Things to do in Tainan

Top Things to Do in Tainan

Things to Do in Tainan


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Top Attractions in Tainan

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Historic Sites
The Department Store That Inaugurated An Age of Fashion in the 1930s--Hayashi Department Store On December 5th, 1932, Hayashi Department Store opened and thus a modern age of Taiwanese culture began. The decade of 1930s was the start point of modern civilization in Taiwan. As the electric lamps, telephone, and water supply lines popularized, symbols of civilization such like the airplane and motor vehicles flooded into Taiwan. The cafés were becoming the fad of the day, as well as pop culture, movies, phonographs and jazz music. People´s mentality was opening up, and freewill dating was taking over arranged marriages, while dresses was replacing kimonos and Westernized education was popularizing. This was Taiwan in the 1930s. In 1932, Columbia Records Company released the eponymous theme song for a movie in Taiwanese "Peach Blossom Weeps Tears of Blood". In 1933, Teng Yu-hsien's popular song "Viva Tonal: The Dancing Age" helped to launch the first pop music singer Sun-sun (born Lau Tsing-hiong or Lau Chheng-hoing,1914-43) in Taiwan. In the same year Teng wrote and published three classic Taiwanese songs "Bang Chhun-Hong(Looking for the Spring Breeze)", "U ia hue(Flower in the Rainy Night)"and "Guat-ia Tshiu(Sadness in a Moony Night)". As the Pacific War broke out, the final waltz in the Dancing Age of Taiwanwas played. And so the Hayashi Department Store ended its brief yet splendid rendezvous with Tainan. 【The Founder of Hayashi Department Store: Hayashi Houichi】 Hayashi Department Store (ハヤシ百貨) was known to the Tainan people as "The Five-Stories-House"(Gō͘-chàn-lâu-á). It was founded by Japanese businessman Hayashi Houichi. Born in a village in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan on February 6th, 1883, Hayashi lost his parent in his childhood, and was raised by his uncle and aunt. After their death, he grew up on his own means with his brothers and sisters. In 1902, at the tender age of 19, he left the village and entered the Sanyou Railway Company, and left the company 6 years later to start his own delivery company. Still at a tender age, Hayashi wrapped up his company in April, 1912 and came to Tainan the same year to try his luck. Fortunately, he found a mentor in Baba Tokujirou, the owner of Nichikichi Gofukuya, a traditional attire shop, who gave Hayashi a job as bookkeeper in the shop. Hayashi learned about the market, and with his vision and ability, he opened a little shop in Baba's residence, located at Oomiyachou Icchoume Nibannchi (Now the street corner across Quanmei Cinema). Two other shops followed and Hayashi made his first fortune. Investing in four other companies, Hayashi eventually accumulated enough capital to found Hayashi Department Store. The Department Store formally opened on December 5th., 1932, just days after the first department store in Taiwan, Kikumoto Department Store, also known as The Seventh Heaven, opened in Taipei City. Thus Hayashi Department Store became the second large department store in Taiwan, as well as the largest department store in southern Taiwan. Unfortunately, Hayashi himself fell ill days before, and passed away in Taipei on December 10th, 1932. Early January in 2013, Hayashi's second daughter-in-law, Hayashi Chieko and her family came from Japan to visit the Hayashi Department Store. This was the first time a Hayashi family's member entered the building after 80 years. Pale and Lackluster Years After WWII (1945~2013) After the WWII ended in the Pacific in 1945, Hayashi Department Store, damaged by air raids during the war, was transformed into offices by Taiwan Salt Factory and the "Salt Police". The top floor was used for anti-aircraft warfare. In 1977, the Salt Police was transformed into the Third Special Police Corps, and the building was mostly occupied by Taiwan Salt Company, which eventually moved its office to the current Jiankang Road site. Only until 1998 Hayashi Department Store was classified as a Municipal Heritage Site, and the ownership was transferred to the Tainan City Government. Restoration was completed in 2013. A Newborn Sprout in the Spring (2013) After the restoration was completed in 2013, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Tainan City Government launched a bid for outsourcing of the management right and after an open bidding selection, Focus (Koche Development Company) won the bid. After 81 years, Hayashi Department Store will welcome a renaissance as Tainan Cultural Creative Department Store, becoming a window towards a New Modern Age in Tainan, and telling new stories of a newborn sprout of spring. So the New Life Movement has begun in Tainan.
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What travellers are saying

