The Dragon Boat Festival (aka Double Fifth Festival) is a special time of year, during which Taiwan gets a major holiday vacation and there are Dragon Boat Races. During this time, people also must eat Zongzi. We have created this guide for you to see the official dragon boat races all around Taiwan and understand more about this special cultural festival.
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Historical Background: Originally Dragon Boat Festival may have started during the Qin Dynasty as a day to remove evil spirits and bad luck that were thought to appear on the fifth day of the fifth month. The best known origin story for the Dragon Boat Festival is that it commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a famous poet and official of the Chu Dynasty during the Warring States Period. He opposed the Chu Dynasty joining an alliance with the Qin, and therefore was banished. When the Qin Dynasty finally took over the Chu Dynasty, he committed suicide by entering the Miluo River (汨羅江 Mìluójiāng) and drowning himself. It was said that the local people went looking for him by rowing dragon shaped canoes, and threw sticky rice balls into the water so that the fish would eat the rice and not Qu Yuan's body. Because of this, during Dragon Boat Festival everyone eats stick rice, or Zongzi, and holds dragon boat races to commemorate Qu Yuan's memory. Another tradition is for people to balance eggs, which is thought to bring good luck during the "unlucky" holiday. Dragon Boat races usually involve a team rowing together, while someone beats a drum to keep rhythm and someone else stands at the front of the boat to catch the flag. Dragon Boat Festival is an official holiday in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, and is celebrated by Chinese heritage communities throughout Asia and the world. When is Dragon Boat Festival? The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. 2025: May 31st (national holiday starts May 30th) 2026: June 19th 2027: June 9th Can I go Dragon Boat Racing in Taiwan? Yes! You can join this Dragon Boat tour on Klook or this one on KKday any time of year. The cost is about 1300 NT per person. When are Dragon Boat Races in Taiwan? Training starts about a month before Dragon Boat Festival. The actual races begin a few days before or on Dragon Boat Festival, and can last a few days after as well. Races usually start at about 9 or 10 AM and last the whole day (some will end in the afternoon, some will have races at night). Where are the 2025 Dragon Boat Races in Taiwan? Taipei International Dragon Boat Championships: 台北國際龍舟錦標賽 Dates: (May 30 - June 1 2025) Location: Dajia Riverside Park 大佳河濱公園 (under Dazhi Bridge going to Neihu near the airport along the Keelung River. There is parking at the riverside park, but it can get very crowded late in the day). New Taipei Dragon Boat Race 新北市龍舟錦標賽 Dates: (May 31 - June 1 2025) Location: Luzhou Breeze Park 微風運河水域 Keelung Dragon Boat Festival 基隆龍舟競賽 Date: (May 31 2025) Held at Badouzi Harbor 八斗子漁港, Keelung Harbor Pier 2 基隆東二碼頭 Longtan Dragon Boat Races: Date: (May 30 - June 1 2025) Held at Longtan Lake 龍潭大池 Hsinchu County Dragon Boat Festival 新竹縣縣長盃龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 30 2025) Held at the Pond in front of Chihe Temple in Hsinfeng Township, No. 156, Chifu Rd, Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County, 30472 新竹縣新豐鄉紅池府路156號紅毛港池和宮 Miaoli Dragon Boat Races 苗栗龍舟賽 Dates: (May 31 2025) 2025: TBA Held at dragon boat ferry dock along the Zhonggang River in Zhunan. 竹南鎮港墘里中港溪畔的龍舟碼頭 Changhua Lukang Night Boat Races 鹿港夜間龍舟賽 Date: (May 30 - June 1 2025) Location: Lukang, along the Fulu River near Lukang Old Street (彰化福鹿溪水域) Yunlin Dragon Boat Races 雲林龍舟賽 Dates: (closed in 2025 until further notice due to construction) Location: Kouhu Township, Yiwu Wet Pond at the north pond (本縣口湖鄉宜梧滯洪池北池) Chiayi Dragon Boat Races 嘉義龍舟比賽 Date: ( May 31 2025) Location: Dongshi Harbor 東石漁港 Tainan International Dragon Boat Championships: 台南市國際龍舟賽 Dates: (May 27-31 2025) Location: Yunhe River in Tainan Between Anyi Bridge and Chengtian Bridge, near Anping Old Street 臺南市運河（安億橋至承天橋河段） Kaohsiung Love River Dragon Boat Festival: 高雄愛河端午龍舟嘉年華 Dates: (May 30 - June 1 2025) Location: The Love River between Kaohsiung Bridge and Zhongzheng Bridge (愛河， 高雄橋-中正橋). Pingtung County Dragon Boat Race 屏東縣端午龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 30-31 2025) Location: Underneath Donggang Great Bridge in Donggang (東港大橋). Yilan City Dragon Boat Race 宜蘭市端午節龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 30-31 2025) Location: Yilan River Qinghe Bridge 宜蘭河慶和橋旁 Yilan County Dragon Boat Race 宜蘭縣端午龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 30-31 2025) Location: Dongshan River Yicheng Bridge 冬山河義城橋 Hualien County Dragon Boat Race 花蓮縣端午龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 30-31 2025) Location: TBA (last year it was Liyu Lake 鯉魚潭) Penghu County Dragon Boat Festival 澎湖縣龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 31 2025) Location: Makung No. 3 Harbor (澎湖縣馬公第3漁港). Kinmen County Dragon Boat Festival 金門縣龍舟競賽 Dates: (May 31 2025) Location: Shuangli Lake 雙鯉湖 Please note that the places listed above are not a complete list, and there may be other dragon boat races around Taiwan that are private or not well advertised. Map: Please see below for a map of dragon boat racing locations.
