Tainan

Capital - Other Cities And Attractions

Tainan, on the southwest coast, is Taiwan's temple town. It's also one of the best places in the country to witness Buddhist parades and festivals.

There are hundreds of temples in Tainan: some of the most interesting are East Mountain, where people come to communicate with dead relatives or exorcise ghosts; Mito, with its magnificent statue of the 1000-armed goddess Kuanyin; and Chuhsi, a beautiful temple set in an athletic park. Tainan is known as the city with the most Buddhist and/or Taoist temples on the island of Taiwan.

Culinary affairs are far more special in Tainan than in Taipei. The array of cuisine offered here is unimaginable. To complete the evening, many Tainanese retreat to cozy chic cafes or tea houses to enjoy a stimulating cup of coffee or tea. Nightlife in Tainan is far more sober than in Taipei or Taichung.
Tainan's main points of interest are in the old downtown section, stretching east to west between Chihkan Towers and the railway station, north to south between Chungshan Park and Koxinga's Shrine. Exploring the city by foot, day or night, is delightful.

Attractions

Koxinga's Shrine

The shrine sets in a garden compound with tropical trees and breezy pavilions. It was built in 1875 by imperial decree from the Manchu Qing court in Beijing, which denoted that the Ming leader had been forgiven and has been consecrated as a national hero.

Koxinga's statue poses in the central shrine hall, accompanied by two of his most trusted generals. In the corridor are other 114 loyal officers who followed him to Taiwan. At the back of the shrine is an altar dedicated to Koxinga's mother, escorted by young princes. A museum next to the shrine exhibits antiques, pottery, paintings, documents, and costumes reflecting the life and times of Koxinga.

Japanese occupation in Taiwan resulted in the damaging of the shrine, which was only reconstructed in 1962, after World War Two. Major festivals to commemorate Koxinga are held on February, April, and August.

Altar of Heaven

Commonly referred to as Lord of Heaven (Tien Kung) Temple, the Altar of Heaven (Tien Tan) is dedicated to the supreme Taoist deity, the Jade Emperor. The Chinese people believe deeply in fatalism; so when they encounter troubles in their lives, they might go to the Altar of Heaven to ask the Jade Emperor for a change of destiny. 

This is accomplished by transferring one's ill fortune to a straw doll and substituting good fortune for it. 

The local people go to the temple on the first and 15th days of each lunar month to worship the god and pray for the well-being of their families, and solemn birthday celebrations are held for the Jade Emperor on the ninth day of the first lunar month.

Eternal Golden Castle

The Eternal Golden Castle (Er Kun Shen Artillery Fort) was built during the Ching Dynasty, based on a French design. Its purpose was to repel invading forces from the estuary area. It was built from brick and in addition to the gun emplacements had storage rooms for ammunition and food. There is a central courtyard where troops carried out training. At night, the fort turns romantic with soft lighting, and is surrounded by a large ecological park.

Although originally used for military purposes, this is now a popular venue for couples out on an evening stroll and for art and music performances.