Must-see attractions in Southern Taiwan

  • Taiwan, Kaohsiung, Cijin Island, the beach

    Cijin Island

    Kaohsiung

    This narrow island that acts as a buffer to the harbour and extends down the city coastline makes for a lovely day trip from the mainland. The main…

  • Smoke of joss sticks.

    Grand Mazu Temple

    Tainan

    This lively temple once served as the palace of Ning Jin, the last king of the Ming dynasty. If you wish to confirm visually that a king's status is lower…

  • KAOHSIUNG TAIWAN - DECEMBER 13, 2016: Upside down house Pier 2 Art Center Pier 2 Art Center was originally an abandoned warehouse site converted to the art centre.; Shutterstock ID 590977709; Your name (First / Last): Megan Eaves; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Best in Travel - Kaohsiung destination page POI images

    Pier-2 Art Center

    Kaohsiung

    An attractive sprawl of old warehouses by the port is separated by tree-lined boulevards, and hosts shops, galleries and cafes. It's a wonderful place to…

  • Tianliao Stone Temple

    Kaohsiung

    Tianliao Stone Temple is a fantastical, Gaudi-esque interpretation of a Taoist temple by Southeast Asian migrant workers. The 500 men had been hired to…

  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan - February 2, 2014: Cijin Tianhou Temple. The Temple was Taiwan's first temple to Matsu and is also Kaohsiung's oldest temple; Shutterstock ID 479461489; Your name (First / Last): Megan / Eaves; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Destination image - North Asia

    Cijin Tianhou Temple

    Kaohsiung

    One of Kaohsiung's few temples that made the national protected relics list is also its oldest Mazu temple. Cijin Tianhou Temple was constructed in 1673…

  • Alien Art Centre

    Kaohsiung

    A remarkable museum in a unique location. From the '50s to the '70s this white building was a hostel for young men departing for compulsory military…

  • City God Temple

    Tainan

    When you enter the temple, look up for the two large abacuses used to calculate whether you have done more good than bad in life; check out the most…

  • Museum 50

    Kaohsiung

    A true hidden gem, this private museum has a small but exceptional collection of sculpture and antiques by mid-19th- to 20th-century Japanese artists who…

  • Thousand Fields Seed Museum

    Tainan

    This horticultural Eden is a home with a fantastical garden overrun with plants, and seeds, seeds, seeds – some 500 species, most endemic to southern…

  • National Museum of Taiwan Literature

    Tainan

    This serious and excellent museum details the development of Taiwanese literature from the time of the pre-Han indigenous peoples to the modern era…

  • Shennong Street

    Tainan

    Cafes, art galleries, fashion boutiques and B&Bs have flowered in the hub of Tainan's former Five Canals area, taking full advantage of the long, narrow,…

  • Neiwei Flea Market

    Kaohsiung

    This sprawling flea market in Neiwei may possibly offer one of the most authentic and fabulous experiences of Taiwan. You'll find everything under the sun…

  • Ciji Temple Museum

    Tainan

    In focus here is Koji pottery that is used to embellish roof ridges and walls by sculptor Ye Wang (1826–87). The first such artist to be born in Taiwan …

  • Longquan Temple

    Kaohsiung

    A large temple in the Shoushan Scenic Area, Longquan evokes a set from a period movie. It's said that when a cement company was extracting limestone from…

  • Spring and Autumn Pavilions, Lotus Pond, Kahosiung

    Lotus Pond

    Kaohsiung

    The scenic pond in the north of the city has been a popular destination since the Qing dynasty and is well known for the 20 or so temples dotting the…

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    Taijiang National Park

    Tainan

    Taiwan's eighth national park, Taijiang covers a patchwork of coastal lands north of Anping Harbour. The 50 sq km of land and 340 sq km of sea include…

  • People in front of the gate of the Confucius Temple, Tainan, Republic of China, Taiwan, Asia

    Confucius Temple

    Tainan

    Built in 1666 by the son of Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga),Taiwan's first Confucian temple and official school is quiet, dignified and coloured…