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The four furthest directional points in Taiwan are some of the most beautiful places in the country, and they should definitely be part of every Taiwan traveler's bucket list, or stops along your round-island trip. Each of them has a lighthouse, and all of them lie near the ocean.
Planning your trip to Taiwan? Here are some top travel tips for you:
The four furthest directional points in Taiwan are as follows:
1. Most Northern point: Fugui Cape Lighthouse, New Taipei (富貴角燈塔, 新北市, 台灣東北極點) 2. Most Eastern point: Sandiao Cape Lighthouse, New Taipei (三貂角燈塔, 新北市, 台灣東極點) 3. Most Southern Point, Eluanbi Lighthouse, Pingtung (鵝鑾鼻燈塔, 屏東, 台灣南極點) 4. Most Western points: Guosheng Lighthouse, Tainan (國聖燈塔, 台南, 台灣西極點). Please see below for a map of the four points:  Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan lasts from about February to March, but the timing varies slightly every year due to differing weather patterns. Want to know where you can find the best places to enjoy Cherry Blossoms in Taiwan? In this guide, we will show you the places to see Cherry Blossoms, including a map of locations throughout Taiwan.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taiwan? 🌊 Here are some top travel tips for you:
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When is Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan? Late January to mid-March, but this may vary by location and weather patterns.  The Lantern Festival in Taiwan is an exciting time when many cities and counties in Taiwan put on colorful displays of lanterns for visitors to enjoy. There are usually lanterns in all the big cities including Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. In this guide, we will share how Taiwan celebrates the Lantern Festival and how you can get involved.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taiwan? 🌊 Here are some top travel tips for you:
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 Thinking of coming to Taiwan? In this blog, we will share insider tips for planning a great vacation here.
Taiwan is the most friendly country in the world for foreigners and one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Many have called it the best-kept secret in Asia. Taiwan is not usually known as a travel destination, mainly because of PRC China which tries to downplay its existence and the fact that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau does not do a very good job. We will try to make up for that with this blog. Table of Contents
When to go: The best time to go they say is anytime! There is always a part of Taiwan that is great to visit at any given time of year. However, most areas are most comfortable around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons. The typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The tourist busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be colder, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. How to get there: By Plane: You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on Trip.com or CheapO Air. You can also search for cheap flights in Taiwan here and here. You can also book discount tickets for domestic flights within Taiwan on KKday here. By Boat: There is a ferry boat between Kinmen and Xiamen, China. That is the only commercial way I know of to travel to Taiwan by boat. Tours: There are many tours and activities available such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, Surfing, Speed Boating, Glamping, River tracing, Paragliding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Whale Watching, ATV / 4-wheeling, Paintballing, Water Biking, Glamping, Cycling, Ziplining, Horse Riding, and many others, which you can book through Klook here or KKday here. Where to stay: Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com are also good choices. How to get around in Taiwan: By Train: You can take a train ride around the entire island in about 8 hours. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. By HSR: Taiwan’s HSR runs from north to south along the west coast of Taiwan, and is perhaps the fastest mode of transport available. You can book discount tickets via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. By Bus: Busses leave hourly from most major cities. You can book inter-city bus on Klook here. By Scooter: You can rent a scooter on Klook or KKday. Scooter rental is about 300 NT per day. You can check out our scooter rental guide here. By Car: You can also rent a car for about 1500 NT per day. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Map: Please see a map below of all the places we have blogged about in Taiwan: 
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and was the capital of Taiwan for over 200 years. It is also said to be the culinary capital of Taiwan, with many traditional Taiwanese snacks that originated here. Surrounded by historical sites, from the Dutch, Koxinga, and Qing Dynasty, it is a great place to enjoy Taiwan's interesting history and its delicious cuisine.
