Tainan travel blog — The fullest Tainan travel guide for first-timers

After visited Confucius Temple, you only cross the street is to reach the old town. This street is especially cute for those who love the little things, pretty. You can find countless small scenes in the front porch of any shops here.

Address: No. 2, Nanmen Rd, West Central District, Tainan City, 700
Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Phone: (06)221-4647
Entrance fee: NT$50
How to get there: Take the bus No.1, 3, 16 or 17 from Tainan Train Station.

Taijiang National Park

The Taijiang National Forest, a diverse nature ecosystem, most famous as the Sihcao Green Tunnel. Sailing on the water, wool under the canopy of leaves and trees stretching out in the middle of the canal is the best experience when coming here. The first steps when not yet deep into the forest, it’s quite sunshine, but when the boat goes deep into the forest, you will hear the birds singing, the murmur of water tapping on the boat, you will catch “sunshine friends” by hands through leaves. In addition, you can visit one of the most famous temples in Tainan, which is also located within the national park named as Sihcao Dajhong Temple.

Address: No.360, Dazhong Rd., Annan Dist., Tainan City 709, Taiwan
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays: 10:00-10:30 and 14:30-15:00 / Thursday & Sunday: 8:30 – 16:30
Admission: NT$200
How to get there: From Tainan Train Station (South Station) take the bus No.10 to Lu Er Men Tian Hou Temple, arrival at Dajhong Temple Station.

Qigu Salt Mountain

Located in Chigu, near Qigu Lagoon, Qigu Salt Mountain is one of Tainan’s most popular attractions. More than 2 hectares of salt, white and smooth like a snow field.The bottom is the largest inland lagoons in Taiwan, rich in ecological resources and habitats for migratory wintering spoonbills or black-faced birds. This area is also home to the nation’s largest salt producer. In addition, there are other important minerals, rare. There are two large mounds, located on both sides. Large mounds contain about 60,000 tons of salt. From here, visitors are offered excellent views of the various salt fields and surroundings. In addition, you can take part in recreational games including bumper boats, go-karts, and
doo-doo trains suitable for all ages.

Located right next to Qigu Salt Mountain is the Salt Museum of Taiwan is home to the Taiwan Salt Industry, the science of salt and the salt reserves of the world. Moreover, there is also the Black-Faced Bird Sanctuary, Ocean View Pavilion, and Qigu Lagoon, which are also quite near the mountain, and you can easily get here.

Address: No. 66, Yancheng Village, Qigu District, Tainan City
How to get there: From Tainan train station take the Xinnan bus (興 南 客運) to Jiali and then from Jiali take the Xinnan bus towards Qigu, down at Salt Mountain Station (鹽山 站). It takes about 2 hours.

Eternal Golden Castle

Eternal Golden Castle (Erkunshen Fortress) built on a square piece of land from the 19th century by a French engineer to against the power of the Japanese. The fort’s structure consists of four cannons at four corners, a deep moat and a suspension bridge at the main gate. In an emergency, the suspension bridge is cut to prevent enemy troops from entering. A military training ground with five Armstrong cannons. This fort was remodeled in 1975, after 100 years of construction, the Government of Taiwan opened to visitors from 8:30 to 17:30.

Address: No. 3, Guangzhou Road, Anping District, Tainan City, Taiwan 708
Opening hours: 08:30 – 17:30 (not including any evening events)
Tickets: Adults: NT&50; students: NT$25
Phone: (06) 295-1504

National Museum of Taiwan Literature

Taiwan has its own culture but there are many things that come from Asian cultures, especially China. The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is located at No.1, Zhongzheng Road, which was completed in 2003. Before becoming a museum for visiting tourists, this was once the town hall of Tainan City since 1916. Visit the museum, tourists also learn about the culture, Taiwanese people, the great writers and poets, admire the beautiful architecture.

Address: No. 1號, Zhongzheng Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700
Phone: +886 6 221 7201
Opening hours: 9am-6pm Tue-Sun (Museum is closed on Mondays)
Free admission

Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve

The reserve is the site of the Black-Faced Birds on the west coast of Tainan, next to the ecology zone of the Wen Tseng River and home to the creatures living in there, especially the rare spoonbills bird. This reserve is open 24 hours, is a small part of the wetland, dedicated to the protection of water birds. The birds in September are usually live in Korea and northern China, while the winter they migrate to Tainan. You will have more difficulty seeing birds when close approaching, so there is a binoculars system that gives you the best view of bird species at no cost. The reserve is part of the park in Taijiang National Park.

