A Glimpse of the National Hero Zheng Chenggong's Tainan Anping Fortress.

This time, I traveled to Tainan and visited one of its most iconic landmarks, the Anping Old Fort. This fortress has witnessed nearly 400 years of history, from Dutch rule, the Ming Zheng period, the Qing Dynasty, and Japanese occupation to the present day. It can be said that it has seen the evolution of the old city of Tainan Anping. Looking into its history, the Dutch built Taiwan's first fortress in 1624 in Dayuan (now Anping), which was then called Fort Zeelandia. Later, Zheng Chenggong drove out the Dutch and established the first Han Chinese regime in Taiwan's history, renaming the place Anping. This is the origin of the current name 'Anping Old Fort.' The Zheng family ruled here for three generations, so it was also called the 'King's City' at that time. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan was officially incorporated into the territory, and the political center shifted to the inner city (Chihkan Tower, Grand Matsu Temple). Anping Old Fort gradually lost its importance, and many buildings were later dismantled. For example, Shen Baozhen dismantled the outer city wall to build 'Eternal Golden Castle,' a typical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul 😆. Now, when I visit Anping Old Fort, I can hardly see the sea (just a glimpse in the distance), but hundreds of years ago, it was surrounded by the ocean. At that time, many cannons were installed around the fortress for coastal defense. There are many delicious foods near the old fort, especially shaved ice, which is very tasty 😋... You should give it a try. I stayed here for about 3 hours, enjoying food, drinks, and entertainment! 🚴: From Tainan Train Station, you can take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Tainan 88 Anping Line, the Tainan Double-Decker Sightseeing Bus (West Loop), or City Bus No. 2 or 19 to Anping Old Fort Station. I recommend buying a one-day pass for the 88 Anping Line and 99 Taijiang Line for more convenient transportation. Ticket Prices: The tickets are quite cheap, with a full ticket costing 70 NTD, a half ticket 35 NTD, and free for Tainan residents with proof. Discounted tickets are also available online, which can be used immediately upon purchase.