Tainan or sometimes called "Phoenix City" is one of the oldest city in Taiwan island and it was capital of Taiwan from 17th century to 19th century. As one of the oldest, many historical buildings or monuments which could bring us to know more about the city and its culture. Although first language of Tainan is Mandarin Chinese, you may feel their welcoming to tourist or foreigner such as me by providing lot of information in English. One of my favorite guide is Museum Tourism, you may get the information from Tainan Airport if you get in to Tainan by plane, or Visitor Center near Tainan Train Station, Beimen Rd. or if you still planning to go to Tainan you can go to Travel Tainan Website.
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| Tainan City tourism map |
I will divide the writing in several sections and it is just my preferable because sometimes it easy to reach in one travel direction such as using city bus or using bicycle. If you want to know hot to use utilize bus in Tainan you can go to my other post here and here for using T-Bike (share bike in Tainan).
If you are student studying in university in Tainan, i suggest you to explore the tourist attractions in the city, because your admission to the tourist attraction spots may be waived or you don't need to pay the entrance fee. One of the great job done by Tainan Government.
Chihkan Tower and Anping Area
Chihkan Tower
Chihkan Tower or sometimes called Fort Provintia is one of most favorite landmarks in Tainan, together with Anping Fort Zeelandia. It was built by the Dutch. It is consists by several building and it has uniqueness. Sometimes you can enjoy concert here and around Chihkan Tower you can find a lot of food shops, it also has shop with halal certification.
Chihkan Tower or sometimes called Fort Provintia is one of most favorite landmarks in Tainan, together with Anping Fort Zeelandia. It was built by the Dutch. It is consists by several building and it has uniqueness. Sometimes you can enjoy concert here and around Chihkan Tower you can find a lot of food shops, it also has shop with halal certification.
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| Chihkan Tower |
Anping Fort
Enjoying Tainan is not completed without visiting Anping area, it contains lot of tourist attractions. But one i liked is Fort Zeelandia, one of the most heritage monuments of Tainan, because it has tower and we can go to the tower seeing 360 degree of Tainan. Not only the tower, you can go to the museum and learn the history about Anping area and Tainan city. In the back side of this area you can see the remain of the Anping Fort wall.
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| Fort Zeelandia Museum |
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| Fort Zeelandia Tower |
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| you can watch Tainan city 360 degree at the top of tower |
Deyang Destroyer and Eternal Golden Castle
Near Anping Fort, it has two tourist attractions which is worth to see this two spots was near-located. First is Deyang Destroyer, sometimes i just called 925 warship, because warship or naval ship is not easy to watch this decommissioned ship become one of my favorite in Tainan. It also contains lot of information in English.
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| Deyang Destroyer, 925 warship |
Second spot is Eternal Golden Castle, just in walk-distance from Deyang Destroyer. Historically, this is a fort built to strengthen the defense of Tainan in the time of war. In this fort you can watch several cannons. From Anping Fort, you can use bus No. 19 daily or using 77-2 in weekend.
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| Eternal Golden Castle gate |
Anyi Bridge, seeing beautiful Tainan Canal
This is just an option, when you still in Anping Area until afternoon time, i suggest you to go to Anyi Bridge to see the beautiful of Tainan Canal, at least until now i already visited this place more than 5 times.. :) When Dragon Boat festival comes (around early June) you can see International Dragon Boat Championship here.
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| 2019 Dragon Boat Championship, second time i watch this event |
This travel destination combination of Chihkan Tower and Anping area can be reached by Tourist Bust no 99, you may visit webtsite Tainan Bus for Fun.
Southwest Coast National Scenic Area
Taiwan has Southwast Coast National Scenic Area which span from Yunlin - Chiayi - Tainan, the administration office was located in Tainan. This scenic area contains lot of attractions especially nature-related, in Tainan the most famous was Sicao Green Tunnel, Qigu Salt Mountain and Taiwan Salt Museum.
Sicao Green Tunnel
Sicao Green Tunnel is a small river with mangrove trees in the left and right of the river, since in some part the mangrove trees covering the river, it look likes tunnel... :) Near the entrance of start point of this journey, in the backyard of Dazhong Temple you can enjoy natural view includes beautiful collection of orchids.
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| Sicao Green Tunnel |
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| Orchid in backyard of Dazhong Temple |
Cigu salt mountain
In Cigu area, you can visit and climb salt mountain, yes.. salt mountain, a mountain consist of salt but it equipped with stairs to make it easy for climbing. Sounds weird but finally i stepped the ladder and seeing the surrounding from the top..
