Tainan, Taiwan

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By jw east

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.

Comments

Jill 3 years ago

Hi, you've been to Tainan. I live in Tainan..... It's really great to live here!

Jill 3 years ago

Hi, you've been to Tainan. I live in Tainan..... It's really great to live here!

Feliks 2 years ago

I lived in Tainan from 2000 to 2001. It's a great city with great people and great food. I loved living there.

frank 2 years ago

I was stationed at Tainan Air Base (U.S. Air Force) from jun 1961 to sep 1962. More of a vacation than a job. Loved my time spent there with my Air Force buddies. Softball, baseball....

Jack Mattern 2 years ago

I was stationed at Tainan Air Base from 1959 to 1960. You stated Tainan was South of Kaohsiung. It's North about 26

miles. I'd ride my motorcycle down there when the fleet was out to enjoy the bar girls with no swabbies around. We were transitioning the Nationalist Air Force from the F-86 Sabres to the F-100 Super Sabres. Club Mogambo was the social center. Also spent several months at Chia-Yi. I was in the Ammo-EOD section. I wonder what it looks like today. I often have nightmares that I'm back in the Air Force, and headed to Taiwan, but being 70, there's not much chance of that happening.

Karen 22 months ago

I remember the Magambo when I lived in Tainan. I was a kid then and hung out at the Teenclub when my dad was stationed there in the early 60s. I have lots of happy memories. I also wonder what is left.

Jack Mattern 21 months ago

Hi Karen:

Good to hear from someone who had been there during that time! 50 years have probably brought changes for the better. I remember swimming at MAAG Beach, and getting so sun-burned, they were going to court-marshall me for "Destruction of Government Property!" There were still Japanese pill-boxes on the beach slowly sinking into the black volcanic ash. Anyone who was there will never forget the smells. I recall the water-buffalo pulling a "honey-bucket" up a small hill, with the driver sitting on top eating his lunch, while the over- full contents ran out the back! WOW! That guy had a strong stomach! I spent my 21st. birthday waiting in the Taipei airport for my ride back to the "World."

I was very happy when the wheels left the ground! Goodbye Taiwan! Good Riddance.

Bill Gray 20 months ago

Hi, I was stationed at Osan Air Base (K55) in Korea in 1956-57. Every four months we would rotate TDY to Tainan Air Base for two months. I was at Tainan Jun/Jul 1956 and Dec/Jan 1957. I loved my time there and would love to revisit the city -- although I know that Tainan of 1956 in no way would resemble Tainan of today.

In 2005 the widow of one of our pilots killed in Korea asked me to write my memoirs of that year -- and that grew into a memorial web site for 1/Lt. Robert Ford. On that web site, the pages titled Life On Osan AFB, Parts 1, 2, and 3 are my memoirs of Korea and Tainan -- and includes photos. The URL is: http://www.bob-ford-memorial.com

If you have photos of Tainan then and now -- I would love to see them. My e-mail address is: billdory@pacbell.net

God bless, Bill Gray

Willie Holmes 19 months ago

I was stationed at Tainan Air Station 1963-64 while in the Air Force. Those were the greatest and most memorable days of my military service. Spent a lot of time at the Magambo Club.

Bill Gray 19 months ago

Hi Jack Mattern,

My post is just below yours. I was stationed at Tainan in 1956/57 and at that time the Chinese flew F-84s while we flew F-86Fs. I would love to chat with you more about our time at Tainan. My e-mail address is billdory@pacbell.net Love to hear from you, Bill

Alan Snider 16 months ago

I too was stationed at Tainan Air Base from September 1961 through January 1963. I was a weather observer and worked at the Alert Pad with the F-100s pointed across the pond to the west. It was a great tour with several TDYs to Clark, Kadena, Tai Chung (CCK), etc. I was an A2c on arrival and an A1c when I left. Great memories of my three motorcycles, trips to Kaohsuing (where my sister was stationed with her husband who was a navy medical technician. Spent too many hours at the Mogambo in the stag bar. Got lots of pictures to keep the memories fresh.

Jack Mattern 16 months ago

To Al Snider:

Al: Read your blurb about Tainan Air Base. Appears I left a bit before you got there, but we both enjoyed motorcycle riding. I left Sept. 3, 1960, one day after my 21st birthday. I bought a 50cc Yamaguchi at the B.X shortly after arriving. Well, didn't take long to find out that little green popper didn't have a lot of power. Sold it and got a 175cc JLO that would really go.