Below I will list some of the best places in Tainan that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places later. □ Planning your trip to Tainan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
When to visit?
Tainan is great year-round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is dryer. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Hotels.com here), a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Klook here), which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get to Tainan? You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. How to get around in Tainan: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Tainan by taking the train, inter-city bus, local bus, Youbike, or just walking. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. Scooter Rental: Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting, Wind Surfing, Glamping, Life Sciences Museum, Zuojhen Fossil Park, National Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology, Astronomical Education Area, Arphology Museum, Tainan Art Museum, Ten Drum Cultural Village, Shuei Jiao She Cultural Park, Yukids Island, Container Park, Austin Land, Tsou Ma Lai Farm, Reality Game Experience, Thai Massage, Great Wall Exhibition, Wanpi World Wildlife Park, Zengwen Reservoir Yacht Tour, Anping Canal Cruise, Zoumase Farm and more on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: You can see a map of all the places that we will visit in this blog below: 
The Chen Dejyu Shrine, (aka Chen Family Ancestral Hall) is one of the oldest Chinese buildings in Taiwan, with almost 300 years of history, dating back to the Kingdom of Tungning, built by the then chief of staff for Koxinga. It now stands almost perfectly restored building in the middle of Tainan, a monument to former times.
✈️ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □□
Background:
Soon after Koxinga conquered what is now Tainan from the Dutch in 1661, his Chief of General Staff Chen Ze 陳澤 built this mansion, which was completed in 1644 during the Kingdom of Tungming in Taiwan or Ming Dynasty in China. Chen Yonghua's original birthplace was Haicheng County of Fujian Province. He was an important figure in the governance of the kingdom, including economic, education (including building the Tainan Confucius Temple), and legal aspects. During the Qing dynasty, the building was changed into the Chen family ancestral shrine. The shrine faces west, and has three courtyards, two side rooms, and two shrines. Paintings on the walls were made by Chen Yufeng 陳玉峰, a famous painter and descendant of the Chen family in Tainan. Hours: 9 AM to 5PM, closed Mondays Price: Free How to get there: By car/scooter: From Tainan train station, go southwest on provincial highway 20, then turn right on Tainan City Highway 8. Turn right on Yongfu 2nd Road and the shrine is just behind the Famous Hotel. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By bus: You can take bus 1 from the Tainan Train station to Hayashi Department store, and the shrine is about a six minute walk northwest. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
FIRE hot springs! What other reason do you need to visit this place? Hopefully that should be enough, because there is not much else to see besides a natural gas fire and a hot spring. It's name Chinese literally means water and fire coming from the same source (水火同源). Some have called it one of the seven wonders of Taiwan. This is a place that we have wanted to go for a long time, and the first place that we have checked off of our “secret places” list.
Historical Background: According to local Chinese folklore, the Kirin, a mythical Chinese Dragon-Horse creature, is said to have long ago lived in the spot where the fire spring now stands. The spring water is his leftover urine and the fire his breath. This legend comes purely from the sign above. Another legend from the Taiwan Tourism website says that the legend is actually about two dragons: a fire dragon and a water dragon. They both lost in battle, one became the spring's water and the other the spring's fire. In recent times the cave has become a popular tourist location especially for people enjoying the hot spring hotels in Guanziling. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free
How to get there:
By car/scooter: We came south on National Highway 3 from Jiayi and exited near Tainan Baihe district. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: If you do not have a vehicle, Water and Fire hot spring can also be reached via Xinying Bus (新營客運) or tour bus. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: 
The former Tait & Co. merchant house is a well preserved residence dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Besides enjoying the era architecture, one can also enjoy historical exhibits inside the building. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Tainan.
