Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)
安平古堡
The ruins of Fort Zeelandia, built by the Dutch in 1624 and the first Western-style castle in Taiwan. The ancient walls, watchtower and Anping Old Street mark the beginning of Tainan’s history.
Anping Fort is located in Anping District, Tainan. In 1624 the Dutch East India Company began building Fort Zeelandia here, completing it ten years later. It was the political and trade centre of the 38-year Dutch rule of Taiwan. In 1662, after Koxinga besieged the fort for nine months and forced the Dutch to surrender, it was renamed Anping Town. The fort gradually fell into disuse under the Qing. During the Japanese occupation period, a customs staff dormitory and the present red-brick watchtower were built on the site. It is a National Historic Site. Highlights include surviving sections of the Dutch-era outer wall, built with red bricks bonded with sticky rice juice, syrup and oyster-shell lime, with banyan roots growing over the walls. The white watchtower on the mound can be climbed for views over Anping Harbour, the mouth of the Yanshui River and the city. The Fort Zeelandia Museum, in the former residence of the Customs Commissioner, displays Dutch-era maps, porcelain and models of the fort. There is also a bronze statue of Koxinga and old cannons. Admission is NT$70. Around the fort is the Anping historic district. Just outside is Anping Old Street (Yanping Street), known as Taiwan’s first street, selling oyster fritters, shrimp cakes, candied fruit and Anping tofu pudding. A five-minute walk takes you to the Anping Tree House, Tait & Co. and Jianshi Square. Ten minutes away are the Anping Kaitai Tianhou Temple and the Eternal Golden Fort. About 1 km further, the Anping Fishing Harbour and the Sunset Viewing Platform are great places to watch the sunset. Suggested itinerary: arrive in Anping at around 2 p.m., spend an hour at the fort, an hour at the Tree House, then eat snacks on the old street. In the evening, go to the Sunset Viewing Platform or the canal to watch the sunset. The whole visit takes half a day. Getting there: take bus 2 from Tainan Railway Station to the Anping Fort stop, about 30 minutes, or ride a scooter for about 20 minutes. Notes: the old street is crowded on weekends, and many shops close after 5 p.m. There is little shade inside the fort. If you visit the Tree House on the same day, buy a combined ticket.
Opening hours
08:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Anping Kaitai Tianhou Temple
- Anping Old Street
- Anping Tree House
- Eternal Golden Castle
- Sicao Green Tunnel
- Shennong Street
- Zhengxing Street
- Guohua Street