27 Dec 2025 - TNN Day 7: Chihkan Tower (赤崁楼)

In the historic heart of Tainan stands one of Taiwan’s most significant cultural landmarks called Chihkan Tower (赤崁樓), also known as Fort Provintia. Chihkan Tower’s origins date back to 1653, when the Dutch East India Company built Fort Provintia during their rule over parts of southern Taiwan. At the time, Tainan was a strategic trading base.

Constructed with thick brick walls and European-style fortification design, the fort symbolised Dutch influence and global trade connections in 17th-century Asia.

In 1662, the Dutch were defeated by Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong - 郑成功), who sought to establish a Ming loyalist base in Taiwan after the fall of the Ming Dynasty in mainland China. The fort was seized and repurposed. Over time, layers of Chinese architectural elements were added, gradually transforming the site from a European fort into something that visually reflects traditional Chinese design.

Though compact, Chihkan Tower offers rich details to explore.

The Twin Pavilion Towers are elevated structures that sit atop the old Dutch fort walls and provide views over central Tainan.

One of the site’s most photographed features is the row of stone turtle monuments (赑屃) carrying large stone steles on their backs. These were originally imperial-era memorial tablets which were later relocated here.

Chihkan Tower (赤崁樓) is not the largest fort in Taiwan, nor the most imposing. It’s a place where walls tell stories, turtles carry history on their backs, and towers rise as symbols of resilience and transformation.

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