  • Foguangshan

    Kaohsiung

    Considered the centre of Buddhism in southern Taiwan, Foguangshan a good place to learn more about Buddhism as the staff and some of the monks and nuns…

  • Hayashi Department Store

    Tainan

    This art deco department store from the 1930s has been so beautifully restored that it's worth going in just to ascend the sweeping staircase, peer…

  • Tourists in front of Chihkan Towers in the evening, Fort Proventia, Tainan, Republic of China, Taiwan, Asia

    Chihkan Towers

    Tainan

    This old fort is a splendid place to roam around, or to enjoy an outdoor concert on weekends. However, only the foundation is the original. Chihkan has…

  • Guomao Community

    Kaohsiung

    Dramatic residential blocks with curved facades encircle a diaspora community in the Guomao area. The dozen-or-so 12-storey buildings were constructed for…

  • Story House of Naval Base Zuoying

    Kaohsiung

    In a compound next to Taiwan's largest naval base, this small museum pays tribute to Zuoying's strong military heritage. By means of relics, photos,…

  • Duona

    Southern Taiwan

    Duona village, lying in a river gorge, is home to the Rukai tribe. Though not many traditional houses remain, the village is worth visiting to see how the…

  • Land Bank

    Tainan

    The neoclassical-style Land Bank dates from 1928. Japanese architects were heavily influenced by western ideas at the time and neoclassical revival was a…

  • Yong'an Road

    Southern Taiwan

    This was the first street in Meinong, and some of the oldest family residences can still be found in the narrow back alleys.

  • Official God of War Temple

    Tainan

    This is the oldest and most impressive temple in Taiwan dedicated to Guandi (Guan Gong), a Han-dynasty general deified as the God of War. He is the patron…

  • National Museum of Taiwan History

    Tainan

    Eight kilometres north of the city centre of Tainan, this three-storey museum is a good introduction to the ethnocultural history of Taiwan. The visually…

  • Shoushan Zoo

    Kaohsiung

    Kids may enjoy this zoo on the northern border of Shoushan Park in Gushan District. While we think that the large mammals such as camels and ostriches…

  • British Consulate Residence at Takou

    Kaohsiung

    Built in 1865, this handsome red-brick consulate residence sits 70m above the mouth of Kaohsiung Harbour, a perfect location for watching giant container…

  • Yellow Butterfly Valley

    Southern Taiwan

    Late spring and summer are the best time to visit the valley. Over 100 butterfly species can be found here, and the chances of having a dozen species…

  • Ginza Shopping Arcade

    Kaohsiung

    Known locally as 'Ginza' (銀座), this crumbling arcade was Kaohsiung's first shopping mall when it opened in 1937, although the current structure harks back…

  • 321 Art Alley Settlement

    Tainan

    Artists, performers and cafe operators have moved into this village with giant banyans, shabby walls and vibrant art. Take a stroll along the tree-lined…

  • Anping Old Streets

    Tainan

    To the right of the Anping Fort entrance (with your back to the fort), you’ll find some of the oldest streets in Taiwan. As you wander about, look for…

  • Purple Butterfly Valley

    Southern Taiwan

    The valley known for purple butterfly-watching is not one geographical location, but a number of sites around Maolin National Scenic Area. The best time…

  • Dongyue Temple

    Tainan

    People come to this temple to communicate with the dead through spirit mediums. It's a fascinating place to catch a glimpse of Taiwanese folk culture. It…

  • Lady Linshui's Temple

    Tainan

    For generations, women have come to this temple to ask Lady Linshui to protect their children. This is demanding work and the goddess employs 36…

  • Ten Drum Rende Creative Village

    Tainan

    Tainan's largest art village is this awesome 7.5-hectare Japanese-era sugar refinery run by award-winning native percussion group, Ten Drum (十鼓). You can…

  • Chuan Mei Theatre

    Tainan

    This old second-run theatre (1950) is worth a look for the movie posters created by Master Yan Jhen-fa, the last such painter in Taiwan. You can see…

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