Tainan: A beautiful and retro ancient city
Tainan City is located in the southwestern part of the island of Taiwan and can be reached from Taipei in about 1 hour and 40 minutes by bullet train. This city is known for its particularly long history, even among the many unique cities scattered throughout Taiwan. Since the Dutch colonial period in the 17th century, this ancient capital has long served as the political and cultural center of Taiwan, and is like Kyoto in Japan. Tainan, with its unique culture and traditions and atmospheric streets, continues to fascinate travelers who visit the city.
Enjoy the beautiful cityscape of Tainan in the Anping area
If you want to enjoy the charm of Tainan, we recommend that you first take a walk to visit the historical sights. For example, the Anping district, about a 20-minute taxi ride from Tainan's train station, is one of the areas in Tainan where you can enjoy the most nostalgic historical atmosphere. Here you will find Anping Old Fort, known as the oldest castle in Taiwan and designated as a national first-class historic site.
Anping Old Fort, founded in 1624, was built as a base for colonial rule by the Netherlands and was known as Fort Orange and Fort Zeelandia. It later served as the royal castle of national hero Koxinga, who liberated Taiwan from Dutch rule. Nearly four centuries after its founding, parts of the red brick fortifications remain, conveying the historical changes of Taiwan to the present day. Other attractions in Anping include the Western-style building of a British trader, Deji Yanggong, and the old warehouse, Anping Tree House, where banyan trees are entangled in every direction. We also recommend taking a leisurely stroll through Yanping Old Street, a street lined with long-established snack shops and souvenir stores in a retro townscape.
Besides these, Tainan City has many other historical sights! For example, Chihkan Tower (Proventia Fort) was built by the Dutch in 1652, and is a famous spot designated as a first-class historic site along with Anping Old Fort. Also, the Confucius Temple in Central and Western District is known as the oldest Confucius temple in Taiwan, built in the mid-17th century. Furthermore, Shennong Old Street, where old houses over 200 years old stand along cobblestone streets, is a popular area dotted with galleries and cafes that use old buildings.
Tainan City can be said to be the "birthplace of Taiwan." For that reason, there are many historical sites worth visiting scattered throughout the city. You can enjoy the historical atmosphere from various angles.
Tainan is a city of fine cuisine. Here are some gourmet recommendations from our editorial team.
※The photograph is an image.
※The photograph is an image.
Wherever you go in the world, you will find that cities rich in history and tradition have a unique food culture. Of course, Tainan, Taiwan's representative ancient capital, is no exception. This is a place famous as the "city of fine cuisine" in Taiwan, where you can enjoy a wide variety of cuisines.
There are many delicacies that were born in Tainan, the "city of fine cuisine," and have since spread throughout Taiwan. One representative example is the famous delicacy "Danzi noodles," which is said to have originated during the Qing dynasty. Located about a 20-minute walk from Tainan Station, close to the historical landmark "Chikan Tower," "Du Xiaoyue Danzi Noodles" is a long-established restaurant that has been in business for over 100 years, and is the place to go for "Danzi noodles!" It is so famous that it is said to be the place to go for "Danzi noodles." There are now branches in Taipei and other places, but if you visit Tainan, be sure to enjoy the taste of the main store. Of course, there are many other restaurants where you can enjoy delicious "Danzi noodles"! We recommend finding your favorite bowl and comparing the different ones.
If you're looking for sweets, try the "douhua"! "Douhua" is a well-known traditional Taiwanese sweet, and "Tongji Anping Douhua" in the "Anping" district is a famous store that is renowned throughout Taiwan. This healthy dish made with soy milk has a smooth texture and a refreshing sweetness. It's a sweet you'll want to try in between your nostalgic strolls around Anping.
In addition, Tainan is home to many other famous delicacies, such as "coffin board," a specialty of crispy deep-fried bread stuffed with stew, "shrimp rolls," which are said to be the epitome of Tainan snacks, dishes made with the mild white fish "milkfish," and "mango shaved ice" made with rich mango flavor.
Tainan has many night markets, including the largest in the city, the "Hanazono Night Market," the "Wusheng Night Market," and the "Datong Night Market," where you can enjoy a wide variety of local gourmet food. We recommend enjoying a gourmet tour as your curiosity takes you! By the way, the "Hanazono Night Market" is held on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tainan night markets are held in different locations depending on the day of the week, so be sure to check in advance!
Comment
Tainan is only about 1 hour and 40 minutes away from Taipei by bullet train! It's a great place to make a day trip, so we recommend taking the time to explore the area. However, if you want to fully experience the city's unique historical atmosphere and cuisine, we recommend staying for 1 or 2 nights.
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*Some content was updated on September 27, 2019.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