Background: With the Treaty of Tientsin in 1856 as part of the Second Opium War, Great Britain became free to trade with China in a few select ports including Tainan. As a result, the Tait & Co. rented land near the then British Consulate in Anping, and built a western style residence and storehouse. The Merchant house and storehouse were originally built for exporting tea, sugar and camphor. During the Japanese era, the Japanese controlled on a monopoly on most exports like sugar and tea, which cut profits from Tait & Co. and forced it to close Taiwan operations in 1911. After that, it was used by the Japanese to store salt, another important product from Tainan. After WWII, the building was used as anoffice and dormitory for Tainan Salt Works. In 1979, it was converted into the Taiwan Development was museum. It was remolded to include historical exhibits of early western settlers in Taiwan in 2004. Price: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT for this and three other historical sites in Tainan). Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tower. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan Anping Fort (aka Fort Zeelandia) is an ancient fort in Tainan City that dates back to the Dutch rule of Taiwan. The fort sits right next to Anping Old street, making it a great place to understand Taiwan's culture and at the same time get some of the best snacking at the culinary capital of Taiwan.
Background: After the Dutch defeat in Penghu in 1624, they turned their sights instead to the island of Taiwan (Formosa) and began building on what were then sandbars in what is now Anping, Tainan (the inland sea that once existed here has long silted in). Fort Zeelandia was completed in 1634 after 10 years of construction, built on the high ground of one of the sand bars, along with other forts in the area, such as Fort Zeeburg. It included a one story outer fort armed with cannons. There was also a three story inner fort for administration, including a church and jail. The bricks for the building were shipped in from Java. The Dutch ruled most of Taiwan until 1661 when they were defeated by Ming Loyalists lead by Koxinga. Koxinga sieged fort Zeelandia, for nine months, killing 1,600 of the Dutch people there before they surrendered due to lack of water. The victory at Zeelandia proved to be the end of 38 years of Dutch rule in Taiwan, the survivors fleeing to Batavia. After Taiwan was taken over by the Qing Dynasty in the late 1600s, Tainan became the provincial capital of Taiwan. Fort Zeelandia fell into disrepair as the bay silted in. The bricks on the outer wall were harvested for the Eternal Golden Castle fort closer to the ocean. During the Japanese occupation, the fort was repaired and renamed Anping Fort. In 1975 the fort was further repaired and the tower improved to what currently stands. Price: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT for four historical sites in Tainan). You can book discount tickets to Fort Zeelandia on Klook here or KKDay here. Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tower. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
The Anping Tree house is a former salt warehouse in Tainan, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. The building is now completely covered in banyan trees, hence its name as the Anping Tree House. It is a special historical monument and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tainan. The house is completely covered in mangrove roots, making it look like the walls, roof, and floor are actually made from a living tree.
Background: The Anping Tree house was originally a warehouse built during the Qing dynasty storing sugar and camphor after the Qing Dynasty opened the port to international trade in 1858, created by Tait & Company behind the Tait & Company Merchant House. During the Japanese era, it was used to store salt, another important product from Tainan. After WWII, the building was used as a salt warehouse, and then it fell into disrepair for many years. It was opened as a tourist attraction in 2004. Price: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT for this and three other historical sites in Tainan). You can book discount tickets to Anping Tree House on Klook here or KKday here. Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tree house. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan's Eternal Golden Castle (also known as Erkunshen Battery 二鯤鯓砲台) is one of the best preserved Qing Dynasty era forts in Taiwan. It features a moat, large walls, huge era cannons, and live canon firing at certain times in the day. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Tainan.
Background: During the Mudan Incident in 1874, Japaneses military invaded Taiwan to punish certain aboriginal tribesman. As a result, the Eternal Golden Castle was completed in 1876 by the Qing Dynasty mainly to defend against Japanese invasion. During the Sino-French War, the facility was used to fire at and ward off French ships. When Taiwan was seceded to Japan in 1895, some Taiwanese people tried to fight off the Japanese from the fort but their efforts were futile. The Japanese did not use the fort and sold its cannons to Russia. The fort lie in ruins until 1975 when the Tainan City government began to make renovations. In 1999, further renovations were completed and it was opened as a public attraction. Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Tuesday to Sunday Price: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT for four historical sites in Tainan). You can book tickets to Eternal Golden Castle on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that turn left across the river and keep going west until you see the fort. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Bu Bus: Take Tainan Bus 19 from Tainan Train Station to Eternal Golden Castle station. The ride takes about 30 minutes. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can book tickets to Eternal Golden Castle on Klook here or KKday here. You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan's Anping Old Street (aka Yanping Old Street 延平老街, or Taiwan's First Steet) is said to be the oldest street in Taiwan. Right next to Anping Fort and surrounded by many other historical sites, as well as the center of the culinary capital of Taiwan, it is a great place to enjoy Taiwan's interesting history and its delicious cuisine.
