Tainan (Chinese: 臺南, 台南 Táinán) is the fourth most populated city in Taiwan after Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, one of the five cities of the central subordination of Taiwan. It is located in the southwestern part of the island, in the tropics, on the coast of the Taiwan Strait. In 1662-1683 it was the capital of the state of Dongning, then until 1887 it was the capital of Taiwan. The city is famous for a large number of historical and architectural monuments.

History
Dutch colony and independent Taiwan
Tainan is one of the oldest cities on the island. In 1624, the Dutch built the port of Dayuan, which is now called Anping and is part of Tainan. The name of the island, Taiwan, also comes from the name of the city of Dayuan. The Dutch built Fort Zeeland, which has survived to this day, in the territory of the modern center of Tainan, Fort Province, now known as Chikan Towers, as well as the first European-style street on the island connecting these two forts.
Tainan proper was founded as Dongdu (Chinese 東都; “Eastern Capital”), and was proclaimed the capital of Taiwan in 1661 by Zheng Chenggong, who defeated and expelled the Dutch from the island. This was followed by a wave of emigration to Taiwan from mainland China, and the city grew very rapidly in size and population. Under the son of Zheng Chenggong, the first Confucius temple on the island was built in the city, and the first schools were opened.

Qing Dynasty
In 1684, the last descendant of Zheng Chenggong committed suicide and the Qing dynasty took over the island, establishing the local government of Taiwan (“Taiwan Fu”) in Tainan. Because of its former status as the capital, Tainan is often referred to as “Fucheng” (Chinese: 府城; “Government City”). Taiwan was formally incorporated into Fujian Province as a prefecture, with Tainan as its center until 1887. From this period, the gates (Big South, Big East and West), the remains of the city walls, as well as many temples remained in the city. In 1860, under the Beijing Treaty, foreign merchants selling camphor, tea and opium were allowed to settle in the city.
In 1887, the imperial government separated Taiwan into a separate prefecture and moved the capital to Taipei.

Japanese Rule
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki after China’s defeat in Sino-Japanese War 1893-1895. Japan turned Taiwan into an industrialized colony. In particular, under the Japanese, roads and a railway, schools, hospitals were built in Tainan, and a radio station was opened. Tainan has become the island’s largest center for the production of rice and sugar, important export crops for Taiwan. Many of Tainan’s buildings, including the railway station, were built during the period of Japanese rule.

After the war
Taiwan has become a major industrial center without losing the character of a historic city. In 2007, a high-speed rail line connecting Taipei and Kaohsiung opened with a station in Tainan.
After the war, Tainan was a permanent stronghold of the Democratic Progressive Party, which campaigned for the independence of the island. However, it was here in 2004 that Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, a DPP member and native of Tainan County, was assassinated.

Culture
Tainan is one of the cultural centers of Taiwan. The city is home to the island’s oldest temple, the remains of the city wall with the South and North Gates, as well as many other cultural and historical monuments. Tainan has more Buddhist and Taoist temples than any other city in Taiwan.

The architectural and historical monuments of Tainan are grouped into eight cultural zones. They include
Cultural area of ​​the Confucius Temple (center)
Five Channels Cultural Zone (center)
Minshen Park Cultural Zone (center)
Chikan cultural zone (center)
Anping Harbor National Historical Park (Anping)
Taijiang Ecological and Cultural Zone (Northwest)

Seven historical monuments of Tainan are classified as monuments of the first degree of importance (in total, there are about thirty monuments of the first degree in Taiwan):
Temple of Confucius. The construction of the temple began in 1665, under Zheng Chenggong. The temple became the first educational institution on the island.
Chikan Towers (Fort Province), built in 1653 by the Dutch on the site of the Aboriginal village of Sakam. Later, the fort was used as a gunpowder store and was badly damaged by the fighting in 1720 and subsequent earthquakes. In 1879, the Temple of the God of Literature (Wenchang ka) and the Temple of the God of the Sea (Hai Shen Miao) were built on the territory of the fort.
Eternal Fortress (Golden Castle Yi Zai). Built in 1876 ​​under the empire, designed by a French engineer, then during the Japanese occupation it was used to protect the city from the sea.
The official temple of the God of War. Founded in the 17th century (the exact time of foundation is unknown), one of the oldest temples on the island. Dedicated to the God of War (Guan-di or Guan Kun). Located directly opposite the Chikan Towers.
Temple of the Five Ladies. Dedicated to the five mistresses of the last king of independent Taiwan, Zheng Keshuang, who, following the suicide of the king in 1683, hanged themselves in his palace before the capture of Taiwan by the forces of imperial China. The construction of the temple began in 1746.
Temple of the Goddess Matsu (Da Tianhou). The former palace of Chu Shukei, in 1683, after being captured by imperial troops, was converted into a temple and dedicated to the goddess of the sea Matsu, one of the most revered goddesses in Taiwan.
Fort Zeelandia (Old Fort Anping), built by the Dutch from 1624 to 1634. The building of the fort was completely destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, only the remains of fortifications and walls were preserved.