Wanjin Catholic Basilica (aka Wanchin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) in Wanluan Township of Pingtung dates back to 1861 and was the first Basilica church and the oldest preserved church in Taiwan. It is also the beginning of Wanxing Road, a historic area in the town. Wanjing Night Market also lies on Wanxing Road; it's the most local night market you will ever find in Taiwan.
Background: After the treaty of Tianjin in 1858, the Qing Dynasty allowed Christianity in Taiwan. Catholic Priest Father Fernando Sainz arrived in Kaohsiung in 1859, from the Philippines. At the end of that year, he bought the piece of land where the current church sits for 62 Spanish silver coins. The original church was built with mud brick and completed in 1863 but was damaged in an earthquake in 1865. The church was rebuilt in its current form in 1870 using Spanish Fortress Architecture. Father Fernando Sainz returned to the Philippines in 1869 and died in Manila in 1895. The church underwent further renovations in the mid 1900s. In 1984, the church was named a Basilica by Pope John Paul II, the first church in Taiwan to receive this title. Later an Immaculate Conception Dominican Residence and visitor center were built on the grounds. Hours: 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM Wanjin Night Market: Fridays from 6 Pm to 10 PM Price: Free Tours and Activities in Pingtung: There are many activities available in Pingtung, such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing. You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. Where to stay: Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. I have stayed at many hostels and hotels in Pingtung, and even almost bought a house here. Some places that I have stayed at and can recommend are Nanwan Kiki (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here), a B&B next to Nanwan Bay, Kenting's most popular Beach. There are also a few decent hotels near Kenting Street Night Market like Kenting Star Inn 888 (book on Agoda here, Klook here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). You will notice that none of these hotels are five star resorts (I do not come to Kenting to waste my time at a resort, but you can still search Agoda, Booking.com, or Klook here for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes Neipu. Then travel east to Wanluan Township until you reach the church. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options. 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. By Bus: You can reach Wanjin Chapel by bus 708, 606, or 8212. You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook 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. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: We have been to Wanjin once. The main feature here is definitely Wanjin Chapel. There is also a brick road here that feels exactly like and old street, and a night market is open here on Friday nights. Wanjin Old Street 萬金老街
Ice Cream and Hi-Life on the main street, Wanxing Road or Wanjin Old Street.
The church sits at the mouth of the main street in town.
Explanation of the Basilica in English and Chinese.
Visitors center to the right of the church.
Side view of the church.
View looking up at the entrance.
Closeup on the bell tower.
Closuep on the cross.
Main arched entrance.
The chapel on the first floor.
Shrine to Mary and Jesus.
View looking back at the entrance.
View out the front door looking at the main road.
View of a window from the outside.
I think this is the shrine to the immaculate conception.
Another sign explaining the history of the area.
Jesus Loves You.
Another view of the visitor center.
Statue of an Apostle.
Fruit Stand along Wanxing Road.
Land God Temple.
Wanjin Night Market 萬金夜市
Wanjin Night Market sits at the end of Wanxing Road. It is just a small night market that is only open on Friday Nights, but you will not find a more local night market in Taiwan. I guarantee you will not see another tourist there.
Convenience store near the night market.
Stinky Tofu and BBQ.
Oyster Omelet stand.
Small noodle stand on the side of the road.
Tea truck.
Stinky tofu Hot Pot stand.
Our stinky hot pot.
Wider view of the night market.
Games and toys at the night market.
Corn dogs and fried chicken.
Another view from the oyster omelet stand.
Sanhuang Temple next to the night market.
Moon shining down on the night market.
You can see more photos of the area in the gallery above.
Don't forget there are many more activities in Pingtung such as such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing. You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full guide to Pingtung here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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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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