Chihkan Tower — known to the Dutch as Fort Provintia — sits in the heart of old Tainan and is one of the city's best-known landmarks. The Dutch built the original fort here in 1653 as an inland administrative base. After Koxinga expelled the Dutch in 1662, the structure fell into disrepair, and what stands today is a Qing-dynasty complex of Chinese-style pavilions built over the original Dutch foundations. The contrast between the surviving Dutch brick at the base and the Chinese architecture above is visible and tells the story of the site's successive occupations without needing any explanation.
The grounds are pleasant for wandering. Stone turtles bearing memorial stelae line the pathways, and the main hall houses exhibits on the fort's history. The surrounding streets are among the liveliest in the old city and worth exploring on foot — Tainan's characteristic density of small temples, lane food stalls, and old shophouses is visible in every direction from the tower.