Former Tait & Co. Merchant House

The tree house and the Tait and co merchant house are in the same complex with the same ticket. The merchant house is interesting but lacks English translations, be ready with google translate. The tree house is the warehouse behind the merchant house. It was interesting to see how nature is reclaiming that area. I wouldn’t call it a must visit but it’s fine to check out if your in the area.

The Anping Tree House is more than just a tourist attraction; it’s a poignant reminder of nature’s enduring power and the layers of history that shape a place. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or a photography aficionado, this site offers a unique and enriching experience.

The tree house and Tait & Co are in the same complex. Worth a visit.

This is my favorite historic place in Taiwan in my 4 months on the island. There is a wonderful mix of historic preservation, up-close exploration, museum exhibits, gift-shopiness, and botanical splendor. We spent 4 hours here and only left because they were closing for the evening. I do encourage staying that late as the low sun makes for extra beauty and better photos.

Great historical site. The main attraction is the old warehouse which has been completed overrun by trees, literally a "tree house). They a small craft beer counter and I nice souvenir shop with some interesting items. Totally worth the visit!

Very excellently maintained and they extended the bridge over the road the the river side for salt historical information too. Banyan tree house is just amazing how it was conserved. Mind blowing

Former Colonial quarters for workers n offices, somewhat akin to the Asian version of the British colonization of Asia through its British East India company which had its outposts in South East Asia n India. The Tak Kee company was a foreign entity corporation predominantly Dutch incorporated. Today the “ruins” are duly preserved n the overgrown roots n branches which permeate the entire structure add a historical ambiance to this Iconic Treehouse. Walking through the ruins n at the treetop levels/air walk gives one’s a clear elevated view of the entire main building. There are also conducted tours which give a running dialogue of the history of the quarters n the many artefacts on display inside. There is also a calligraphy section of the annex (side building) to the main building where one can try water calligraphy n also see the wonderful display of calligraphy techniques. As is usual for most historical sites in Tainan cost of entry is negligible n it’s definitely a most worthwhile visit. There’s ample parking nearby within clear walking distance and many outlets for food n snacks. A very Instagramable site with colonial structures n nature/tree tops walk/wild roots etc - thumbs up for sure 👍

When my wife first told me we were going to a treehouse, my expectation was a house in a tree; not the tree growing over the whole house. This was really an awesome sight to see how the roots grew over the whole house. It was a place I really enjoyed seeing. You have to see this atleast 1 time. The icecream shop at the tree house was the perfect place to eat when it started getting warmer. there was a bird in the back pond fishing. The kids loved watching the intensity of the bird trying to catch a fish.

I thought Anping Tree House would be a 5-minute visit, but I couldn't be more wrong! I'd allocate at least 2 hours for it because the ticket doesn't only cover the Tree House entrance, which would take at least 30 minutes to explore. Aside from the tree house, the ticket grants you access to Mr. Zhu's Home & Calligraphy Exhibit and the Former Tait & Co Merchant house, which were closer to the ticket stall than the tree house. Since these places are already included in the entrance fee, why not go? They offered some relief from the heat and were picturesque despite not being as mindblowing as the tree house. It's no wonder the tree house is the most famous landmark in Tainan. It's an abandoned warehouse that is overrun with multiple banyan trees. It was a breathtaking sight to see roots and branches literally everywhere -- on the walls, ceilings, going through windows and doorways. The "roof" of the place is literally the treetops now, with sunlight filtering through. There are stairs to take you to the treetops, but the stairs gave me a fright. The metal stairs, rusty railings, kids running past me, and the random bugs didn't help; I was clutching onto the railings with my all. When you exit through the back, there's a pond with fish, which isn't that amazing compared to the tree house, but adds to what could be seen here. Make sure you have enough battery on your phone to take pics!

Wow, I've never seen a tree house like this before! 100% must see for yourself! The tree house deserves 30 mins to an hour to roam around and explore. The admission ticket is for both the Anping Tree House and the Former Tait & Co. Merchant House. I'd recommend the merchant house be visited first as it's a small 2 story museum. Some interesting information, but 15-20 mins is sufficient. If you have young kids, the first floor has some interactive exhibits to keep them entertained. Back to the tree house...it's huge! There are several levels of walkways to give you more of a birds eye view of the very old banyon trees and it's incredible roots. Explore, enjoy, and admire this bit of nature wrapped around some walls and framing of an old warehouse which was used to store salt at the time.