Background: After the Dutch defeat in Penghu in 1624, they turned their sights instead to the island of Taiwan (Formosa) and began building on what were then sandbars in what is now Anping, Tainan (the inland sea that once existed here has long silted in). Anping Old Street was the first street they built in that settlement. Fort Zeelandia was completed in 1634 after 10 years of construction, built on the high ground of one of the sand bars, along with other forts in the area, such as Fort Zeeburg. It included a one story outer fort armed with cannons. There was also a three story inner fort for administration, including a church and jail. The bricks for the building were shipped in from Java. The Dutch ruled most of Taiwan until 1661 when they were defeated by Ming Loyalists lead by Koxinga. Koxinga sieged fort Zeelandia, for nine months, killing 1,600 of the Dutch people there before they surrendered due to lack of water. The victory at Zeelandia proved to be the end of 38 years of Dutch rule in Taiwan, the survivors fleeing to Batavia. After Taiwan was taken over by the Qing Dynasty in the late 1600s, Tainan became the provincial capital of Taiwan. Fort Zeelandia fell into disrepair as the bay silted in. The bricks on the outer wall were harvested for the Eternal Golden Castle fort closer to the ocean. During the Japanese occupation, the fort was repaired and renamed Anping Fort. In 1975 the fort was further repaired and the tower improved to what currently stands. The Old Street also became more and more popular with tourists after the Fort's renovation. Price: Anping Old Street: Free Anping Fort: 50 NT per person (or 150 NT to see four of five sites: Anping Fort, 1661 Historical Shipyard, Chikan Tower, Anping Tree House, and Eternal Golden Castle) Hours: Anping Old Street: Every day 7 AM to 6:30 PM. Anping Fort: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan go west on Minsheng Road until it becomes Anping Road. After that keep going until you see the tower. There is free and paid parking nearby. There is a giant free parking lot near Anping Tree House. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: Take Tainan Bus 2 from Tainan Train Station to Anping Old Fort station. The ride takes about an hour. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Note: Tainan Snake King Zoo is permanently closed. This blog is now a memory to the past.
You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as Tsou Ma Lai Farm, Thai Massage, Wanpi World Wildlife Park, Zoumase Farm, Zuojhen Fossil Park and more on Klook here or KKday here. Tainan Snake King Zoo (aka World Snake King Educational Farm 台南市世界蛇王教育農場) was a private zoo in Guiren District of Tainan with many rare and exotic reptiles, birds, and big cats, and others. There was also a restaurant inside that specialized in snake and alligator meat. Despite accusations of maltreatment, the zoo was still legally operating and accepting visitors daily. You could say that the Mr. Huang, the Snake King Zoo owner was the “Tiger King" of Taiwan. And yes there was a tiger. The farm is now for sale, and the Snake King Zoo is gone. Background: The Snake King Zoo was created in 1997. At the time of its creation, then president Lee Teng-Hui was pushing for alligator farming in Tainan, which is how the farm started. At that time, there was no animal protection laws, and no regulations on how big cages should be. However the zoo has improved conditions for the animals overtime. Over its history, it has raised over 5000 alligators. Recently the zoo has been caught up in accusations of maltreatment of its animals, however after inspection from the EPA no illegal activities were found, and the zoo took measures to improve the quality of care for its animals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local tourism in Taiwan boomed, but in the summer of 2020 the Snake King Zoo only saw a few visitors per day (compared to hundreds of visitors per day in its prime). Due to lack of income and pressure from constant debt, the zoo owner Mr. Huang (80 years old) announced in August 2020 that thezoo was for sale at a price of 160 million NT. The zoo also includes a museum and restaurant that sells snake and alligator meat. The zoo is still operating as normal but it seems its days are numbered. The zoo finally closed in 2021 when the owner Mr. Huang passed away. Hours: Permanently Closed (previously 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM every day) Price: (previously 200 NT) How to get there: By car/scooter: From Tainan HSR station, drive north on provincial highway 39, then take a left on Dade Road, and another left on Tainan City Highway 177. The Snake Zoo will be on your left, and there is parking available on site. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By bus: From Tainan HSR station, take the R3 shuttle north to Guiren District Office stop, then walk north about 20 minutes (or take a taxi) to the zoo. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as Tsou Ma Lai Farm, Thai Massage, Wanpi World Wildlife Park, Zoumase Farm, Zuojhen Fossil Park and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan green tunnel is famous for its beautiful green waterway surrounded by overgrowth to become a literal tunnel. One would think that this place was a pristine natural wonderland, but actually it is not. Keep reading. With no expectations other than seeing the photo, we visited the place with open minds. Below we have detailed our experience.
