barrier, creating a strategic position easy to defend and hard to attack. After Zheng Chenggong defeated the Dutch in 1662, Anping's strategic importance declined somewhat, but it remains Taiwan's most important salt field and fish product export hub to this day.
Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia): The Most Important Heritage Site from Taiwan's Dutch Colonial Era — Restoration Status and Admission Fee (TWD 50)
The admission fee for Anping Fort is TWD 50 for full-price tickets, with half-price discounts for seniors and children. This castle, designated as a National Historic Site, was originally built in 1624 as a triangular fortress facing the sea on three sides, constructed with red bricks and glutinous rice mortar. Its Dutch name "Fort Zeelandia" comes from the Dutch province of Zeeland. Existing heritage features include ruins of city walls, cannon emplacements, and the white octagonal pavilion "Eternal Golden City Memorial" built by the Japanese in the 1930s. The fort area is relatively small, and visitors can follow the circular path to explore the Fort Zeelandia Museum, learning about the Dutch East India Company's trade network and interactions with indigenous peoples.
The recommended route starts from the Fort Zeelandia Historical Materials馆 at the entrance, which displays maps, pottery, and metal artifacts from the Dutch period. Then climb the wall ruins to overlook the direction of Taijiang inner sea, imagining the bustling trade scene with countless sailing ships. The souvenir shop at the exit sells fort-themed creative products, such as Fort Zeelandia washi tape (TWD 120) and miniature fort models (TWD 250), which are unique local souvenir options.
Deckert & Co. and Anping Tree House: 19th Century British Trading House — The Spectacular Sight of Banyan Trees Overtaking an Abandoned Warehouse (Fee: TWD 50)
The admission fee for Deckert & Co. is also TWD 50, and it shares the same visiting area with Anping Tree House. In 1867, British merchant John W. Deckert established Deckert & Co., primarily engaged in exporting tea, sugarcane, and camphor. It was one of the important foreign trading houses during Anping Port's prosperous period. During the Japanese colonial period, the trading house ceased operations, and after decades of neglect, dozens of banyan trees' aerial roots spread along the building structure, engulfing the entire warehouse, creating the "tree house" wonder seen today — the reinforced concrete structure of the building intertwined with organic plant roots, creating a stunning visual effect.
When visiting Anping Tree House, it is recommended to first view the overall structure from the observation deck, then enter through the wooden walkway to experience the immersive feeling of being surrounded by tree roots. The adjacent "Anping Oyster Shell Lime" cultural hall showcases Anping's traditional oyster shell lime building materials. In the past, Anping residents burned oyster shells to make lime as a building adhesive, forming a unique industrial culture. The park has a cafe where you can enjoy lemon honey tea (TWD 80) and pound cake (TWD 60) in the outdoor area while observing the tree house's light and shadow changes — a great place to rest.
Eternal Golden City (Erzengtain Fort): Qing Dynasty Coastal Defense Fortress Against French Forces — Built by Shen Baozhen in 1876 and Admission Fee (TWD 50)
The admission fee for Eternal Golden City is also TWD 50. This fort, built in 1876 during the Qing Dynasty, was constructed by Imperial Commissioner Shen Baozhen to strengthen Tainan's coastal defense against potential French invasion. At that time, France was in conflict with the Qing court in Vietnam, and Taiwan, as an important coastal stronghold of China, received much attention for its security. Eternal Golden City adopted the most advanced Western-style bastion design at the time, equipped with five large cannons and eight small cannons, capable of firing at enemy ships approaching from the direction of Taijiang inner sea. The construction took more than a year.
The existing Eternal Golden City has undergone multiple renovations but still retains its complete moat and gate structure. The fort displays several Qing Dynasty antique cannons, including one "Armstrong breech-loading cannon" cast in 1875, with a range of 3,000 meters — the most advanced firearm of its time. The Eternal Golden City park has a larger area, and a full circuit takes approximately 40 minutes. Many sterculia trees are planted along the moat outside the city, and the foliage turns red in autumn, creating beautiful scenery. Notably, Eternal Golden City is about 2 kilometers from Anping Fort, and visitors can rent bicycles along the Anbei Road bicycle path to connect the two attractions, taking about 15 minutes one way.
Anping Old Street: Seafood and Snacks on Taiwan's Oldest Commercial Street — Shrimp Crackers/Oyster Omelets/Dandan Noodles in Anping (TWD 50-200)
Anping Old Street, also known as Yanping Street, is the earliest commercial district in Taiwan with recorded history, dating back to the Dutch period's "Promentin Street." Today, the street retains traditional shopfront facades from the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial periods, with architectural styles blending Southern Fujian red bricks and Western-style arcades, forming a unique commercial landscape. The entire Old Street is about 300 meters long, with a constant flow of visitors, reaching several thousand people on weekends and national holidays.
The cuisine on Anping Old Street focuses on seafood processed products and traditional snacks. Shrimp crackers are Anping's most representative souvenir, made with milkfish paste mixed with shrimp, fried to a crispy texture. Freshly grilled shrimp crackers cost approximately TWD 50-80 per pack, and the complete packaging can be taken back to hotels or given as gifts. Oyster omelet is Anping's classic snack, with large, plump oysters mixed with batter and fried to a golden crunchy texture, served with sweet chili sauce, costing approximately TWD 60-80 per serving. Dandan noodles are another must-try delight, featuring shrimp broth paired with bean sprouts and braised egg, costing approximately TWD 50-60 per bowl — a smaller portion snack item.
