Hele Plaza was the former site of Tainan’s Chinatown and was once one of Tainan’s most important commercial districts. It was later demolished and converted into a water park and opened on March 7, 2020. It is the largest water plaza in downtown Tainan and was praised by Forbes Magazine as one of the "seven most anticipated parks in the world".
The new park has deliberately preserved some of the remnants of Chinatown, with demolished materials backfilled to create an exhibition area. This way, the public can gain insights into the historical legacy and former prosperity of the canal pier and the rise and fall of Chinatown in Tainan, as well as its state today as a water-friendly park. The name “Hele Plaza”is derived from an amalgamation of the name of the two streets that shoulder each side of this park; Huanhe Street in the west and Kangle Street in the east, with a single character taken from the name of each street. “Hele”(river joy) is also a homophone of “He Le”(harmony), which implies “family fun” and perfectly encapsulates this park as a fun waterpark for family outings.
After relaxing in the park, you can head to the adjacent Hai'an Road Art Street. This unique art gallery on the street features various styles of public art installations. There are also several shops on the road. It is recommended to meet up with friends here for an enjoyable weekend gathering.
