After visiting Green Island earlier in the year I took the train around the southern coast and back inland to Tainan (台南), the oldest city in Taiwan and the former capital during imperial times. Being mid-spring the weather was pretty much perfect.
![Anping Fort](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483485531_5f7870b95e_b.jpg)
Tainan was initially established by the Dutch East India Company as a trading base called Fort Zeelandia during the period of Dutch rule in Taiwan (1624–1662).
![Anping Fort Cannon](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484580110_24aea8784c_b.jpg)
You can still visit the fortress today which is now named Anping Fort (安平古堡). While not large, it’s worth a look around.
![Caligraphers House](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483487057_2f7b9081e2_b.jpg)
A short walk away you can visit the house of a famous calligraphist, Chu, Jeou-Ying (朱玖瑩). All these hanzi makes my brain hurt!
![Merchant House](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484581516_5a917a2c40_b.jpg)
Next door is the old British Tait & Co. Merchant House (英商德記洋行) which houses a small museum about the history of immigrants in Taiwan. It is one of the last surviving examples of European architecture in the area.
![Consumed Wall](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484582254_ca199ac3fe_b.jpg)
An old warehouse within the same compound has been almost entirely consumed by banyan trees and is known as the Anping Tree House (安平樹屋).
![Tree House Interior](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483489317_f298a4a0b5_b.jpg)
Like an H. R. Giger surrealist nightmare the walls and roof have been assimilated by the organic aerial roots of the trees.
![Anping Tree House Roof](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483489935_6bb73979a0_b.jpg)
Metal walkways allow visitors to get a better look from above.
![Vanishing Window](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483490707_5363654997_b.jpg)
Until it was opened to the public in 2004 locals considered the building to be haunted and wouldn’t go near.
![Sweet Treat](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484585888_9f0d34f6ed_b.jpg)
Time for a sweet treat of mango, red bean and kiwi on crushed ice with ice bubble tea to accompany.
![Chihkan Tower](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484586288_10cde61c40_b.jpg)
The next stop was Chihkan Tower (赤崁樓), formerly known as Fort Provintia during Dutch colonisation, which looks like a temple but was actually an administrative centre/library.
![Sakam Tower](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484586878_09325f999e_b.jpg)
The classical Chinese style roof with red tiles and carved cornices are very pretty.
![Wuchang Pavilion](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484587432_df1a5d4881_b.jpg)
You can walk up to the second floor for a better view.
![Confucius Temple Grounds](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484590606_dd5a931555_b.jpg)
Also worth a look is the Confucius Temple (孔廟) which is surrounded by a small park. Bamboo bonsai hedges are aplenty.
![Old Banyan Tree](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484592584_c3a56722b8_b.jpg)
The grounds also contain another eye-opening banyan tree that is one of the largest in Taiwan. Possibly the inspiration for the ‘home tree’ in Avatar?
![Gated Fort](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484591842_b037b85150_b.jpg)
![Tainan Taxi](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484588412_32d04e3d6d_b.jpg)
When night falls and you’re feeling hungry your best bet is to head to one of the city’s many night markets.
![Tainan Night Market](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8483495523_9ace6fe57c_b.jpg)
Crowded, hot, noisy and somewhat unsanitary there is no better place to try a huge range of affordable snacks and drinks. Don’t expect gourmet quality but it’s good fun.
![Night Market Stalls](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/flickr_backup/8484589430_3328d9366f_b.jpg)
Compared to other parts of Taiwan that I’ve visited, it felt like Tainan had a lot more on offer in terms of history and culture which is why I would definitely recommend a visit if you’re passing through the area.
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