Background: The Sicao wetlands are a protected area of 515 hectares, designated to protect the habitat and wildlife from encroachment by nearby industrial parks and factories. The area has a long history of Taiwan Aboriginal habitation, and then being an economic center settled by Fujian fisherman, Dutch, Chinese, then Japanese, and now the ROC (see further down for a more complete history of the area). Price: 200 NT per person You can book discount tickets to Sicao Tunnel on Klook here or KKDay here. Hours: 8:30AM to 4PM every day Getting There: Driving a car, we simply used GPS to find the place, which consist of a Daoist temple, parking lot, shops, and ferry terminals (No. 360, Dazhong Road, Annan District, Tainan City, 709 台南市安南區大眾街360號). There is also a large temple in front of the river, Dazhong Temple (大衆廟), that according to our tour guide was supposedly 300 years old. Behind the temple is also the Qing era Sicao Fort（四草炮臺）which we will not cover in this blog. You can also get there via Tainan city bus no. 2. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can book discount tickets to Sicao Tunnel on Klook here or KKDay here. Map: 
Chikan Tower (aka the former Fort Provintia 普羅民遮城) is one of the most fascinating historical buildings in all of Taiwan. Originally built as a fort by the Dutch in the 1653, it was later made into two Chinese temples. Now it is a popular place for students to pray for good grades.
Historical Background: Fort Provintia was built by the Dutch who controlled Taiwan at the time to fortify the western part of Tayuan, just two kilometres away from Fort Zeelandia; construction planning started in 1624 and it was completed in 1653. At the time the fort pointed canons at the Taijiang River. A Road was built from the Fort Provintia to Fort Zeelandia (Minquan Road today). It was known by the local people as Red Hair Tower (紅毛樓 Hóng máo lóu) or Chikan Tower (赤崁樓 chì kàn lóu) which came from the plains aboriginal name Sakam, which was the settlement near the tower home to over5000 aboriginal villagers. In 1652 the Guo Huaiyi Rebellion ( 郭懷一事件 guōhuáiyī shìjiàn) took place, in which Chinese settlers rose up against the Dutch due to heavy taxation. With the help of the aborigines, the Chinese were defeated and over 4000 Chinese were killed. As a result of the rebellion, the Dutch replaces bamboo walls around the fort with brick walls. In 1661, Fort Provintia was the first place that Koxinga attacked in his conquest of Taiwan. In the following months he conquered the Dutch and created the Kingdom of Donming in Taiwan. The fort was used as storage for gunpowder at the time. After the Qing Dynasty took Taiwan, an uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. As part of the rebellion, the iron gates of Chikan Tower were destroyed. The Qing took back Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. Later, typhoons and a large earthquake in 1862 left the tower in ruins. In the 1800s, five temples were built on the ruins of Fort Provintia: Daishi Temple, Ocean God Temple, Fenghu Library, Wenchang Temple, and Wuzi Temple. During the Japanese Era, the temples were converted into student dormitories and an army hospital. During demolition of the Dashi Temple, they discovered the remnants of the Dutch Fort Provintia underneath. They then converted the tower into a museum which is basically in the same form today. After WWII, the building was protected as a national historical monument and was made into a tourist attraction. Apparently there are also plans to improve the Dutch history of the site in the future. Hours: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM (open late so you can see it with lights) Price: 50 NT per person. You can book discount tickets to Chikan Tower on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Tainan Train Station, dive east on provincial highway 20, then turn left on Minzu 2nd Road. The Chikan Tower will be on your right. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: From Tainan Train Station, take bus 3 or five west about 8 minutes to Fort Provintia Station. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan's Confucius Temple (aka Taiwan's Confucius Temple) is the oldest Confucius Temple in Taiwan and the first Academy in Taiwan, dating to the Kingdom of Tungning 300 years ago. Today it is an important place for Confucian learning and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tainan.
