A Weekend in Tainan—Discovering Taiwan’s Rich History Through Famous Cuisine
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Stepping off the High-Speed Rail from Taipei to Tainan felt like fresh air. After months of chilly weather in Taiwan, the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds, giving everyone a taste of spring. Flowers opened their petals, and birds soared high in the sky, making it a perfect weekend for eating from the city’s many gelato shops.
People told me many tourists find it difficult to travel around Tainan because it lacks a reliable public transportation system. However, I didn’t experience any problems because I booked a hotel in a central area where I could walk to most attractions. I took the occasional Uber to places I could not walk to. The city greeted my friends and me with open arms, and we loved moving from destination to destination.
A Historical City
Many know Tainan as the “original capital of Taiwan” because it held that title for over 200 years during the Dutch and Ming Dynasty occupation. When the Japanese took over, the capital switched to Taichung and then Taipei.
Today, Tainan still has evidence of the history and people preceding its modern state. Its abundance of old temples and cultural locations, such as Chihkan Tower, enchanted me and increased my interest in how this small city greatly impacted Taiwanese culture.
My friends and I explored Chihkan Tower soon after checking into our hotel. Its vibrant red and blue coloring made it pop out from across the street. One of the towers is under construction right now; however, I could still tour its fraternal twin next door. It had several stamps (which I love to fill my stamp book with; it makes a great souvenir), and I liked walking around.
Chihkan Tower also features a former traditional schoolhouse, and seeing the tiny classrooms and their color provided me with a unique experience. The grounds surrounding the temple emanated peace and light. The property’s many trees surrounding the property and koi fish pond, where large, bright orange and navy blue creatures blubbed around over and over again, added the perfect touch of nature.
On my last day, I toured the Confucius Temple and loved writing my wish down on a slip of paper, hoping it would come true. Similar to the Chihkan Tower, the Confucius Temple also once served as a learning place for Confucian Scholars. The temple displayed traditional instruments, and I enjoyed figuring out a touch-screen activity where I waved my hand in front of a fake instrument to make it play music.
On Saturday evening during our stay, my friends and I walked around Tainan Park and felt calmed by its tranquility. Its gorgeous central bridge and pagoda beckoned to me, and I couldn’t help but sigh at their beauty. The traditional red color stood out against the sunset and white gleaming bridge, making everything feel serene.
An Abundance of Museums
On the first day of the trip, I visited the Tainan Art Museum. I hadn’t visited an art museum in a long time and loved looking at the diverse mix of paintings collected from all over the world.
The current pop-up exhibit featured pieces about migrant workers and what they feel and experience during their journeys. I appreciated the story it told and loved the raw feelings the pieces expressed.
My other favorite display from this museum showcased many butterflies represented in different textiles and news clippings. I thought it was beautiful.
On the second day, I toured the Chimei Museum, where a man named Chimei created a space for all Taiwanese people to experience Western culture through artifacts he collected during his lifetime of travels. The outside reminded me of a palace or museum I might find in Europe, and the inside made me think of the British Museum in London.
The Chimei Museum was a highlight of my trip because I loved looking at the classical instruments displayed, especially the traditional pianos and expensive violins. The odes to Greek mythology throughout the museum also enticed me. I loved strolling across the bridge featuring the Greek Gods and gazing at the medieval suits of armour inside.
Interesting Architecture
On the last day of the trip, my friends and I searched for something to do and found an attraction called “Tainan Long Story.” After paying $100 NTD to enter (around $3 USD), I took a tour of the building and learned all about the innovative architect behind the building. People know it across Taiwan for its unique architecture, but I felt confused.
It seemed like too many stairs to me. I found it interesting that the architect built the stairs from the top down instead of the bottom up, but it resembled a more confusing doctor’s office building.
In the Long Story Cafe, my friends and I ordered unique gelato flavors. I tried the tiramisu and rose lychee and determined the rose lychee tasted the best. I didn’t know if the flavors would mix well, but they were the perfect combination.
The Food Capital of Taiwan
In addition to the Long Story gelato, my friends and I ate our way through Tainan. We started off eating a sweet meat pudding at a famous restaurant, though I don’t remember which one. I also tried star fruit juice for the first time and discovered its taste does not sit well with me.
On a lighter note, I tried some of Tainan’s famous beef soup from Hsi Lo Tien Beef Soup, a Bib Gourmand recommendation from the Michelin Guide. The beef soup tasted delicious, and the fresh, “never frozen” beef had a chewy texture and impeccable taste. Their veggie stir fry also had a fantastic taste.
After seeing the Chi Mei Museum, I sampled a fantastic 葱油饼（scallion pancake). As one of my favorite foods in Taiwan, the pancake topped off the end of a perfect weekend getaway.
Leave a Reply