Anping Old Harbour in Tainan

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Anping is the old harbour district of Tainan, on the coast west of the city centre. It is where Tainan's long history with the sea began. Today it has the remains of a 17th-century Dutch fort, an old trading warehouse taken over by banyan trees, narrow old streets full of snacks, and a modern harbour waterfront. It is the one place in Tainan where you can see the city's early history in a single walk.

Anping Old Fort

The Dutch East India Company built a fort here in the 1620s and 1630s, then called Fort Zeelandia. It was the centre of Dutch trade in the region until they lost control of it in 1662. Today the fort is called Anping Old Fort. Only parts of the original red-brick walls survive, and the white tower and buildings on top were added much later. A small museum explains the fort's history with models and maps. Climb the tower for views over Anping and the coast.

Anping Tree House

The Anping Tree House is one of the most unusual sights in Tainan. It was once a warehouse of a British trading company in the 19th century. After it was left empty, banyan trees grew over it. Their roots and branches now cover the walls and roof, and in places they hold the building together. A walkway takes visitors above and through the ruin. The light coming through the roots is beautiful in the morning. The ticket usually includes the old trading company house next door, which has a small exhibition.

Old streets and snacks

Around the fort are narrow lanes of old houses and shops. Yanping Street, often called Anping Old Street, is the busiest. It is lined with snack shops selling shrimp crackers, shrimp cakes, candied fruit, bean jelly and oyster dishes. The smaller lanes nearby are quieter, with old brick homes and small cafés. Some houses have sword-lion plaques above the door, a local tradition. Weekends are very busy, so a weekday morning is the best time to explore. Many snack shops offer free tastes, so you can try before you buy.

The harbour waterfront

Modern Anping has a wide harbour waterfront with parks, a long walking path and cycling routes. Boats tie up along the canal, and short boat trips run along the Anping canal toward the sea. To the south is Yuguang Island, a long sandbar linked by a bridge, with a quiet beach that faces the sunset. In the evening, locals walk or cycle along the waterfront and watch the sun go down. The area is flat and open, which makes it easy to explore by bike.

Planning a visit

Anping is about 15 to 20 minutes from central Tainan by taxi, scooter or bus. Public bikes are also a good option, and there are bike paths for part of the way. A good half-day plan is the Old Fort and Tree House in the morning, snacks for lunch on the old street, a rest in the afternoon heat, and the harbour or Yuguang Island at sunset. Most sights close in the early evening, while the snack street and waterfront stay busy until night.

Anping Old Harbour at a glance

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