Guanziling Hot Springs

The area is divided into two sections, the old hot spring area is located in the valley with cheap price and the hot springs on the hilltop nearby are more expensive than the old one. There are hourly bus runs from Chiayi, Zhongshan Rd’s bus station, hundreds of meters down the street from the TRA Railway Station. Travel time takes about an hour (NT$79), ending at the summit building near the Toong Mao resort. In addition, you can take a taxi for NT$400. There are also eight daily buses (30 minutes/trip) from TRA Sinying Station.

Address: 732, Taiwan, Tainan City, Baihe District
Phone: +886 6 682 2344
Opening hours: 9AM–11:30PM

Guanziling is famous muddy hot spring, heard the name was fascinating, right? However, it also has the effect of treating skin allergies, so you should visit it in the spring. The dried mud at the hot spring sells for NT$50 per bag. The King’s Garden Villa offers guests a full range amenities with hot tub, the price for adult about NT$350 during summer. Services include: fish massage, massage machine, hot water bath foot bath at 43.5 degrees Celsius, hot springs temperature is about 39 degrees C, pool and other activities. This place offers services both day and night.

Address: 732, Taiwan, Tainan City, Baihe District, 關子嶺56號
Phone: +886 6 682 2500

Chimei Museum

Chimei Museum is a private museum founded in 1992 by the Chi Mei Corporation in Rende District. The collection of the museum is divided into five categories: Western art (including painting, sculpture, decorative arts and period furniture); Musical instrument; Natural history; Weapons and armor; Antiques and artifacts. The museum is known for its largest collection of violins in the world and is home to an important collection of ancient weapons, paintings and sculptures from the West. European paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries depict the development of Western art. Historical weapons exhibits from prehistoric times, Bronze Age, Iron Age to modern times.

Address: No. 66號, Section 2, Wenhua Road, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan 71755
Phone: +886 (0)6 2660808
Admission: TWD 200
Opening hours: Thu-Tue 09:30-17:30
Website: https://www.chimeimuseum.org/

Nankunshen Temple

The entire temple area consists of monumental buildings and spacious landscape garden with a variety of exquisite handicrafts. Nankunshen Temple spent nearly half a century for building and using 2,200 kilograms of gold ($15 million) for all gold ornaments and sculptures. This golden temple has a statue of Buddha about 6.6 meter width and 2.0 meter height, weighing 405 kilograms, made by pure gold.

Address: No.976, Kunjiang, Beimen Dist., Tainan City 727, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Opening hours: 06:00-21:00
Free entrance
Phone: +886-6-7863711

In addition to the famous tourist sites above, visitors can visit more attractions such as Baihe Lotus, Zou Ma Lai famous fertile farm, Jianshanpi Jiangnan Resort, Leopard King Safari Zoo, Qigu seafood road or explore the spiritual sites: Koxinga Temple, Madou Daitian Temple, Great Queen of Heaven Temple, Kailong Temple, Dongyue Hall or Haishan Hall…

Tainan blog — What and where to eat in Tainan?

In addition to the rich historical and cultural attractions, the cuisine is also an extremely strong attraction of Tainan. Here are some signature and delicious dishes you must try when traveling to Tainan.

Danzai noodles

Talking about Tainan cuisine can not mention Danzai noodles. This attractive hot noodles dish are served with minced meat and shrimp. If you want to enjoy the great taste of this Danzai noodles please visit Du Xiao Yue restaurant.

Du Xiao Yue
Address: No.9-1, Yongkang Street, Da’an District, Taipei City (Dongmen Station Exit 5)
Tel: +886 02 3393 1325
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm (Sun – Thu), 11:30 am – 11 pm (Fri – Sat)

Wa Gui cake

The people of Tainan called this cake is Wa gui. This is a rice cake mixed with pork chopped, shrimp, egg yolks, mushrooms, sesame oil and a little soy sauce. At first glance, the cake seems a little in a jumble because it is made from many ingredients but its taste is great. The best place to eat Wa gui rice cake is at Fu Sheng Hao restaurant. This restaurant has a long tradition and holds the title of the best rice cake for 30 years.