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| from the top of Qigu Salt Mountain |
Near the salt mountain, it has Taiwan Salt Museum, if you have time or you still waiting for bus back to Tainan, you can visit this place.
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| Taiwan Salt Museum |
To go to this places, you can use bus no. 99 from the city center.
Around Tainan city center
Around the city center, Tainan has several iconic spots for tourism and worth to visit, such as Hayashi Department Store, one most heritage building in Tainan which still in operation. With my friends from NCKU we visited this building and buying some foods here. You can go to the rooftop to enjoy more beatiful view of Tainan.
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| Hayashi Department Store |
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| Waiting for the foods with friends. |
Tainan Art Museum 2nd Building
I've been waiting for this building when visiting some tourist spots and seeing this big building under construction at that time. Now, the building already opened and it is Tainan Art Museum 2nd Building. The building was big and the design very special. Inside the museum you can enjoy several arts such as painting.
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| Tainan Art Museum 2nd Building |
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| Enjoying the paintings |
Tainan District Court - National Monument
In front of Tainan Art Museum 2nd Building, you can visit Tainan District Court National Historical Monument, and i like this museum because you can take picture in a jail and you also enjoy special area (glass) with former tower facing downward and a court scene.
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| Tainan District Court Monument |
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| Inside Tainan District Court Monument, you can find a jail |
Former Tainan Weather Observatory
For you who have interest in meteorological. This place is one one of tourism spot you must visited. Inside the museum you can watch several tools related to weather observatory. When the season around spring, the trees in front of the museum blossoming, beautiful.
National Museum of Taiwan Literature
One of the biggest national museum in Tainan, you can see lot of artifacts and books here and inside the building is beautiful. I visited once with my friends from NCKU. To visiting more places in Tainan city center you can use e-book provided by Tainan Goverment called Tainan by Foot.
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| in front of National Museum of Taiwan Literature |
National Museum of Taiwan History
Second national museum in Tainan is National Museum of Taiwan History, it not located in the city center and you need to use bus number 18 from city center. This museum has large open space area and for me, one of the special thing is this museum use renewable energy to powering the museum. Inside this museum you can watch lot of scene describing Taiwan.
Another most visited museum is Chimei Museum, because it is large open space, free admission for Tainan student and it is very unique. For us, we usually spend our free time here, especially when we want to held gathering, taking photos.
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| Taking photos in Chimei Museum, using our traditional "Batik" |
Enjoying Greater Tainan
Enjoy Taiwan Cycling Route
Some tourist attractions are not in city center, it is still located in Tainan, so it need flexible transportation, one of my favorite is using bicycle. Not only using T-Bike but you also can buy bicycle here if you are studying in Tainan because Taiwan is one of the best bicycle manufacturer. Using bicycle is safe in Tainan, you can use it at the road or at special bicycle track. Taiwan have Taiwan Cycling Route, some of them i ever experienced such as route no 1, 1-5 and 1-17. This some places in Tainan i ever visited
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| enjoying part of route 1-5 and watch sunset in Tainan |
Enjoying west part of Tainan, Siraya National Scenic Area
Experiencing Sunrise in Erliao
If sunset in west part of Tainan, then for enjoying sunrise you can go to the west part of Tainan. I suggest you to go to Siraya National Scenic Area. Although you need lot of energy here since the cycling route is mostly going up. But after you reach the place, you will feel worth. You can go to this place using Tainan City Bus - Green line from Tainan city center then transfer to Green 13 line from Xinhua bus station and you need to stop at Ganglin (岡林) and continue walking to the peak until you reach the sunrise platform.
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| near sunrise platform in Erliao, Siraya National Scenic Area |
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| Siraya National Scenic Area |
Guanmiao Beiliao Painting Village
After finished enjoying Siraya National Scenic Area, you can visit Guanmiao Beiliao Painting Village. In this village, you can watch paintings in their houses. Very unique. To reach this village, you can use public transportation such as Tainan City Bus - Red 11 line stop at Daitian Temple (Shinkong Village).
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| painting in a house |
Visiting Wusanto Reservoirs
Because of one my classmate gave good presentation about reservoir in Taiwan, then it influenced me to visit one of reservoir in Tainan. Wusanto Reservoir, this reservoirs is important for Tainan. In this place you can enjoy lot of scenic nature, famous bridge and find for sakura flower.
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So.. when you travelling to Taiwan, spend your day in Tainan and enjoy the culture.. If you are studying in Tainan, let's explore Tainan.
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