Introduction
Chihkan Tower, originally known as Fort Provintia, was constructed by the Dutch in 1653. The name "Provintia" is derived from the Dutch word meaning "eternity." The Han Chinese referred to it as "Chihkan Tower," "Fanzi Tower," or "Hongmao(Red hair) Tower." Despite undergoing periods of Ming, Qing, and Japanese rule, Chihkan Tower has largely retained its original appearance.
During the Dutch colonial period, the Dutch built Fort Provintia in the Chihkan area as a defensive stronghold. In 1661, Koxinga expelled the Dutch from Taiwan, took over Fort Provintia, and renamed it Cheng Tian Fu. Later, Koxinga moved his base to Anping's Fort Zeelandia, and Fort Provintia was repurposed as an armory.
In the early Qing Dynasty, before the silting of the Taijiang River, waves reached the base of Chihkan Tower. The "Chihkan Sunset" was renowned as one of Taiwan's eight scenic spots at the time. In front of Chihkan Tower, there are nine stone tortoises from the Qing Dynasty carrying steles on their backs, relocated from other sites. Legend has it that the stone tortoise is one of the nine sons of the dragon, known for its strength in bearing heavy loads. Additionally, the "Broken-Leg Stone Horse" statue is said to have had its legs broken because it transformed into a monster at night, disturbing the locals.
After the Japanese took control of Taiwan, they converted Chihkan Tower into a military hospital and carried out several renovations. In 1935, Chihkan Tower was designated as an important historical site. Following Taiwan's restoration, further renovations replaced the original wooden structures with reinforced concrete, and the main entrance was shifted from the west to the south, giving Chihkan Tower its present appearance. In 1982, Chihkan Tower was classified as a national first-grade historic site, affirming its significant historical status.
