Port
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Activity Level
Easy
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$99.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
This half-day excursion is dedicated to three cultural and historical landmarks of Tainan -- Taiwan’s oldest city. At the end of the 16th century, the Dutch East India Company established a trade base here, and Tainan was the island’s capital for more than 200 years. That distinction eventually transferred to Taipei, but many of the city’s most celebrated landmarks remain.
Begin with a 60-minute drive to Tainan. You’ll see many Dutch and Chinese influences here.
The Chikan Towers are among the most important historical sites in Taiwan, built atop the ruins of Dutch Fort Provintia. Elegant gardens and koi ponds surround the two ornate stone towers. A noteworthy landmark here is the Confucius Temple -- the country’s oldest. Built in 1666 at the end of the Manchu Dynasty, the temple served as Taiwan’s first official school. The impressive temple you see today is the result of a 1917 restoration undertaken when Taiwan was part of the Japanese Empire. Check out the graceful banyan trees and two ceremonial gates that symbolize the main disciplines of Confucianism.
Your final stop is at the Koxinga Shrine (1874), dedicated to the Chinese General who led his troops against the Dutch and successfully ousted them from Taiwan. Outside is a beautiful garden; inside is the Tainan Folk Cultural Hall, with a number of fascinating exhibits tracing Tainan’s history and culture.
Return to the ship afterward.
Notes:
Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. Wear comfortable walking shoes.