【Tainan Attractions 2021】

Recommended must-see attractions and food in Anping District, Tainan

Anping is a must-visit attraction in Tainan. In addition to historical sites and local delicacies, Anping has also seen many popular Instagram check-in spots in recent years. Take advantage of the long weekend to plan a trip to Tainan and let everyone come together to see Anping’s attractions and delicacies.

Take the train to Tainan, and first go to the recommended accommodation near Tainan Railway Station – San Dao Men Architecture and Creative Hotel to store your luggage. The hotel is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Tainan Railway Station. After checking in, rent a motorcycle from the motorcycle rental company that the hotel cooperates with, and then go straight to Anping.。

First stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Deyang Naval Ship Park

It is not easy to see a warship docked on the shore, let alone board it directly. After buying the ticket and boarding the ship, you can see the environment on the ship. The Deyang ship is equipped with many heavy equipment and weapons, which you don’t have the opportunity to see normally. Every corner of the ship is worth seeing, and there are occasional events here to make the mighty warship more approachable. There is also a landing pad on the ship with a big H written on the floor, as if a helicopter will land here. If you love warships, don’t miss the opportunity to come here.

Second stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Yuguang Island

Just near the Deyang warship, you have to cross a bridge when going to Yuguang Island. From the bridge, you can enjoy the sea view of Anping, the farmed oyster racks and small boats, and the scenery of the island fishing village comes into view. When you arrive on the island, you can see that the shade of trees on both sides densely covers the entire road. More than half of the island is covered by forest. Walk through the forest path to the beach. Looking around, the white sand beach is right in front of you. In the evening, you can watch the sunset fall into the sea level. For those who love photography and taking pictures of beautiful scenery, this is a pilgrimage spot for Internet beauties.

Third stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Big Fish’s Blessing

Anping’s recent Instagram hotspot “Big Fish’s Blessing” is a whale installation art made of steel pipes. The huge whale lights up at night, making Anping Port even more beautiful. Moreover, you can walk into the body of this whale. Sitting inside, you can see the treasure island of Taiwan made up of colorful triangular glass. The special thing about this installation art is that we can see more of the meaning that the artist wants to express by walking into its body. This whale is in perfect harmony with Anping Harbor. The blessing of the big fish at night brings travelers a sense of peace and tranquility. Whether it is day or night, you can come here to take a photo if you have the chance to pass by.

Fourth stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Evening Tour of the Branch Office

The Xiyou Branch Office was originally the “Anping Branch of the Taiwan Governor’s Monopoly Bureau” built by the Japanese government in 1922. This quaint Japanese-style building was an important salt industry center in Tainan at that time. There used to be salt-making facilities in the surrounding area, which were once an integral part of the salt-making industry. Now only this building remains, leaving traces of the past Japanese colonial period. It is called Xiyouchuzhangsuo because its pronunciation is similar to the Japanese word for salt, and it is also one of the best places to enjoy the sunset in Anping, hence the name. Common Japanese elements can be seen around the building, such as the hand-painted pavilions, painted horses, and stone floors that can be seen in Japanese shrines. The outside of the building is worth taking pictures. There is another attraction inside – 366 colors of birthday salt. The different colors of salt are designed according to Japanese color energetics, corresponding to the 366 days of the year (including 2/29). They are arranged in a large display stand in the middle. You can come here to see what color and meaning the salt corresponding to your birthday is, and you can also buy salt for that day as a souvenir. It’s very interesting! If you pass by Anping, you can come to see the Setouchi Branch Office and experience the environment like a Japanese tourist attraction.

Fifth stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Anping Fort

The red roof of Anping Fort can be clearly seen from a distance. The Dutch built Fort Zeelandia here and used Anping as a fortress. The Zheng Dynasty also used this place as their residence when they ruled Taiwan in the past. The red bricks and tiles and the old banyan trees describe a part of Taiwan’s past history; the dilapidated outer city walls and the old artillery batteries, the only remaining historical relics, tell the vicissitudes of Anping’s past. Walking out of the ancient castle is Anping Old Street, which can be said to be a place you must visit when you come to Anping. The road here is not wide, and it will be very crowded if there are a few more people, so the bustling Anping Old Street can be said to be the norm. The ancient streets are lined with many old shops, and the symbol of Anping, the “Wind Lion God”, can be seen on the doors. There are also many small stalls selling traditional children’s toys, which are full of human touch. Come here for a walk and look for treasures that are unique to Anping!

Sixth stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Anping Old Street

There are many shops selling candied fruits in Anping Old Street, the most famous of which is Yongtaixing Candied Fruit. It is an old shop with an old sign, and the inside is filled with jars of candied fruits and dried fruits. The signature gourd pattern, coupled with salty, sour and sweet plums, makes a bag of candied fruits that costs NT$50 look full of old-fashioned flavor. There are many shops selling shrimp cakes on the street, and they will invite passers-by to try the shrimp cakes. The orange-red shrimp cakes are crispy. When you come to Anping Old Street, you might as well take a few packs of shrimp cakes back as souvenirs. Anping Zhou’s Shrimp Rolls are quite famous. You can come here to try the oyster rolls when you visit Anping Old Street. If you are tired of strolling around Anping Old Street and want to have lunch, you can come here to eat Anping snacks!

Seventh stop
Tainan Anping Attractions | Anping Tree House

Anping Tree House was once used as a warehouse for the Great Nippon Salt Company. Its current size was expanded by the Japanese. The big banyan tree here completely covers the building, and you can see many aerial roots of the old banyan tree hanging down on the wall. I didn’t expect that in addition to the building, there is also a wooden plank road for people to walk on in the towering banyan tree. As you walk through the dense foliage, you can see many squirrels climbing and running between the branches. The ecological maintenance is very good, and the squirrel habitat has not been changed because this place has become a tourist attraction. Tak Kee Trading Company was a trading company established in the 19th century when China and Britain were conducting trade. The building’s exterior is surrounded by arcades, with white exterior walls and green-glazed railings. The vicissitudes of history can be seen from the existing buildings. Inside the Tak Kee Trading Company is an exhibition hall that displays various cultural relics, and records the lifestyles and items used by various ethnic groups in Taiwan in the past. The second floor is a wax museum that uses wax figures to introduce historical scenes such as the lives of indigenous people, early ancestors crossing to Taiwan, and Zheng Chenggong’s negotiations with the Dutch. By visiting here, you can better understand Taiwan’s past history.

This trip to Anping, Tainan, whether it is the accommodation at Sandaomen Hotel or the attractions and food in Anping, they are all very precious memories for me and left a deep impression on me. There are still many places in Tainan waiting for me to explore. I look forward to traveling to Tainan again next time.