Chi Kan Lou (赤崁樓) is situated at the western central part of Tainan City. The existing Chinese temple buildings were built in the 19th century on Provintia (普羅民遮城) which was a fort erected by the Dutch in 1653.
During the Japanese occupation, the temple buildings were damaged by typhoon. After some rehabilitation works, the Japanese turned the buildings into hospital and student dormitory. The whole place was refurbished again in 1974 into what we see today.
The Sea God Temple (海神廟) and Wunchong Pavilion (文昌閣) are of traditional Chinese architecture with overhanging beams and red-tile roofs. All the beams and struts are deliberately decorated with carvings and patterns.
The courtyard south of the temple buildings was originally an anti-air-raid field. It was once occupied by hawkers after the war. It is now a nice garden to have a short stroll and admire the stelae which are relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
