Yangcheng Library looks like a crystal made up of stacked books symbolizing knowledge in a nod to its role and local background. The library will have a collection of 100,000 books including children’s books, fiction, sports and health. Audio-visual materials will also be available for the general public to borrow. Once complete, it will hopefully become the learning and lifestyle hub of the South District.
Xinhua was once the home of the Siraya-Pingpu Tribe. Its old name of “Damujiang” is a transliteration of the Siraya name “Tavocan.” The Siraya were the earliest recorded inhabitants of Tainan. They played an important role in the history of greater Tainan and the shaping of the local culture. Tavokan Cultural Area was previously used as a police dormitory. After the restoration it became a mixed-used district with a number of sights including the Martial Arts Hall, Japanese dormitories, Japanese garden, Story House, and Tavokan Plaza.
The building was first built in 1882 as Anping Customs House. During the Japanese Period it was used by the Customs Club and Tainan Archives at different times. After the end of World War 2 it was used as the Anping District Office at one point. Tainan City Government converted the building into the “Tainan City Yonghan Folk Crafts Museum” after Chiu Yonghan, a well-known businessman, donated his collection to the city.
Tree Valley Park (樹谷園區), as well as being the nation's first place to manufacture LCD Televisions, is also a popular tourist area within Southern Taiwan Science Park (南科). The park is full of attractions, including the Tree Valley Life Science Museum (樹谷生活科學館), tree valley concert hall, green water sport center, adventure park, and plaza. The Valley of the Wind area will remind tourists of a Hayao Miyazaki creation with its lake and surrounding art installations, while the Valley of the Forest is packed with lush vegetation and features a European style Forest Cabin.
Niuchoupu in Tainan's Shanshang District is home to the Orchid Botanical Garden, established by the godfather of orchids, Mr. Wu Ming-Kun(蘭花教父-吳明坤), and his wife. The couple, who originally worked to improve the industry of orchid seed production, realized after a few years that the beautiful orchid plant should be passed onto more people. They created the Orchid Botanical Garden to share the charm of this rather special flower. The park has an orchid conservation area, an orchid greenhouse and an ecological flower garden. Entry I free, and there is also a restaurant attached to the park.
On the busiest street of Dongshan District, Zhongxing Road(中興路), as well as enjoying the duck heads that are renowned far and wide, don’t forget to spend time inside Dongshan Farmers’ Association Coffee Cultural Hall(東山農會咖啡文化館). The building was originally a rice barn and mill in the Japanese Colonial Period. After being left idle, the space was given an active new role as the Coffee Cultural Hall, also known as Dongshan Rest Stop(東山驛站). In the inner courtyard, various vendors sell tasty snacks, attracting more people than any other place on Zhongxing Street at weekends and holiday times.
Dongshan Rest Area (東山服務區) on Freeway 3 is the nation’s largest freeway rest area, with a constant stream of people driving through every day. Besides providing a variety of rest facilities for tourists, the pretty landscape also makes this place a scenic spot in its own right. The big banyan tree in the service area is a must-see attraction for many tourists, and the water park is a great place to bring the kids. A “Ripples”fish tunnel has been added in recent years.
The former residence of Liang Yao-ming, Jingliao's only doctor during the Japanese occupation, became the Mo-Lin Village Cultural Artifacts Exhibition Hall in the year 2000. In recent years though, the Blue Dyeing Bear Workshop was established there, a DIY workshop that combines cultural relics with Jingliao's traditional culture of hand blue dyeing. Inside there are still many examples of Dr. Liang's examination implements and furniture, as well as plenty of traditional countryside utensils.
After Tainan was designated a special municipality, the Tainan City Civic Center(民治市政中心) became an important municipal administration center for the extensive northern part of the city. The Civic Center faces a large and beautiful park, Nanying Green Park(南瀛綠都心), and in front of the public square there is a lovely musical fountain, a great place for local residents to bring the kids to play in the water in good weather conditions. At festival times, the square has special decorations that people refuse to leave and love to be photographed in front of.
Dong Long Temple Cultural Center’s(東隆宮文化中心)exhibition halls include The Cultural Gallery of Wangye, Outlaws of the Marshes Heroes Hall, Religious Cultural Relic Exhibition Hall, Folk Belief Research Hall and Ritual Cultural Relic Hall, with a large number of exhibits. The Cultural Gallery of Wangye is the only Wangye and Gua Xiang sacrificial ceremony-themed exhibition hall in Taiwan. Wangye belief is introduced in detail using pictures, ceremonial objects and exquisite wooden sculptures.