Confucius Temple Cultural Park Tourism Center (Old Tainan Forestry Office)
Confucius Temple Cultural Park Tourism Center On You Ai Street behind the Confucius Temple, Wude Hall, and the National Literature Museum, there is a small Japanese colonial-era building that was once the offices of the forestry department. It is a well-preserved building and has been recently made into the Confucius Temple Cultural Zone Tourism Center. … Continue reading
Tainan City Public Parking Management
Tainan City Public Parking Management Unless you drive a car you may never need to enter this place. You can seemingly park a scooter anywhere in the city and don’t have to pay fees unless you manage to get yourself towed. While cars seem able to get away with staying double-parked for hours, there is some enforcement … Continue reading
Tainan Grand Matsu Temple
Tainan Grand Matsu Temple (Dà Tiānhòu Gōng 大天后宮) The goddess Matsu is one of the most important deities in Taiwan. It’s a simple equation, really: Goddess of the Sea + Taiwan being an island = high status among worshippers. Matsu was already important among the coastal Fujianese before crossing the straight, but the perilous journey from … Continue reading
DVD Movie Rentals – Hakataya
Hakataya You wouldn’t have to go very far to find a place that rents DVDs in Tainan. DVD shops are in every neighborhood. Blockbuster Video has several locations and there are hundreds of mom and pop shops. However, regardless of location or an international name brand, the sad reality is that most of these shops … Continue reading
Chikan Lou (Ft. Provintia)
Chikan Lou (Chìkǎn Lóu 赤崁樓) Chikan Lou, also known as Chikan Tower or Fort Provintia, is among the most important historic sites in Tainan City as well as all of Taiwan. It is also one of the prettiest. Two ornate stone and wood towers sit amongst the grounds of lovely gardens that include a koi … Continue reading
Tainan Railway Station
Tainan Railway Station The Tainan Railway Station is one of my favorite old buildings in the city. It has a Western look to it, seemingly colonial and well-aged by the tropical sun, but definitely modern in its day. The architectural style is eclectic, but the art deco influences dominate. It has a history of more … Continue reading