Eternal Golden Castle, A Historic Bastion of Western Artillery

3 Gwangju Road, Anping District, Tainan City

There is a Western-style fortress in the area

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Introduction

Fort Zeelandia, also known as Anping Fort, is located in Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan. It is the first western-style fort and the first fort equipped with Armstrong cannons in Taiwan, marking a milestone in the history of Taiwanese forts. Built in 1874, it was designed by French engineers and constructed by Chinese labor. The fort is made of red bricks and has a square shape with bastions at each corner. There is a central concave area for military training, surrounded by a moat filled with seawater, and cannons placed on the walls. The outer arch displays the name "Fort Zeelandia" and the inner arch displays the inscription "Steadfast Pillar of Ten Thousand Streams," both painted by Shen Pow-Chen. The monument beside the fort gate commemorates the history of Fort Zeelandia and features a bronze statue of Shen Pow-Chen, as well as three large cannon emplacements. Although most of the original cannons were taken away by the Japanese, some replicas and one small cannon remain. Despite undergoing repairs, the fort still retains its overall architectural style. Fort Zeelandia has been designated as a national historic site. In recent renovations, a small portion has been excavated in the barracks and ammunition depot, which is now protected by glass casings for visitors to understand the soldiers' lives at that time. While the resistance in Taiwan was ultimately unsuccessful, Fort Zeelandia stands as a testament to Shen Pow-Chen's military prowess and vision, leaving behind a legacy of honor.