Eternal Golden Castle

Eternal Golden Castle is a Qing-dynasty Western-style fort in Anping District, Tainan, formally known as Erkun Fort. Commissioned by imperial commissioner Shen Baozhen after the 1874 Mudan Incident exposed weaknesses in Taiwan's coastal defense, it was designed by French engineers and completed in 1876. The fort follows a four-bastion layout surrounded by a moat, built partly with bricks salvaged from the ruins of Fort Zeelandia, and was Taiwan's first fort equipped with British Armstrong cannons.

Construction of Eternal Golden Castle began in September 1874 and finished in August 1876 (the second year of the Guangxu reign); French engineer Berthault, who referenced Paris's outer defensive fortifications, led the design, and part of the building material was brick salvaged from the demolished ruins of Fort Zeelandia. It was Taiwan's first fort equipped with British Armstrong cannons and later served a defensive role during the Sino-French War and Liu Yongfu's 1895 anti-Japanese resistance.

What to See at Eternal Golden Castle

Eternal Golden Castle is formally known as Erkun Fort. Completed in the second year of the Guangxu reign (1876), it was planned and built by Shen Baozhen using Western fortification techniques. The floor plan follows a four-angled bastion design, with the moat encircling all four sides. The brick outer walls combined with earthworks reflect late-19th-century European fortress design concepts, making it one of the better-preserved examples of its type surviving in Taiwan.

The grounds are spacious, with the moat surface reflecting the silhouette of the walls. Replica cannons placed on the lawn inside the fort mark the original gun positions. The stone gate at the entrance is inscribed with 'Eternal Golden Castle' — calligraphy by Shen Baozhen himself. The overall preservation is good; the brick texture on all four walls is clearly defined, making it a worthwhile historical landmark to include on a visit to southern Tainan.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

Practical Information

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