Taijiang National Park

After introducing some cultural spots in Tainan for past few weeks, I want to tell you some natural resources in Tainan. This week, I would like to introduce Taijiang National Park.(台江國家公園)

Taijiang National Park

black-faced spoon

Taijiang National Park was established in 2009 and it was the eighth national park in Taiwan. In the Taijiang national park, there are lands, sea, rivers, and most important, wetlands, sandbanks and lagoons.

When we talk about Taijiang national park, we usually think of black-faced spoonbill. Black-faced spoonbill is regarded as endangered now; however, they come to Qigu(七股), part of Taijiang National Park, in October to February the next year. Many people go bird watching in Qigu at that time.

If you come to Taijiang National Park, you cannot miss Sihcao(四草) wetland. With 4 out of 6 kinds of mangroves in Taiwan (the other two kinds are extinct), Sihcao is really the most beautiful wetland in Taiwan.

Sihcao green tunnel

Taijiang National Park is really a big place, so it’s difficult for me to know all about it. I just introduce something famous. If you go there one day, maybe you can tell me what I don’t know.

Around Confucian Temple

Out of Anping, Tainan also has other great places to visit. This week, I want to talk about this kind of place.

[Confucian Temple] (孔廟)

When Cheng Ching(鄭經) dominated Taiwan, he first built Confucian Temple in Tainan in 1665, in order to worship Confucius and educate the people around Tainan. Now, Confucian Temple becomes an important symbol for education in Taiwan. Some students go there for good grades in the exams, and parents also go there to pray for their children.

Confucian Temple now is a nice place to go to. Lots of trees there offer a suitable place to take a rest, we can also see some squirrels climbing up the tree. Being there, you cannot miss the board which is written “全台首學”. Inside the Temple, you can see some memorial tablets of Confucius, his students, and scholars of Confucianism.

In my humble opinion, every student should go to Confucian Temple at least one time in his/her life.

Confucian Temple

[Around Confucian Temple]

Second-hand Bookstore

Across the road in front of the Confucian Temple, there are some stores you must visit, and there is also an old street.

Second-hand Bookstore(草祭二手書店) is a special bookstore. Although it’s just a place that sells second-hand books, it has antique decoration. As a result, the bookstore is full of warm and mild atmosphere.

The narrow passageway

Coffee shop(窄門咖啡廳) is also a special place. Do you want to have a cup of coffee in your leisure afternoon time? If your answer is “yes”, you must go there. However, it’s not easy to drink your coffee. You have to pass the narrow passageway before you get into the coffee shop. I just hope everyone going there can easily pass the challenge.

I just introduce two stores which I think is the most special. I think you should go there in person, so that you can find the other good ones.

Second-hand Bookstore

The narrow passageway

        

[National Museum of Taiwan Literature](台灣文學館)

National Museum of Taiwan Literature

National Museum of Taiwan Literature is not far from Confucian Temple. The museum exhibits the history of Taiwanese literature and also displays

some works written by famous writers. Sometimes, there are also some special exhibitions.

In the museum, some tables are set for people to take a rest. You can sit there and do you own thing.

National Museum of Taiwan Literature

Outside the museum, there is a tea shop, Bog(波哥). Bog is a famous chain tea shop in Tainan. Every time I go back to Tainan, I must buy drink there. However, I haven’t seen any Bog in Taipei until now. If you go to Tainan, you should try it.

Bog tea shop

Other Wonderful Places in Anping

Last week, I introduce some famous spots in Anping. Perhaps you heard all of them before. But this week, I would like to tell other great places in Anping, which you may hear for the first time.

Sio House (夕遊出張所)

Sio House is characterized by salt. Sio House was the place where Japanese produced salt before. Therefore, we can still see some tools about producing salt there. Also, there are some people introducing how to produce salt there.

Due to its history background, Sio House sells a lot of products about salt. Of all the products, I think that birthday salt is the most attractive to the tourists. Sio House displayed 366 colors of salt and each one stands for one day. A lot of people take picture of their birthday salt, and you can also choose to buy some for your birthday.

My birthday salt

Besides, Sio House sells a piece of wood that you can write your dream on. Then, hang your board on the couple tree or on a carriage. Last, don’t miss their salt popsicle.