Historical Background: The Taiwan Confucius Temple was completed in 1665 during the Kingdom of Tungning, shortly after Koxinga and taken over Taiwan from the Dutch. The construction was overseen by Koxinga's son Zheng Jing and Chief of General Staff Chen Yonghua. It featured a Hall of Ethics, Hall of Great Achievement, and the First Academy of Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty in 1685, the temple was further expanded and renovated. During the Japanese era, the Academy (Wen Miao) was used as a school and barracks. After the ROC took Taiwan, the temple was well kept and Confucian ceremonies were held on a regular basis. As of the time of writing, currently the temple is under renovation, which is expected to be completed in September 2020. The temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tainan. Hours: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM (open late so you can see it with lights) Price: 50 NT per person. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Tainan Train Station, drive south on provincial highway 20, then turn at the roundabout onto Nanmen Road. The temple will be on your right. There is limited paid parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: From Tainan Train Station, take bus 2 west about 8 minutes to Tainan Confucius Temple Station. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Xikou Little Switzerland (aka Tianjing Whirlpool) is a glory hole above Wushantou Reservoir in Dongshan District of Tainan City. It looks like a giant bathtub drain, moving water from the waterway above down to the Wushantou power station below, making a giant whirlpool, and has become a unique tourist destination in Tainan.
Background: The glory called "Xikou Little Switzerland" was built as a drain to connect water coming from Tsengwen Reservoir (曾文水庫) and Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫). The water from Tsengwen River below Tsengwen Reservoir flows through an underground tunnel under a mountain to the small waterway where Xikou Little Switzerland lies. This underground tunnel and waterway was built during the Japanese Era in about 1930. Wushantou Reservoir was also completed in 1930. The Xikou Little Sweden drain was also completed at this time. Tsengwen Reservoir was completed later in 1973 to increase water capacity in the area. The water from Xikou Little Switzerland flows down to a tower and then a power generating station at the mouth of the Wushantou Reservoir. The name "Xikou" means west entrance, referring to the west entrance of the underground tunnel connecting the Tsengwen River. The name "Little Switzerland" was used to describe the area long before the dam was built, because the surrounding mountains to the east make the place look like a miniature Switzerland. Now the area only sees a few visitors a day because of its remoteness, but is still a unique place that many people want to see. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By car/taxi: From Tainan, take National Freeway 3 north to Wushantou exit 329. From there take Tainan City highway 174 east, and turn right at the sign to 西口小瑞士. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Unfortunately there is no public transport to this location; the nearest bus stop is 3-4 KM away. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Guosheng Lighthouse is the most western point of the main island of Taiwan. It looks like an electricity transmission tower and is surrounded by sand dunes. It’s deep in rural Tainan's Taijiang National Park, but it’s worth the trip.
Background: Guosheng Lighthouse was built on the Dingtoue Sand Dune (頂頭額沙洲), which is the westernmost point on the island of Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty, this area was once home to one of the largest salt drying fields in Taiwan, as well as home to fisherman. It is said this spot is the first place that Koxinga landed in Taiwan, however this is not clear to be true or not. During the Japanese era, a lighthouse was built on this spot, called Zengwen Lighthouse 曾文燈塔, which was later totally destroyed during allied bombing raids in WWII. Later, the ROC government built a wooden lighthouse on the Dingtoue Sand Dune in 1957 that was 20 meters tall, but it was often hit by waves and nearly fell into the ocean, and was finally destroyed completely by Typhoon Viola in 1969. A new lighthouse, the one that stands today, was built from concrete and steel in 1969, and stands 32 meters high. It needs constant maintenance such as paint to stop corrosion to its frame. In September 2022, the tower was closed for maintenance and renovations, and is expected to open again by the end of 2022. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By car/scooter: From provincial highway 17 in Qigu District of Tainan, turn west on highway 173 toward the ocean. Just keep going and don't stop until you reach the lighthouse at the end of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By bus: There ain't no public transportation to this location. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Tainan was the capital of Taiwan during the Dutch Rule and Qing Dynasty, a span lasting over 200 years. During the Qing Dynasty earth and stone walls were built around the city, including 14 city gates. Today only four city gates remain, which we will explore in this blog.
