Tainan

Tainan is a city in southwestern Taiwan and one of the island’s six special municipalities. With a history dating back to the early 17th century, it is widely regarded as Taiwan’s oldest city and served as a capital during several periods, including Dutch Formosa and the Kingdom of Tungning.

The city was founded by the Dutch in 1624 as Fort Zeelandia in Anping. It grew as the seat of administration and trade and later became a cultural and political center under Koxinga and the Qing dynasty. In 1885 it became the provincial capital, and after administrative reforms it was reorganized as a single special municipality in 2010.

Geographically, Tainan sits on the southern plain near the Taiwan Strait and has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The municipality today has about 1.4 million residents and includes a number of historic districts that preserve traditional streets and temples.

The economy combines manufacturing, petrochemicals, agriculture (rice, fruit, seafood), and tourism. Visitors are drawn to historic landmarks such as Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort), Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia), and the Confucius Temple, Taiwan’s oldest temple dedicated to Confucius. Local cuisine, including danzai noodles and coffin bread, also features prominently.

Transportation includes a major port and rail links to the national network; high-speed rail serves nearby Kaohsiung, linking Tainan to the wider country. National Cheng Kung University is a leading institution in the city, along with several other colleges.