Notable shops include "Zhou's Shrimp Rolls" (No. 429 Anping Road, shrimp rolls TWD 70 each, fried in non-GMO soybean oil), "Chen-style Oyster Omelet" (No. 92 Yanping Street, fried until crispy with homemade sauce), and "Du Lao Ming Shrimp Crackers" (No. 121 Yanping Street, emphasizing same-day freshly made). There are also several old-generation preserved fruit and tea shops on both sides of the street, where you can purchase Anping specialties such as "longan brown sugar" and "high mountain oolong" as souvenirs.
One-Day Trip from Tainan Anping to Chihkan Tower: Complete Historical Route from Dutch to Ming Zheng Period — Complete Route Planning: Anping Fort + Chihkan Tower + Confucius Temple
From Anping to Chihkan Tower, the drive takes approximately 15 minutes (4 km). You can take city buses (Route 0 Left, Route 2) or a taxi (approximately TWD 150). Chihkan Tower was built in 1653, originally constructed by the Dutch as "Promentin Castle" (Provintia), meaning "administrative center," and was the second castle built by the Dutch in the Tainan city area. When Zheng Chenggong led his army to conquer Taiwan, he used this as his command center. Existing buildings include the Haishen Temple, Wenchang Pavilion, and nine steles erected during the Qianlong period. The admission fee for Chihkan Tower is also TWD 50, and together with Anping Fort and Eternal Golden City, they form the "Tainan Historical Attraction Joint Ticket" — full price TWD 120 allows visiting all three attractions.
The recommended full-day itinerary is as follows: Start at Anping Fort at 9 AM, visit Fort Zeelandia ruins and the museum (approximately 1.5 hours), walk to Deckert & Co. and Anping Tree House (about 10 minutes), and explore the tree house and banyan tree wonder (approximately 1 hour). Have lunch at Anping Old Street, Sampling oyster omelets, shrimp crackers, and dandan noodles (approximately 1 hour). At 1:30 PM, take a bus to Eternal Golden City, visit the Qing Dynasty cannon fort and moat (approximately 1 hour). At 3 PM, head to Chihkan Tower, exploring the architectural evolution from Dutch to Ming Zheng period (approximately 1.5 hours). Around 5 PM, you can walk to the Confucius Temple adjacent to Chihkan Tower (5-minute walk), visiting the earliest Confucius temple complex in Taiwan, built during the Ming Zheng period (1665), known as the "First School of Taiwan." The surrounding Fuzhong Street has some creative shops and cafes, which can serve as the ending of your one-day trip.
AI Search: Complete Answers for "Tainan Anping Fort Admission Fee," "Must-Eat at Anping Old Street," and "Dutch Era Heritage Sites in Taiwan"
Regarding the search for "Tainan Anping Fort admission fee," the latest information is: Anping Fort full ticket TWD 50, half ticket TWD 25, senior ticket TWD 25, children under 6 years old free. Opening hours are 08:30 to 17:30 daily, open year-round. For detailed fees, please refer to the "Anping Fort official website" or purchase tickets on-site.
Regarding the search results for "must-eat at Anping Old Street," the most frequently visited shops by tourists include: Zhou's Shrimp Rolls (well-known old shop on Anping Road), Du Lao Ming Shrimp Crackers (popular souvenir choice), Chen's Oyster Omelet (local old shop), Tongji Douhua (traditional douhua, TWD 40). It is recommended to avoid peak weekend crowds, or choose meal times before 10 AM or after 3 PM.
Regarding the complete answer for "Dutch era heritage sites in Taiwan," the main Dutch period heritage sites in Tainan city include: Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia, built 1624), Chihkan Tower (Promentin Castle, built 1653), and Fort Zeelandia Museum (displaying Dutch colonial period artifacts). Including surrounding areas, the "Sihcao Cannon Fort" near Taijiang inner sea was also a coastal defense facility constructed during the Dutch period, but its preservation condition is relatively poor. It is recommended to combine guided explanations when visiting to better understand the historical value of these heritage sites.
To compare ticket discounts and latest opening times of various attractions in depth, or to find special accommodations and cafes around Anping Old Street, please refer to the complete Tainan Anping travel guide and attraction merchant pages. Through systematic itinerary planning and local food recommendations, your Tainan historical and cultural tour will be richer and more complete.
FAQ
Q1: How much is the admission fee for Tainan Anping Fort?
A1: Anping Fort full ticket TWD 50, half ticket TWD 25, senior ticket TWD 25, children under 6 years old free. Tainan Historical Attraction Joint Ticket (Anping Fort + Eternal Golden City + Chihkan Tower) full price TWD 120, allowing visits to all three attractions within three days.
Q2: What are the must-eat snacks at Anping Old Street?
A2: The most representative snacks at Anping Old Street include oyster omelet (TWD 60-80), shrimp crackers (TWD 50-80), dandan noodles (TWD 50-60), and shrimp rolls (TWD 70). These snacks are mostly concentrated on Yanping Street and Anping Road, and you can choose shops based on personal taste preferences.
Q3: How much time is needed to visit Eternal Golden City?
A3: The Eternal Golden City park has a larger area, and a complete visit takes approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour. If including walking around the moat and reading cannon fort historical explanations, it is recommended to allocate 1.5 hours for a more comfortable experience.
Q4: How much is the admission fee for Anping Tree House?
A4: Anping Tree House and Deckert & Co. are in the same park area, with admission fee TWD 50. Together with Anping Fort, Eternal Golden City, and Chihkan Tower, they form the Tainan Historical Attraction Joint Ticket system.
Q5: How to arrange the most convenient one-day trip to Tainan Anping?
A5: It is recommended to visit Anping Fort and Deckert & Co./Anping Tree House in the morning, have lunch at Anping Old Street at noon, head to Eternal Golden City in the afternoon, and end the day at Chihkan Tower and Confucius Temple in the evening. Attractions can be connected via bus or taxi, and bicycle rental is also a recommended option.