Fu Sheng Hao
Address: No.8, Lane 333, Section 2, Ximen Road, Tainan, Taiwan.
Phone: +886 6 227 4101.
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 07:00-17:30.

Douhua

Douhua is probably familiar in Vietnam, and it also is a famous dish of Tainan. The difference that makes the Tainan Douhua brand is the sweet sauce made from different flavors from green beans, taro, red beans, brown sugar …

Lu Mian

Lu Mian braised noodles is extremely popular noodles in Tainan. The noodle dish has the viscous broth and slightly thick, made from corn powder, wood ear mushroom, egg white and pork. Although very popular but to enjoy the best taste of this braised noodles, visitors should go to Ah Mei Restaurant.

A Mei Restaurant
Address: No. 98號, Section 2, Minquan Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan 700
Opening hours: 11AM–2PM, 5:30–9PM
Phone: +886 6 222 2848

Milkfish

Taiwanese people love to eat foods made from Milkfish and it has become a specialty of Taiwanese cuisine. The simplest way to cooking Milkfish is fillet the fish bone and wrap the meat in silver paper and bake. Baked Milkfish dip in sauce made from salt, pepper, lemon is so delicious. One good place to enjoy the fish is Chikan Peddler’s Noodles (Chih Kan Dan Zai Noodles) restaurant.

Chikan Peddler’s Noodles
Address: No. 180 Minzu Road(民族路), Section 2, West Central District, Tainan City
Opening hours: Daily, 11:00AM ~ 12:00 midnight
Phone: (06) 2205336

Guan Cai Ban (Coffin Bread)

Coffin bread is a unique dish, extremely popular in Taiwan. People call it coffin bread because it has a lid and looks like a coffin. Outside is the bread crust, the inside is mixed of meat, seafood, peas, mushrooms, carrots … This is a unique dish that you should try while traveling in Taiwan in general and Tainan in particular.

Read more:

• Taiwan food blog: Taiwan must eat — Top 9 best foods you have to try in Taiwan. 
• Taiwan street food blog — Top 10 Taiwan street foods you must-eat.
• Taiwan food trip — 24 hour culinary experience in Taiwan.

Tainan blog — What and where to buy in Tainan?

Here are some good gifts and souvenirs as well as some places in Tainan you can find them.

Tea

Taiwan is known as the hometown of tea with two extremely famous teas with great flavors are: Olong tea and Pouchong tea. Not only has perfect taste, tea also has many uses for healing such as stimulating the digestive system, weight loss, lower cholesterol in the blood. So Taiwan tea is a wonderful gift for relatives and friends when you back home.

Kinmen peanut candy

In addition to tea, Kinmen peanut candy is also a great travel gift for visitors to Taiwan. Peanuts are cooked in malt sugar and then cooled down to harden. Then cut into small pieces and packaged in plastic bags or gift boxes. The bag of peanut cake just delicious and polite when choosing as a gift.

Chien Chiang Yue

Chien Chiang Yue is located at 159-4 NanMen Road, opposite Nammen Park. This shop caters to women with all kinds of accessories, clothing, jewelry and unique style shoes. The latest fashion models are always updated and unique. The store that exists more than 20 years attract a lot of shoppers. The shop is open from 15.00-22.00 daily.

Amenity and Organic

Amenity and Organic is a food shop located at 7 ShingHua Road, at the end of ChingNian Road. This store provides dried goods from cereals, vegetables, roots, fruits, …. You will be served very enthusiastically from the pleasant boss. In addition, you also have the opportunity to attend a nutrition class on the upper floor, and there is a restaurant right next to the breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tainan you can refer to

• Kaohsiung Airport Transfers (KHH) for Tainan
• Tainan Private Car Charter
• Private Multi-City Car Charter for Taiwan
• THSR One Way Ticket to or from Tainan
• Tainan Classic Attractions Day Tour
• Tainan Historic Sites Pass (Tainan Station Pick Up)
• Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour Bus in Tainan
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
• 4G SIM Card (TPE Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Far EasTone Telecom
• 4G WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from WiFiBB (Unlimited Data)
• 4G LTE WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Japan
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Consecutive Unlimited Pass (2 or 3 Days)
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you looking for more Tainan travel guide, best places to visit and top things to do in Tainan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tainan itinerary 2 days — How to spend 2 days in Tainan perfectly?