Old Town, Tainan City

While Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan and was the first capital of the country, it is by no means antiquated or backwater as some have been led to believe. Initially, I was one of those people who perceived Tainan as a sleepy old town when I moved from the bustling Taipei. To many outsiders, Tainan City is often associated with ancient temples, historical sites, traditional snacks and retired, old folk. Ho-hum!

While there is no denying that Tainan is rich with the above mentioned, I have discovered through my time here, that there is actually more than traditional cultural tourism in Tainan. Although I have grown to appreciate the old world charm of this relaxed and friendly city, those who are more interested in other pursuits will be pleasantly surprised here as there are indeed an abundance of cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and outdoor activities. However, this is what makes Tainan so enchanting, where the modern blends harmoniously with the traditional. This is certainly no easy accomplishment as there are cities who mix old with new, but the outcome is often more ultra-consumerist modernism devouring the old and traditional. 

So having lived for nearly three years in Tainan now, I actually find myself preferring to live here rather than a sprawling metropolis. Interestingly enough, many locals say that no matter where they go or how long they are away, they always want to return to Tainan. Could it be the sunny and pleasant weather? The friendliness of locals? Or the sheer number of traditional eateries available? Perhaps it is all these things and more, but in the words of the famous Taiwanese writer, Yeh Shih-Tao, “Tainan, it’s a place for people to dream, work, fall in love, get married and live life leisurely.”

Photo of the Chinese Banyan Tree at my old school, Cheng-Kung university in Tainan. To me, this scene represents how the tree, like Tainan, offers shelter, beauty and a gathering place to relax with others.  Despite its old age, it continues to flourish.