Chihkan Tower

Chihkan Tower is a cluster of Qing-dynasty temple buildings in Tainan's West Central District, built atop the ruins of a Dutch fortress; its predecessor, Fort Provintia, was constructed by the Dutch East India Company in 1653 and completed in 1655. After Koxinga expelled the Dutch, the fort fell into disuse, and the Sea God Temple and Wenchang Pavilion were later built on the site during the Qing dynasty. Nine imperial turtle-back stelae erected during the Qianlong era, commemorating General Fukanggan's suppression of the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion, were relocated here in 1961, making this the most historically layered plot of land in Tainan.

Fort Provintia was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1653 and completed in 1655. After Koxinga expelled the Dutch, the fort fell into disuse, and the Sea God Temple and Wenchang Pavilion were subsequently built on the site during the Qing dynasty. The nine imperial turtle-back stelae in front of the temple were erected between the 51st and 53rd years of the Qianlong reign (1786–1788); Emperor Qianlong personally composed commemorative poems marking General Fukanggan's suppression of the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion and the lifting of the siege of Zhuluo City — an event that led to the city being renamed 'Jiayi' (Chiayi). The stelae were originally housed in Fukanggan's memorial shrine, moved outside the Great South Gate wall in 1935, and relocated to their present site at Chihkan Tower in 1961.

What to See at Chihkan Tower

In 1653, the Dutch East India Company built Fort Provintia here as a commercial and administrative hub. After Koxinga expelled the Dutch, the fortress gradually fell into disuse; during the Qing dynasty, the Sea God Temple and Wenchang Pavilion were built successively on the old site. The existing structures follow a Qing-dynasty layout, yet the lower levels retain Dutch-era brick foundations, creating a rare example of multiple dynasties overlapping at a single location.

Nine bixi (tortoise-shaped mythical beasts) carrying stele stand arranged in the temple forecourt; the inscriptions record important historical events of the Qing dynasty. The second floor of the Wenchang Pavilion enshrines Kuixing — a traditional wish-making destination for Tainan students. The pavilion offers a bird's-eye view of the surrounding streetscape, making it a good vantage point for understanding the street layout of the West-Central District.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

Practical Information

Source: compiled from contextual facts; for some details, please consult the official information of the Tainan City Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Photos pending replacement with Dio's actual shots.