Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shrine. Near the altar, little packets of 'safe rice' are available to help keep you and your
family safe.
Anping Fort
HISTORIC SITE
(Ānpíng Gǔbǎo, Fort Zeelandia; admission NT$50; 8.30am-5.30pm)
Behind the Matsu
Temple, the fort was a stronghold of Dutch power until its capture by Koxinga in 1661
after a nine-month battle. Most of it has been reconstructed but it's still an impressive
site. A small
museum
on the grounds highlights the history of the Dutch occupation of
Taiwan.
Anping Old Streets
STREETS
To the right of the Anping Fort entrance you'll find some of the oldest streets in Taiwan.
As you wander about, look for
stone lion masks
(
jiànshī
) with swords across the mouth.
They were once used to protect a house against evil but today there are only a few dozen
left.
Siaojhong Street
(Xiàozhōngjiē) is an interesting street that leads to a number of back
alleys with restored brick buildings.
Yenping Street
(Yánpíngjiē) is the site of the first market in Taiwan. Now it has been
turned into a dull tourist lane, although it's worth a visit to sample traditional Tainan
foods.
Eternal Golden Castle
HISTORIC SITE
(Yìzài Jīn Chéng; admission NT$50; 8.30am-5.30pm)
This photogenic fort was built in
1876 to shore up Taiwan's defences against the Japanese threat. Not much remains of the
original fortress; oddly, though, the intact arched front gate was built with bricks pilfered
from Anping Fort. City buses 2 and 14 stop at the Eternal Golden Castle, as does tour
bus 88.
WORTH A TRIP
THE FORGOTTEN SOULS
When you leave Anping Matsu temple (
Click here
)
, turn right (westward) on Anping
Rd, walk about 100m, and you'll see a group of splendidly restored
Fujian-style
tombs
(Míngqīng Gǔ Mùqún) dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties on a knoll to
your left. This was once the site of the Dutch-built Fort Utrecht, which was com-
pletely ruined in 1662 when Koxinga's troops dropped hundreds of bombs on it in a
single day.
