Tainan City -- Introduction

Tainan City is situated on Taiwan's southwestern coastal plains and enjoys a warm climate throughout the year. It is Taiwan's oldest and now fourth largest city, with a population of more than 700,000.

Tainan City has a long and colorful history. The Dutch invaded Taiwan in 1624 and set up their capital and military quarters here. In 1661, the Dutch was expelled by Cheng Cheng-kung, who was also known as Koxinga. Today, Cheng's achievements are still well remembered by the residents of Tainan City.

The gentle-natured people of Tainan City are warmly hospitable, and relatively tranquil life here seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern urban life. With its long history, Tainan City is rich in historic sites and cultural heritage. There are more than 200 temples here. While some temples are small and increasingly being taken over by modern buildings, other temples are big and beautiful. Buddhist parades and special ceremonies frequently take place around these temples and throughout the whole Tainan City.

Nighttime in Tainan City can be whatever one makes it. If one likes tranquility, then he or she can go to the Kuangfu campus of the National Cheng Kung University to have a quiet stroll. If one likes noise and crowds, then he or she can go to the night market near the Far Eastern Department Store on Chungcheng Road and take a sample of the famous local snacks. One of Tainan City's local specialty is the tantzu noodles, which are slightly spicy. Other well-known snacks include milkfish rice soup, fishball soup, steamed meat dumplings, and sweet rice dumplings.

Meanwhile, local and international visitors should not miss Tainan City's traditional craftsmanship and century-old shops. These include embroidery shops, tea shops, wooden barrel shops, paper mache studios, winter melon confectionery shops, and Taiwanese noodle shops.

Below is a map of Tainan City: