After we have rested ourselves adequately from the
walk in the Confucious Temple, we hopped over to the nearby Koxinga’s Shrine, Tainan.
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Koxinga or Zheng Cheng Gong, was a general of the Ming dynasty who arrived in Taiwan in 1661, a time when Dutch colonists were in control of Tainan. After nine months of fighting, the Dutch conceded defeat to Koxinga and his army.
During this time, the Manchurian Qing dynasty had overthrown the Ming back in China. Koxinga planned to rebuild his army in Taiwan, then return to retake the mainland. Sadly for him, this never happened as he died of malaria only a year later.
Some 21 years later, Koxinga’s grandson, who was only 14 years old at the time, ceded the island to the Qing dynasty. Koxinga's Shrine was built in 1875 by imperial edict from the Manchu Qing court. It was destroyed by Japanese occupation and rebuilt in the 1960s by the KMT - and it still retains a regal feel.
Koxinga is considered to be the founder of Tainan and the rich cultural heritage of not only the city, but also the island. Unfortunately, Koxinga only lived for one year in Taiwan before dying and passing on his throne. The city was surrendered to the Manchus by his grandson in 1683.
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| A landscape garden before the entrance |
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| Statue of Koxinga |
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| The serene gardens within |
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| Temple grounds |
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| The main entrance and bus loads of tourists from the mainland |
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| Some beautiful decos |
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| Replica of a cannon |
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| Beautiful gardens |
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| Enjoy the serenity |
To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link
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