Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest city, and it was also the first walled city on the island. Almost every street here seems to have some history to it. Over our two days we saw the historic Chihkan Tower, which stands on the site of Fort Provintia, built by the Dutch in 1653. We also visited several of the city’s ornate temples.
Our favourite was the Anping Tree House, an old warehouse that banyan roots have taken over completely. It once belonged to Tait & Co, a British trading company, and the Old Tait & Co Merchant House still stands next door.
Good to know
- Chihkan Tower: it stands on the site of Fort Provintia, which the Dutch built in 1653. It’s open every day from 8.30am to 9.30pm and costs NT$70. Tainan Travel
- Anping Tree House: it was the warehouse of Tait & Co, a British trading company. It’s open every day from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and the NT$70 ticket also gets you into the Old Tait & Co Merchant House next door. Tainan Travel
We checked these times and prices in October 2026. They do change, so it's worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.