Historical Background: The walls of Tainan first started as a brick wall around Fort Provintia in 1652. After the Qing Dynasty took Taiwan, an uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. The Qing took back Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. Later a bamboo palisade was built around the City in 1733 to prevent further rebellion. Bamboo walls surrounded the city until about 1788. When the bamboo walls started to decay, the Fujian provincial government decided to make earthen walls around the capital city instead starting in 1788. However by 1867, the earthen walls had crumbled due to heavy rains year after year, and they were repaired for the last time in 1875. During the Japanese era, most of the walls of Tainan were destroyed because the Japanese thought that walls around the city stifled development. The west wall later became what is now Ximen Road. In its prime, there were a total of 14 city gates in the walls. Today, only four gates remain: Dongan Gate (東安門), Ningnan Gate 寧南門, Jingpo Gate 靖波門, and Duiyue Gate 兌悅門. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get to Tainan? You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. How to get around in Tainan: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Tainan by taking the train, inter-city bus, local bus, Youbike, or just walking. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. Scooter Rental: Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Hotels.com here), a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Klook here), which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as Life Sciences Museum, Zuojhen Fossil Park, National Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology, Tainan Art Museum, Ten Drum Cultural Village, Shuei Jiao She Cultural Park, Great Wall Exhibition, Anping Canal Cruise, and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see the existing city gates marked with red castle icons below: 
The Chimei Museum in Rende District of Tainan is one of the largest museums in Taiwan. It sits in the middle of Tainan Metropolitan Park, and features western style architecture and a wonderful collection of art that would be the envy of any European city, including fine art, fossils, musical instruments, weapons, antiques, and other artifacts.
Background: The Chimei Museum was originally created in 1992 by the Chimei Corporation founder Shi Wen-long. The museum includes fine art, fossils, musical instruments, weapons, antiques, and other artifacts. Before 2015 the museum collection was housed in the Chimei Corporate headquarters, and was later moved to the current location at Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2015. The founder Shi Wen-long is a violin enthusiast, and the museum features the largest collection of antique violins in the world. The building itself was created by Tsai Yi-cheng to accentuate the best in western culture. Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, closed Wednesdays. Price: 200 NT per person You can buy discount tickets to the Chimei Museum on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By car/scooter: From downtown Tainan, take provincial highway 1 south to Rende. The museum sits right in front of Expressway No. 86. There is plenty of parking on site. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By train: The museum is within walking distance of Bao'an TRA station. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as Life Sciences Museum, Zuojhen Fossil Park, National Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology, Astronomical Education Area, Arphology Museum, Tainan Art Museum, Ten Drum Cultural Village, Shuei Jiao She Cultural Park, and more on Klook here or KKday here. and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Salt Mountain (aka Qigu Salt Mountain) is a mountain made of salt in Qigu District of Tainan City. It is a remnant of the now defunct salt drying industry that thrived for over 300 years in Tainan. Nearby you can also enjoy the Qigu Salt Museum. If you are a fan of salt, this is the place for you.
Background: Drying seawater in Tainan for salt production began as early as 1665 during the Kingdom of Tungning. The salt drying pools in Qigu were officially created in 1938 by the Japanese. These drying pools were constantly expanded on into the ROC era. However, as the price of imported salt became lower, Taiwan's domestic salt drying industry began to suffer, and the Qigu Salt Fields closed in 2002. Over 300 years of salt drying in Tainan came to an end. In 2005, the Taiwan Salt Museum was opened which is right next to salt mountain. The museum features historical exhibitions and DIY activities. Recently a number of works of art, amusement park rides, and statues have been set up near the salt mountain to attract visitors. Price: Salt Mountain: 50 NT Taiwan Salt Museum: 150 NT Hours: 9 AM to 5:30 PM every day (the museum is closed on Wednesdays) How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From central Tainan, take provincial highway 17 north to Qigu. At the intersection of highway 176, turn left on the 176 until you reach Salt Mountain. It will be on your right. Looking for scooter rental in Tainan? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Tainan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: From Tainan Station you can take the Blue Main Line to Jiali Station, then switch to BL20, then get off at Qigu Salt Mountain Station. The whole ride takes about two hours and is 115 NT one way. You can book tickets to travel to Tainan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Tainan via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit old Tainan, you can book a hotel near the west part of downtown and consider walking or cycling around the city. We have stayed at and recommend Liho Hotel, a quality hotel right next to Chikan Tower, and Famouse Hotel, which is another great hotel also within walking distance of Chikan Tower in old Tainan. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Tainan such as SUPing / Paddle Boarding, Oyster Harvesting , Wind Surfing, Glamping and more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: |
Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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