Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)
About
Chihkan Tower is not a temple but one of the most famous historic sites in the West Central District — and a symbol of Tainan itself. It began life as 'Fort Provintia,' built by the Dutch, and the Haishen (Sea God) Temple and Wenchang Pavilion seen today rise directly atop the foundations of that old Dutch fort. The garden's greatest draw is the 'Nine Stone Tortoises Bearing Steles,' bestowed by the Qianlong Emperor to commemorate the quelling of the Lin Shuangwen uprising — objects of real historical weight. Up in the Wenchang Pavilion stands Kuixing, God of Examinations, vermilion brush in hand, which is why this ancient site doubles as a place where crowds of students come to pray for success in their exams.
History
In 1653 the Dutch raised Fort Provintia here. In 1661 Koxinga took the fort and established 'Chengtian Prefecture' as the island's highest seat of government, and Chihkan changed hands. Through earthquakes and local uprisings the old ramparts largely crumbled, and it was only in the Guangxu era that the Haishen Temple, Wenchang Pavilion, and Wuzi Shrine were built one by one on the site. What visitors see today rests mostly on those rebuilt foundations — Dutch fortress and Chinese pavilion stacked one atop the other, a rare historical scene where two architectural traditions meet.
Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)
West Central District, Tainan City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 212, Sec. 2, Minzhu Rd, West Central District, Tainan City
Region
West Central District, Tainan City