The site served as a warehouse for the British-owned Tait & Co., one of the five major foreign merchant houses in Anping during the Qing Dynasty.
The structure is specifically characterized by the root systems of banyan trees that have perforated the brick masonry and concrete roofing.
The intervention by the Bureau of Cultural Heritage utilized high-tensile steel walkways to float above the ground, minimizing contact with the fragile root networks.
The site was abandoned for nearly 50 years before being reclaimed as a public heritage space in the early 2000s.
The Anping Tree House is a former warehouse of the Tait & Co. merchant house that has been structurally overtaken by sprawling banyan trees. The building’s brick walls and concrete floor structures have been fused with the roots and branches of the trees, creating a unique synthesis of architecture and nature. Elevated steel walkways now allow visitors to traverse through the canopy and over the warehouse remains. The site is part of the broader Anping Old Fort cultural zone in Tainan. The structure was originally built in the late 19th century for salt and merchandise storage. After falling into disuse, the banyan trees grew unchecked for decades, eventually collapsing parts of the roof and walls. The government later reinforced the site with steel supports to preserve the entanglement without damaging the existing vegetation. It remains one of the most prominent examples of post-industrial ecological reclamation in Taiwan.
The upper steel walkways offering a bird's-eye view of the roots intertwined with the brick window frames.
Bring mosquito repellent, as the humid, shaded environment under the dense banyan canopy attracts insects.
Wear shoes with good grip, as the wooden walkways and floor paths can become slippery in high humidity.
Visit the attached calligraphy museum nearby to complete the cultural site experience.
Avoid touching or peeling the banyan roots, as the site is a delicate ecological preservation zone.
The site typically remains open daily but may close during severe weather events such as typhoons.
Stay on marked steel walkways to protect the root systems; do not climb on the brick ruins.
