TAINAN ANPING DISTRICT QUICK FACTS –
- 3.8 km from HOTEL COZZI Ximen Tainan (10 minutes by taxi).
- Named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan in 2012.
- Originally established by the Dutch, Anping District dates back more than 300 years.
- During the Japanese occupation, the population of Anping was 5,972 in year 1904.
- Home to a number of historical sites, including those listed below.
- Don’t forget to try the delicious array of foods including shrimp rolls, oyster rolls, fish ball soup, and oyster pancakes.
Taiwan’s oldest district, in Taiwan’s oldest city. Brick streets. Old city walls. Once thriving shops and factories devoured by the forces of nature, and the continuous drive of the districts evolution into a modern city.
“If you never visited Anping, you never really visited Taiwan” – Taiwan Government
The roots of Anping date to the 17th century, when the Dutch East India Trading Company established a “high sandy down” called Taoyuan and built Fort Zeelandia on the then island of Formosa (now called Taiwan). During the seventeenth century, when Europeans from many countries sailed to Asia to develop trade, Formosa became one of East Asia’s most important transit sites, and Fort Zeelandia, an international business center. As trade at the time depended on “military force to control the markets”, the value of Formosa to the Dutch was in its strategic position, enabling them to control trade routes north to Japan and Korea, and south and west to ports in Mainland China.
Today, visitors have the opportunity to view firsthand the evolution of colonial era Anping into modern day Tainan, and traces of Anping’s history can be found throughout the District. While you tour, look for the colorful “Sword Lions” hung on old residences. During the era, the sword lion was used as a form of identification, and relates to our modern day address system. The sword lions are designed in different sizes with diverse facial expressions and colors, in which the color of the sword lion represented the family’s position in the society. When you tour, be sure to keep an eye out for other unique traces of colonial era Anping.
PLANNING TIPS –
Take Buses 2, 88, and 99 from across the Tainan train station, and get off at Fort Anping. Walk or rent a bike to explore the streets of Anping. Tainan public bike rental T-Bike has a station not far away from Fort Anping at Anyi Parking Lot on Anyi Road across the Anyi Bridge. Take a walk or ride a bike on the elevated bike path along the Yangshui River on the northern side of the district and enjoy views of mangrove forests and lagoons. The bike path is about 2 kilometers long and connects with the Sihcao Bridge at the seaside.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED SITES IN THE AREA –
- Eternal Golden Castle
- Sihcao Mangrove Green Tunnel
- Taijiang National Park Lagoon
PLACES TO VISIT
1. Fort Anping (Fort Zeelandia)
In 1624, the Dutch arrived in Formosa and established “Fort Zeelandia,” the construction of which was completed in 1634. The fort, which locals now call Fort Anping, served as the administration center for the Dutch ruling Taiwan. Today, only a few wall ruins are left from the 17th century fort.
2. Anping Tree House (Former Talt & Co. Merchant House)
Located behind the Tait & Co. Mercent House, the Anping Tree House was originally the warehouse of Tait & Co. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used as the office and warehouse of the Salt Association of Japan, with the Taiwan Salt Company assuming control after World War II in 1945. Later, the salt industry in Anping declined, and the warehouse was abandoned. Today, the aerial roots and branches of banyan trees wrap around the building, and combined with the ruined red bricks, create a picture-worthy site.
3. Haishan (Sea Mountain) Hostel
In 1683, Taiwan came under the control of the Qing dynasty from China, and troops were stationed in hostels for defense. Tucked in the Haitou community next to east side of Fort Zeelandia, the Haishan Hostel is one of five hostels established at the time.
4. Old buildings in the area surrounding Fort Anping
The Haitoushe community, which lies to the east of Fort Anping, is especially full of old buildings. Some of the houses are still occupied, however many have been reduced to ruins. Stroll the narrow, winding lanes of the community and experience the nostalgia of colonial Anping.
5. Yanping Street
Yanping Street is the oldest among the old streets in Tainan. It is also known as Anping Old Street or Taiwan’s 1st Street, as it is the first established merchant street in the area. This street is host to a number of shops and food stalls that sell a variety of souvenirs and local delicacies.
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