  • Travelove58
    11,338 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Museum building is situated at the end of a super huge compound, from the main road. But as there are no shelters, it is very hot ( or wet if rains) to walk through this long huge ground. There is a special free shuttle bus at Tainan station, for those who used THSR ( show tickets to bus driver).
    The 2 floors comprises different categories of displays. For us, the huge amount of different animals exhibits were the most interesting & amazing ( though place a little too dark to appreciate the animals exhibits clearly). This is a rather unique museum which definitely is worth a visit.
    Written 11 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • luxuryvoyage
    Switzerland3,351 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not nearly as spectacular as the overgrown ruins in Angkor Wat, but still worth a short visit. The small museum next door, which explains the history of trade, is also interesting.
    Written 9 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Orator11
    Singapore, Singapore5,314 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    First Japanese departmental store. Do take the lift up to the fifth floor where you can have a coffee or iced tofu pudding in the quaint old shops.

    After, browse through the five floors to see the various clothing and shoes and household goods.

    What was supposed to be a 30 minute shopping spree became a 1 1/2 hour stint through the independent and original stalls across each floor.
    Written 15 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • grace
    Singapore, Singapore6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If u got time, you probably can go in for a quick visit. Now part of the tower is under renovation , so you can just go visit the main tower
    Written 11 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jesse V
    Fallbrook, CA111 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The grounds of the fort are nice with a museum, excavation site, sitting area with trees and then the fort/tower itself. The walk to the fort is quite a few stairs with no real options up for those who can’t use stairs (to be expected with a ~400 year old structure). Overall it is well kept with a tower at the top that has a great view of Anping (just be prepared for more stairs!). If you’re interested in history I would certainly recommend a visit.
    Written 18 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Leonhkny
    Hong Kong, China14,495 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    As the former capital of Formosa, Tainan is dotted with historic buildings. The Confucius Temple is a notable example. The vast structure marks the literary scene of Koxinga's Taiwan. The whole place is oddly new after recent renovations.
    Written 12 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Leonhkny
    Hong Kong, China14,495 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Shennong Street is actually a narrow alley at the heart of Tainan. Part of it inside a wet market, the street is part of a revamped area that was the city's prime retail space. A stroll along the distinctive passageway is fun. Unfortunately not much information is available on site and many of the shops are closed.
    Written 12 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GlobalGypsy_13
    San Diego, CA2,689 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This grand building is a delight -- both inside and out. It stands on a main traffic circle in Tainan and has some displays on the outside as well as special exhibits in the inside. Although I do not know Chinese, this grand structure attests to the high esteen with which literature and literary life is held.
    Written 9 July 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • N S
    Ottawa, Canada474 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A brilliant Museum. A great way for visitors to Taiwan to understand its complicated history. All the exhibits come with English translations and an English language audio is included with admission. A very complete and balanced presentation of Taiwan's story -- it politics, government, culture and society. We were only able to cover the period from 1895 to the present, but wished we had more time here -- could easily spend half a day or more here. The museum is some distance from downtown Tainan, but well worth the excursion.
    Written 13 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Marian A
    Langley City, Canada9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stayed at Mutsun Springs Resort - fabulous place - they took us here to see the fire/water spring. Amazing natural spot and stay to watch the sunset. It is amazing!
    Written 16 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jeffry b
    Essendon, Australia14,153 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This university dates from the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945). National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is known for its picturesque campus, and the iconic banyan tree, which provides shade during the baking summer. The historic campus is open to the public. NCKU is best known for its science and engineering schools, which evolved from NCKU's roots as a technical college in the Japanese era.
    Written 27 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Angelia W
    167 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were there around 5.30pm. It was not too crowded and we could walk at ease. There were food and drink stalls, games stalls, accessories (earrings, phones), apparel etc. The crowd started to stream in when we left around 7pm. Do visit this night market early to avoid the crowd.
    Written 19 December 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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