Why This Route?
This is a 400-year historical walking tour through Tainan's most significant sites. Starting from Anping — where Taiwan's recorded history began — you'll witness a surreal tree house where banyan roots have consumed an old warehouse, climb the watchtower of a Dutch-era fort, and ride a 1930s art-deco elevator in a restored department store. The route weaves through Chihkan Tower's East-meets-West architecture and ends at Taiwan's first Confucius Temple, where red walls and quiet courtyards offer the most elegant pace of life in the old capital.
Highlights
🏮 Anping Old Street — Taiwan's First Street
Anping is where it all started. The Dutch built Fort Zeelandia here in 1624, and Koxinga landed on these shores in 1661. Come early to beat the crowds and hunt for "Sword Lions" — stone carvings embedded in walls throughout the district, each with a unique expression.
Must-Eat:
- Zhou's Shrimp Rolls — Anping's signature: crispy outside, bouncy shrimp inside
- Tongji Anping Tofu Pudding — Silky smooth traditional douhua
- Lin Yongtai Xing Candied Fruits — Century-old shop, sweet-sour plum souvenirs
- Chen's Oyster Rolls — Equally famous, plump fresh oysters in each bite
🌿 Anping Tree House — Where Nature Devours Architecture
This former salt warehouse from the Japanese era was abandoned and gradually consumed by massive banyan trees. Aerial roots pierce through the roof and cascade down walls, creating a half-building, half-forest fantasy space. Elevated wooden walkways let you explore this surreal landscape from above.
Photo Tips: Strong light-shadow contrast inside — great for silhouette shots. The view from the second-floor walkway captures roots cascading from the ceiling. Before 10AM, dappled sunlight through the leaves creates the most atmospheric shots.
🏰 Anping Fort — Dutch Ruins with a Harbor View
Built by the Dutch in 1624 as Fort Zeelandia, this was the first European stronghold in Taiwan. Today you can see remnants of the original walls and climb the Japanese-era watchtower for panoramic views of Anping Harbor and the coastline.
Photo Tips: The tower's top floor offers 360° views. The weathered red bricks of the old walls have a naturally dramatic texture perfect for portraits.
🏬 Hayashi Department Store — A 1930s Time Capsule
Opened in 1932, Hayashi was Tainan's tallest building and only the second department store in Taiwan with an elevator. Beautifully restored, it retains its original art-deco pointer elevator, terrazzo floors, and a rooftop Shinto shrine. Now it showcases curated Tainan crafts and souvenirs on each themed floor.
Must-See:
- Pointer elevator — Taiwan's only working vintage pointer elevator
- Rooftop shrine — 6F preserves the original Shinto shrine foundation and wartime shell marks
- Curated goods — Tainan postcards, handmade soaps, local snacks
🐉 Chihkan Tower — A Dutch Fort Reborn as a Chinese Temple
Originally Fort Provintia, built by the Dutch in 1653, Chihkan Tower was transformed through centuries of Koxinga and Qing-era renovations into the Chinese temple complex you see today — Taiwan's most iconic example of East-meets-West heritage. In the courtyard, nine stone turtles carry imperial stele tablets bestowed by Emperor Qianlong.
Must-See:
- Imperial Turtle Steles — Nine stone turtles with different facial expressions
- Hai Shen Temple & Wenchang Pavilion — Exquisite flying-eave rooflines
- Dutch foundation — Original Dutch brickwork visible at the base
📚 Tainan Confucius Temple — Taiwan's First School
Built in 1665, this is Taiwan's oldest Confucius Temple, with "First Academy of Taiwan" inscribed above the gate. The iconic red wall fronting Dacheng Hall is one of Tainan's most recognizable cultural landmarks. Across the street, Fuzhong Street is a charming alley of cafés, craft shops, and Lily Fruit Shop — a legendary Tainan ice dessert institution.
Must-Do:
- Red wall photos — The crimson wall with green trees is Tainan's most iconic shot
- Fuzhong Street — Creative alley opposite the temple, perfect for a slow browse
- Lily Fruit Shop — Classic Tainan fruit plate and pudding
Suggested Itinerary
Morning — Anping Heritage
- 08:30 Depart Tainan city center, drive to Anping (~15 min)
- 08:50 Anping Old Street — find Sword Lions, shrimp rolls for breakfast (~1 hr)
- 10:00 Anping Tree House — explore the banyan-consumed warehouse (~40 min)
- 10:45 Anping Fort — climb the watchtower, see the Dutch walls (~40 min)
Afternoon — City Center Monuments
- 11:30 Drive to city center (~15 min)
- 11:50 Lunch — Guohua Street street food (braised pork buns, rice pudding, spring rolls)
- 13:00 Hayashi Department Store — vintage elevator, curated souvenirs, rooftop shrine (~45 min)
- 13:50 Walk to Chihkan Tower (~5 min)
- 14:00 Chihkan Tower — turtle steles, Hai Shen Temple (~45 min)
- 14:50 Drive to Confucius Temple (~5 min)
Late Afternoon — First Academy
- 15:00 Tainan Confucius Temple — red wall photos, Dacheng Hall (~30 min)
- 15:35 Fuzhong Street — craft shops, Lily Fruit Shop ice dessert (~45 min)
- 16:20 Return to city or add Shennong Street, Snail Alley (~20 min drive)
- 17:00 End of tour
Practical Tips
- Best Time: Depart 08:30 to enjoy Anping before the crowds arrive
- Tickets: Anping Fort, Tree House, Chihkan Tower require admission; Confucius Temple and Hayashi are free
- Wear: Comfortable walking shoes — lots of walking. Bring umbrella or hat in summer
- Guohua Street Lunch: Tainan's most iconic food street, but lines get long by noon — arrive by 11:30
- Hayashi Elevator: The vintage elevator is small; expect queues on weekends
📷 Photo by Steven Su (@xpsteven) on UnsplashMore Routes to Explore
- Tainan Salt Coast Romance — Pure white salt fields and sunset on Tainan's west coast
- Kaohsiung Port & Art — Cijin ferry, Pier-2 art, Dragon Tiger Pagodas
- Alishan Day Trip — Sea of clouds, sacred trees, and forest railway
🚌 Can You Get There by Public Transit?
All attractions are within Tainan city center and Anping district — public transit is feasible but requires multiple bus transfers.
Anping: Take Bus 2 or 88 Anping Line from Tainan Station (~30 min). Old Street, Tree House, and Fort are all walkable from each other (10-15 min).
City center: Hayashi, Chihkan Tower, and Confucius Temple are all in downtown Tainan, walkable within 20-30 minutes.
Anping ↔ City: Bus 88 or Bus 2, ~25 min.
Charter vs Transit:
- Transit works but takes longer (waiting + walking); covering all 6 sites in one day is tight
- Charter saves time, especially in Tainan's hot summers — air-conditioned rides between stops make a big difference
- If you pick 3-4 sites, public transit is perfectly fine