Tainan is a little off Taiwan's tourist path. It is one of the larger cities in Taiwan, and one of the oldest. It was the capital of the island at one time. Tainan is South of Kaohsiung by only an hour. Though few people speak English, a phrase book and map are tools enough to get around the city (unless you can speak Mandarin Chinese).

One of the main attractions in Tainan is the night markets. They are found all around the city starting at around 6 p.m. These are the best places to try local cuisine. In fact, Tainan is known throughout Taiwan as having the best street food. Various cakes, dumplings, and noodle dishes are for sale at night markets and at food stalls around main streets. These eateries are generally clean, and the food is cheap.

Also at the night markets are bargain priced clothes, electronics, and goods. The busy and bustling atmosphere makes it fun to just wander, window shop, and people watch. Some usually recommended in guidebooks and by travelers are Guo Hua Market, Kangle Market, and Hsiao Pei Road Market.

Being Taiwan’s ancient capital, there are several old sites and temples worth seeing. Chikan Towers is an old fort near the coast. The towers are still standing despite Taiwan’s sometimes turbulent past. There are also some artifacts that make the price of admission worth it.

Matsu Temple is a typically stunning Taiwanese construction. History fans will also like Confucius Temple. The structure is nice, and the place exudes calm and dignity. The Alter of Heaven is a good place to see local Taoist practices. Tainanese come here to make offering and, hopefully, gain good fortune.

Outside downtown Tainan, Yenping Street is worth a visit for its old (though mostly restored) buildings. Walking down this street in Anping District (a kind of suburb of Tainan), one can get the feel of what it must have been like a hundred years ago. Though this area has been restored to attract tourists, some of the shops are worth browsing and some of the restaurants worth sampling. Coupled with a visit to nearby Anping Fortress, a historical fort restored during Japanese occupation, a trip to this old quarter would be an afternoon well spent.

There are many other smaller temples around Anping. These are quieter and smaller than the famous ones mentioned above, but have their own charms and were exquisitely constructed.

Just an hour from Kaohsiung, Tainan is centrally located and full of the unique history and atmosphere that can be found only in Taiwan.