tainan

the city of tainan is the oldest city in taiwan. established first by the dutch and then taken over by the chinese. a port for the japanese, it does not seem that well to do now. the streets are alive with an older form of activity which was a change form the new money of taichung. 

we walked from the railway station to the older council hall, past a smaller neighborhood temple and then to some more temples on the map. the temple for the city god, the temple of the god of the underworld (dongyue), then to the shrine of the local hero koxinga who fought against the dutch and the lady linshui temple where women come to pray. 

we found a city gate, tiny in scale at the end of the shopping street and the confucius temple across with its large garden and free standing gateways for the right and righteous. 

 as we walked further north past the fire station we came to the altar of heaven and another temple firectly in from of the dutch fort provintia. all terraces and chinese roofs now. turtle memorial in front.

a short taxi ride and then a walk into a traditional street alive with bohemian types leading to another temple. 

the dutch fort zeelandia lay closer to the sea. a watchtower, newly built allows you views across the landscape, to the canal that runs from the sea into the city. the market streets nearby were crowded and alive.