Men's Talk 543: Tainan's own national park

There are a great number of tourist attractions in Tainan, most of which are historical sites, such as the Chihkan Towers, Anping Fort and many temples that have been around for ages and ages. While these are impressive sites that are definitely worth visiting, there are a few other wondrous places to visit, that may perhaps be a bit off the beaten path.

Located outside of Tainan City, north of Anping Harbour, lies Taijiang National Park. Yes, that’s right, Tainan also has its own national park. It is Taiwan’s eighth and newest national park, where it was established in 2009. The national park covers almost 50 square kilometers of coastal landscape, where the majority of the area comprises of ecologically valuable wetlands. These wetlands are divided into four main areas, namely Zengwen Estuary Wetlands, Shicao Wetlands, Qigu Salt Field Wetlands and Yanshui Estuary Wetlands, where each wetland is abundant with its own natural treasures.

The Taijiang national park is not just a diverse natural environment with rare and endangered animal species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, but it is also a significant historical location, as the Taijiang area is one of the earliest places that was developed by Han immigrants from mainland China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This national park retains thorough records of the immigrants’ cultivation history as well as the historical and cultural remains of the indigenous Siraya Pingpu tribe. Hence, the Taijiang national park offers serene, natural beauty as well as rich cultural histories for visitors to appreciate. It really is a wonderful place to admire the sunset over a lagoon, cycle leisurely around the wetlands or relax on a boat ride through tranquil estuaries. The scenic spots are many and diverse, however some are quite dispersed from each other, so using your own transportation is the most convenient. However, the Tainan City Bus, route 99, is also able to take you to most of the scenic places.

A great place to start would be the Shicao Green Tunnel, which offers scenic boat tours between the mangroves and river channels. To get there, head across Shicao Bridge near Anping Beach, then continue along Shicao North Boulevard until you see DaZhong Street. Turn right into this street until you reach DaZhong Temple. Naturally you can also take the city bus, route 99, but be prepared to wait. Tickets for the 30 minute ride costs NT$150 per adult, while the 70 minute ride costs NT$200.