Anping Old Street, also called Yanping Street, is a narrow lane on the east side of Anping Fort in Tainan's Anping District. The Dutch built it, and it was the first street in Taiwan to receive a name. Low red brick houses and Western-style buildings line it, and stalls sell shrimp rolls, dried fruit and other snacks alongside souvenirs. Quiet side alleys show how people lived here in the past and still do. Plan it together with the fort next door.
A street built by the Dutch beside the fort
Anping Old Street runs from the east side of Anping Fort, which stands on the foundations of the Dutch stronghold Fort Zeelandia. After the Dutch turned their attention to Taiwan in 1624, they began building on the sandbars of what is now Anping. The inland sea that once lay here has since silted up. The fort anchored the early settlements of both the Dutch and the Chinese, and much of that history lies in the streets around it.
The street is known as the first in Taiwan to carry a name of its own, and it was once a place where merchants gathered. Traders from mainland China, Japan and Europe came to Anping to do business with one another and with the Pingpu people. The formal name is Yanping Street. Anping Old Street is a play on the similar sound of the two names.
It was first made for pedestrians and pushcarts only. In 1994 it was widened so that cars and motorbikes could pass, at the request of local residents.
Buildings and side alleys
The houses along the street include earthen corner houses, low red brick houses and Western-style buildings. Many of the Western-style ones have white plastered or stone-washed walls, with handmade reliefs on the railings, pillars and eaves. Shops selling small gifts and craft items now occupy many of the ground floors.
The lanes that cross the main street are worth the detour. They have traditional Minnan residences, quiet corridors lined with plants, and sword lions above the doors, carved talismans set up to protect a house. A craft shop on Yanping Street, 安平陶坊 劍獅學堂, is a good place to learn more about them. The back alleys give a clearer picture of how the area looked in the past and how people live here today.
What to eat along the street
Shrimp is the local specialty. The shrimp cracker (蝦餅) is made right on the street, and you can watch it being fried. The shrimp roll is often compared to tempura. Chou's Shrimp Rolls, at No. 125 Anping Street, is one of the places serving it.
Dried and candied fruit is the other specialty. Lin Yong Tai Dried Fruit Store (林永泰興蜜餞行), at No. 84, is the best known shop for it. Dried sweet potato is sold here as well.
Other snacks include coffin bread, a thick toast filled with creamy seafood or chicken, along with grilled squid, peanut ice cream rolls, almond tofu, milk tea and bubble tea. Everything is close together, so you can sample one stall after another without planning a route. Some restaurants have air conditioning if you want a longer sit-down meal. Traditional Chinese oil massage is also offered in the area.
Crafts, shows and souvenirs
The street has long been a place for traditional crafts and performing arts. Glove puppetry (Potehi), a storytelling tradition with roots in the Ming-Zheng and Qing periods, is performed here, and a puppet show is easy to catch. Souvenirs range from carved wooden animals to local crafts and sweets.
In Taiwan, an "old street" often means a lane of tourist shops and restaurants rather than a preserved historic street. Anping Old Street has many souvenir stalls, and some goods repeat from shop to shop. Visitors who want a quieter experience will find it in the side alleys.
Planning the visit
The street is mostly flat, which makes it easy with a pram. Most visitors combine it with Anping Fort, directly across the road from its entrance. The fort has exhibits on the Dutch and Japanese periods and charges an entry fee. Anping Tree House is about a 5-minute walk from the fort, and the fort, the street and the tree house fit into one day.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Anping Old Street?
It is on Yanping Street in Anping District, Tainan. It starts on the east side of Anping Fort and runs west to east.
What should you eat on Anping Old Street?
Try shrimp rolls and shrimp crackers, which are the local specialty. Dried fruit, coffin bread, grilled squid, peanut ice cream rolls and almond tofu are also sold.
When is the best time to go?
A weekday is quieter. The street fills up from around noon and is livelier from about 5 or 6 pm. Weekends and public holidays are crowded.
Is Anping Old Street suitable for prams?
The street is mostly flat, so a pram is manageable. It is narrow, though, and gets crowded at busy times.
Can you visit Anping Fort on the same trip?
Yes. The fort is right beside the street, and Anping Tree House is about 5 minutes' walk from the fort. The three are often visited in one day.