Birthday salt

Sunset Platform (觀夕平台)

Sunset Platform is not just beautiful when sunset. I think it’s a wonderful place except for noon. Sunset platform is really a good place for couples, families, students to relax. A lot of people walk along the beach, enjoy the breeze blowing. In the evening, some students also perform there to raise money.

Lin Mo-Niang Park (林默娘公園)

We built Lin Mo-Niang Park in memory of Lin Mo-Niang, or Mazu(媽祖). In the park, there is a huge statue of Mazu, and some people take picture there. 

Because the park is near the sea, it has strong wind there. As a result, it a suitable place to fly a kite. There are also some vendors selling kites.

Last time we bought a kite there. But we didn’t know how to deal with the kite after we flew it. So we return the kite to the vendor. Haha, maybe you’ll buy the kite we used before when you visit Lin Mo-Niang Park.

Anping Famous Spot

Anping(安平), one of the most cultural place in Taiwan, is famous for its historical buildings. This week, I would to introduce some famous spots in Anping.

Anping Fort

Anping Fort was first built in 1624 by Dutch, but it was called “Fort Zeelandia” then. However, due to the destruction, Anping Fort was re-built and became what it looks like today. But don’t worry, one wall of the former “Fort Zeelandia” is conserved, and we still can see it today.

Walking upstairs to the top of the tower in the Anping Fort, you can see nearby things there. And you will also see the sea! Many people take pictures there, and there is also a good place to take a rest.

             

              Anping Fort

Old Wall of Fort Zeelandia

Anping Old Street

Anping Old Street

Walking out the Anping Fort, it comes the Anping Old Street. On the old street, there are plenty of vendors that sell different food. Such as coffin board, oyster omelet, and many others.

Going to another side of the old street, it has very different atmosphere. The street is decorated by the lions with swords in their mouths(劍獅). What’s more, there is a square introducing the lions’ history and its origin. On the street, some people sell traditional toys and there are also some vendors sell preserved fruit(蜜餞) and my favorite ponkan cake(椪餅).

Anping Tree House

Anping tree house is not far from Anping Fort, too. Anping treehouse, as its name implies, house and trees depend on each other. House is built in the trees, and trees grow along with the house. I think treehouse has special charm and it’s really beautiful there.

Beside the treehouse, there is an ice cream store, 蜷尾家(Sorry that I really don’t know its English name), which is famous in Tainan. It sells exclusive and only one flavor there, I think you can try it in hot summer days. However, it is a little bit difficult to find it.

This week, I introduce some famous spots in Anping. Have you been there before? Next week, I will introduce some place you may not hear before.

HELLO,TAINAN

When you talk about Tainan, what’s the first thing you think of? Historical stories? Historical buildings? Scenic spots? Or delicious food? In my learning project, I will introduce what I write above. This week, I will give you a brief introduction, and details will be told in the next few weeks.

 Location, Government & Politics

Tainan is a city in southern Taiwan, and it faces the Taiwan Strait in west and south. It’s area is about 2,192 km2, and it has almost 1,900,000 population.

Since Tainan County and former Tainan City combine to a new Tainan City, it has 37 districts in Tainan City now.

Won the election in the year 2010, William Lai is the mayor of Tainan now.

 

William Lai

Tainan districts

History

Tainan was Taiwan’s political and military center from 1624 to 1885. Before Dutch controlled Tainan, indigenous Siraya lived in Tainan for a long time. In 1620s, Dutch came, and then Zheng Chenggong, Qing Dynasty, and Japanese came in the order. All of this can be seen in the history textbook, so I don’t want to say too much here.

Scenic spot

Due to the colony background, there are many historical buildings in Tainan. For example, Anping Fort, Anping treehouse, Anping old streets. Besides, Tainan also has plenty of beautiful natural landscapes and what’s more, there is special hot spring in Tainan.

  

         

Anping Fort

Anping Treehouse

Oyster omelet

Food

Tainan is famous for its food. Local snacks are all delicious. For example, oyster omelet, shrimp roll. Besides, Tainan also has cheap but delicious food, and I will tell you about this in the future.

This week, I just introduce Tainan briefly. Since next week, I will tell more detailed things about Tainan.