One of my cousins took our family members on a trip from Pingtung (屏東) to Tainan (臺南) to meet another cousin who happens to live near this tourist destination. Anping Tree House (安平樹屋) was originally constructed in 1867 as a merchant house. In 1911, it became a warehouse for the Japan Salt Company. After being abandoned, a giant banyan tree began to take over the structure and spreaded its branches throughout the building. Tainan City Government took back in 1979 and converted it into Taiwan Development Wax Museum. The Tainan City Government renovated the site and opened it to the public as Anping Tree House in 2004. At my cousin's recommendation, our group spent about an hour here and I must say the tree house was quite impressive and cool. [How to get here]: Take Tainan 98 Fucheng-Taijiang Line (98府城台江線) or Route 2 (2路) from Tainan Train Station and hop off at Anping Tree House Station (安平古堡站). [Admission]: Admission is 70 NTD for a full-price ticket with 50% off for students and free for city residents. [What to see here]: * Anping Tree House (安平樹屋): Feels like a mini maze as you navigate through the tree house. The wooden paths and steel structures are designed to make tourists feel like they are one with the tree. * Pedal-Powered Waterwheels * Sky Bridge (觀景平台): Offers a fantastic view of the city and the surrounding wetland. * Tait & Co. Merchant House (德記洋行): A historical building with exhibits that detail the history of this merchant house. Unfortunately, our party didn't have time to explore it. * Souvenir Shop: I actually bought a bottle of bug spray here! They also sell a variety of interesting and niche snacks and gifts. * Zhu Jiu-Ying Residence (朱玖瑩故居): Mr. Zhu, who led the Taiwan Salt Corporation, had a passion for calligraphy. Visitors can view his calligraphy collection on display at this building. * Coffee Shop (樹屋咖啡): The coffee shop has an English-friendly/Japanese-friendly menu. They offer hot and iced coffee drinks, espresso, teas, sparkling water, ice cream sundaes, and light desserts. I tried the Lemon Iced Coffee (sweetened - 120 NTD) and it was surprisingly good. Minimum purchase of one coffee per person to sit inside of the coffee shop. [Conclusion]: A must-visit destination if you are in Tainan. It offers a sense of calm, peacefulness, relaxation to visitors. It is also an ideal spot on taking Instagrammable photos and the Tree House has plenty of English-friendly/Japanese-friendly signs which makes it easy for foreign tourists to navigate and explore this attraction. P.S. - They offer Mandarin-speaking guided tours every Saturday, Sunday, and on national holidays. Each tour lasts 40 minutes and is available at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. Be sure to check the latest tour schedule posted near the entrance or ask the ticket clerks.

This place is awesome to experience in person. To see how nature takes over an empty house. It's beautiful and it has history. Definitely worth the visit

A chill and beautiful place to be. There's a cafe that sales coffee and alcoholic beverages. There's a souvenir shop and a short sky walk pass the pond to look out of the area. The house itself is old but with a soul. The roots of the tree are amazing. There are benches for people to rest and chat too.

Excellent choice to visit in Tainan at Anping. This tree house. The entire compound contain a museum and a tree house. This location is part of international trading during Qing dynasty to allow trading. Building are split to two part. The trading house and the warehouse. The trading house now is a museum you can walk through with the history. For 50 NTD, you can visit the entire compound. Tainan residents is free entrance. The main attraction is the warehouse that occupies by the big banyan tree. The warehouse was abundant at 1940 and the banyan tree grew inside the building. It root spread through the entire building wall. A walk way was constructed for handicap access. The sky bridge was constructed over the roof to give visitors the bird eye view. It is great to explore. Back of the building has another sky bridge to see the Anping River access and water mill. Visit this place take 1.5 to 2 hours. Depending how much time you want to spend on museum.

I've got a pretty westernized view of "treehouse", as in basically a tiny wood shed on top of a tree for kids to hide in. Tainan's Anping Tree House isn't that. It's significantly more interesting. It's mysterious, it's industrial, and it's a showcase of how nature is pretty damn impressive. This area is a popular tourist destination in Tainan. The Treehouse is attached to Fort Zeelandia, for a cool two-in-one historical field trip. Anping Treehouse refers specifically to the abandoned warehouse that's been swallowed back up by a tree, specifically a large banyan tree. It's an amazing experience being in this perfect fusion between man-made and nature. You'll notice it's dark when you step inside, almost hauntingly so. Even in midday, only little streams of sunlight make their way into the building since the place is covered with banyan roots and branches that snake their way up the walls and across the ceilings. There are tiny exhibits and TV screens depicting the history of Anping and the warehouse. The second floor is a sight to behold. The roof has broken open in many areas and you can really see the extent of which the trees have reclaimed this building. You can walk along the stairs, among the winding branches, and feel one with the giant tree. Walk far enough and you'll reach a skybridge with fantastic city views and an ecological pond. 50 NTD will get you into this unique place. Money well spent as you notice how incredibly maintained the trees are here. There's also an incredibly cute gift shop on the ground floor for you to spend more money. What a beautiful reminder of what will happen when mother nature decides to take back everything from us. (44/100) - 2019

This historical landmark has cool architecture and a small view of Tainan skyline in the Anping (translation: Peaceful) District. The tree house has lots of branches intertwined with the frame of the tree house. There's a fort-like area where you can climb to the top and walk through the "whole" house. The admission fee is less than $2 USD. Beware of mosquitoes as most of this tree house is "shaded" and the weather is usually humid. Restrooms available on site. Large parking lot about a block away. Basically, this tree house and its surroundings are what make Anping unique!