The engine was German, I think, and the frame was local. Set up a "Scrambles" track behind the Mogambo, and had races. I did pretty good in the class, and was only beaten once when I got a spark plug whisker. Went to Sun-Moon Lake with a bunch of riders. You might have seen my bike around base, was light blue with "Moon" eyes on the tank. We hung around a Cycle shop downtown owned by a cool ol' Chinese dude we called "Buch-Yan" (four eyes) or mostly "Papa-San." A sawed-off little guy with thick glasses. My pal Ray Strole had a ratty old 650 Triumph that spent a lot of time in that shop.

I lived in the southernmost corrigated metal warehouse, but split time on Operation Location at

Chia-Yi, taking care of the ammo and EOD tasks. I got there right from Weapons School at Lowry in Denver as an A3C, and left 15 months later as an A3C, due to a misunderstanding about a blue motorcycle being seen tearing around the "Hootie Patch" and something about "Misappropriating" Government Gas for said motorbike. (I was innocent of coarse. . .)

Took the Mayo-Guanche flight to Hong Kong twice with

a pal, and had a great time in that fascinating place.

Drop me a line when you get a minute, Al, we'll yak.

jackhenry392@juno.com

Kent 13 months ago

I run the Taipei Air Station Blog and Web Site. I have quite a bit of information and photos on Tainan AB, but hardly anything on Kaohsiung. If anyone would like me to post some photos or post your rememberances of your days in the south of Taiwan, please email me at TaipeiAirStation@yahoo.com. Thanks, Kent Mathieu

jack koontz 12 months ago

would luv to have some pics of tainan ab as i was stationed there in 69-70 have lost all pics i had of the air base. i had sweet duty there worked as a maint. at the dependent school along with sgt white.

Charles Chilton Regina Sask. , Canada 8 months ago

I have written a song about our visit to Taiwan. I was told by people that there was never a song written about Taiwan by a Tourist. You can view the music video at http//:youtube.com/Charleschilton

I ask you for your support by sending this link to every contact that you have so the song can sing to the hearts of your beautiful countries proud people

Felix 8 months ago

Some top rated hotels in Tainan, taiwan

http://www.touristzoo.com/10372-6-most-reviewed-ho

Guild Fetridge 6 months ago

I was stationed at Tainan Air Base with the 868th Tactical Missile Squadron from 1958 through the end of 1960. I was there when the USAF first started construction of the US base there. We initially lived in base quonset huts and then given money to live off base until the new base was completed. I also spent many evenings at the Magombo club. I was with the Armament Section for the TM-61C Martin Matador Surface to surface guided missile. I have many photos if interested. GFAcoustic@aol.com

Jack Mattern 6 months ago

Guild: Since I'm a frequent contributor to the Tainan blurb, I thought I'd give ya a shout.

After graduating from Weapons Mechanic school at Lowery A.F.B. in Denver, I was assigned to the 868 Tach

Missile SQDN at Tainan. Arriving on base, I wondered around 'till I found an Orderly Room, and gave 'em my

orders. They said: Well, they're staffed, so you're

being assigned to the 6214th ABW. and went to the Ammo/EOD section, where I ended up humping ammo and blowing stuff up. Fun Fun! !

I remember the test shot you guys did with the TM61. We all gathered around outside the baracks and watched the launch. VERY IMPRESSIVE! ! ! That baby really took off! ! I took some pictures of it. I don't recall meeting any guys from the 868th in the chow hall, but it appeared you had a squared-away outfit.

I can't get the GFAcoustic to come up. Is that the correct address?? I'd like to see the pictures.

Jack

Joe Dawsey 3 months ago

I was stationed at Tainan AS 1963-64 at the Medical Clinic. I remember a great group of medics and loved the Tainan area. One of my most vivid memories was arriving and immediately playing on the medics softball team as shortstop. As my new arrivals, I had the Taiwan Trots as we called it. It was a constant journey from the sofball game to the bathroom, always on the run. Great memories but I am sure I would not recognize anything today. I would like to hear from anyone at the clinic during that time. jdawsey@coastalfamilyhealth.org.

Guild Fetridge 2 months ago

Hi Jack:

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. My E-mail address is GFAcoustic@aol.com. Get in touch with me and I'll arrange transfer of some of the pictures I have of the Tainan Air Base during 1957 through 1960 when I was there.

daniel 8 weeks ago

I was in Tainan and i like it very much

Tan Chee Yuen 5 weeks ago

Hi, anyone have the contact to the ammunition manufacturer of Taiwan? It is probably located in Kaoshiung. Thanking all in advance.

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