The Oldest Golden City is one of the famous relics of southern Taiwan. It was a naval defense base of about one hundred thousand square feet built at An Ping near Tainan City more than a hundred years ago. It was said that 76 inhabitants in Ryukyu sailed to southern Taiwan in 1875, and 54 of them were killed on the spot by aborigines. The Japanese government took this as an excuse for sending troops to invade Taiwan. Shen Po-cheng, minister of navy in Ching Dynasty, was dispatched to Taiwan to handle the coast defense work. New fortifications and other defense works were completed in the same year. Taiwan City Government maintains this historic spot. The Oldest Golden City was repaired extensively on its 100th anniversary in 1975. The defense works of the Oldest Golden City included canals, walls, fortification gate, barracks, arsenal and bases for cannons. The City played a very important role in the defense of Taiwan at that time.
The Oldest Golden City at An Ping is a quiet place with a primitive atmosphere. It is one of the most famous scenic spots of Tainan. The tourists can reach there from Tainan City by ferry boat or other craft. From An Ping, you can see a wide stretch of beach with dots of wind-breaking trees or reeds. At sunset, the calm water of the near-by fish weirs reflect the sun rays in a weaving pattern to the scenery more beautiful. The boats sailing in the canal around the Oldest Golden City give a sense of calm in a place outside the world's turmoil. In the Oldest Golden City, there are many relics, such as statue of Gen. Shen Po-cheng and his handwritings, the memorial tablet on establishment of the City and old green trees.
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