I came to Tainan just to see this place. The Anping district itself is worth the visit, but definitely stop by this historic tree house. This tree house is massive! It is so fun to walk through and explore. It is a pretty big place and can get crowded but still a good stop if you're working your way around Taiwan. Rent some bikes. Many of the popular tourist stops are within biking distance. And you can bike to the beach to watch the sunset after you leave the tree house.

The tree house used to be a storage place for the merchant here, once it's abandoned, the trees kept growing and then over the time, they became part of the house, or could say the other way, the house blended into the trees. Very unique views and worth a visiting.

Excellent place to visit if you're in Tainan. Very family friendly as the kids loved climbing the treehouse and feeding the fish. You get buy a box of fish food for 10NT. There are also many photo friendly opportunities. The surrounding area is also bustling with street vendors and visitors to the fort next door. It costs 50NT to enter and kids under 6 are free.

Great place to come and check out on your tour in Anping. The "treehouse" is made of many rooms and very large. It only costs 50NTD (~$1.50 USD). Reminds me that nature is awesome - the banyan trees are incredible in the way that they all seem to connect to each other, despite starting out as many separate trees. There's also areas where you can put a couple coins into the telescope and see birds and dogs playing, or a bike that pedals water.

This place is great if you love history. It's located in the historic Anping part of Tainan. My TUSA language partner brought me here because he does what he pleases, and on that day I unfortunately did not have my university ID yet, so I could not get in for free, but the admission price was not bad either. With my luck however, my TUSA program brought me here the very next day with free admission. Made me facepalm. But that time with my language partner was still worth it! When I was here with him, I was trying to tell him that my school no longer housed fraternities because of all the atrocities they have committed at my school. I don't know how the topic came up but the point is that you can walk around the treehouse and have your own eye opening conversations. The treehouse itself is an old piece of architecture that has since been reclaimed by nature. The whole space definitely has an atmosphere to it - it's so magical seeing the tree branches snaking around the walls. Going inside the treehouse feels almost ominous. It's reminiscent of horror movies set in Asia, with old houses that have been abandoned and deep in the middle of a forest, likely housing ancient evil forces or something to that effect. In a sense, this place is photography worthy and you can further explore the different parts of the building by taking the bridges that were strategically built around the building. The bridge also takes you to a koi pond with a mill that appears to be powered by bicycle pedal. To the side of the treehouse is a museum that somewhat highlights the history of the treehouse and Taiwan as a nation. (The treehouse was part of a fort that points back to the time of Dutch colonialism. Bad vibes.) It's free to enter (technically, since you paid for the ticket already), and it's quite refreshing to learn about a non-European nation's history given the fact that the American education system is so Euro-centric. Come by here for spooky pictures and some history!

Very cool to walk through. I recommend going earlier in the day if it is the in the summer months, because there is not shade everywhere. Climbing up the watch tower was very cool, as you get a panoramic view of Tainan. It is very well maintained and manicured and free of trash. The months of May and June are free for all visitors which was an added plus. The surrounding area is also very interesting and can be explored easily on foot.

A must-see in Tainan! Spectacular display of banyan tree life cycle and evolution over many, many years.

This is certainly an interesting sightseeing location for old and young alike. The large Banyan trees overgrew this old warehouse and make for an eerie experience (I wonder if anyone ever considered shooting a horror/ghost movie here). Definitely worth a visit!

Awesome! If you want to see nature overpower man made architecture this is the place to come! This tree here has overtaken this old warehouse. The banyan tree has not only taken over the outside but the inside shows the delicate yet strong roots engulfing the interior of the building. There's also a tree house cafe on site providing a nice and relaxing environment to get some tea or coffee and relax. The admission is NTD $50 per person and is free for Anping residents. Must go for tourists!

You can feel how aggressive and thriving the tree is, it's growing inside a house, all the roots and branches, stems sprawling around the house, through any holes or cracks. Usually I just see and a tree on the ground, and can only reach the bottom part of trees, but thanks to this house you can go upstairs to get closer to the tree, to observe and get overwhelmed by its' complicated structure of nature force. This tree house is not built in a tree, but a house with trees growing inside of it. Amazing!!

This amazing attraction area in Tainan is a must go! It is an area of preserved treehouse from the ancient times and it has become a well known attraction place for tourists. You get to see amazing tree trucks that grows out from the middle of the house roof which is an amazing looking scenery because it has been very well protected. There is also water calligraphy for a free try which is really fun because you get to practice your calligraphy skills. There is also a "tree house cafe" which is a place to stop by for a good pastry and coffee. The ticket was only at $NT50 per person which is very worth the go!