Minquan Ancient Street

　　Minquan Ancient Street stretches from Dajiantou in the west (now the intersection of Yongfu Road and Minquan Road) to Jiulingding in the east (today’s area around the North Pole Temple and the Temple of Heaven), with a width of about 15 meters and a length of 300 meters. It is located in what is now the second section of Minquan Road, and is Taiwan’s first fully planned European-style boulevard. For over 300 years afterward, it served as the center of Tainan’s urban area and an important birthplace of Taiwan.

　　Although the old street has quieted down today, older residents of Fucheng still vividly recall the street’s historic names. The area around Minquan Road and Minsheng Road still features scattered traditional Qing-era structures or Japanese colonial-period European-style buildings, including many aged and historically significant constructions. As you stroll along, you can visit Taiwan’s first Western-style medical clinic, the first newspaper office, the oldest weather station, the Temple of Heaven known as Taiwan’s foremost temple, and the birthplace of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan... A historical thread still runs through the area, making it worthy of the title “Taiwan’s First Street.” Walking here offers a glimpse into the region’s religious beliefs, cultural and educational activities, and geographical changes—like flipping through a history book of Taiwan’s development.

　　Kuaixi Street Church

　　In the early days, the Kuaixi Street area was adjacent to Taijiang and served as a key hub for the shipping routes of the Five Ports. The buildings all faced east toward the west, hence the name Kuaixi Street (literally “Street Looking West”). In 1865, British Presbyterian missionary Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell arrived in Taiwan-fu (Taiwan’s capital at the time) and set up a mission station on Kuaixi Street (now Ren’ai Street), where he began medical and missionary activities. This marked the start of the Presbyterian Church’s missionary work in Taiwan, and Kuaixi Street came to be regarded as the birthplace of the church. The current Kuaixi Street Church was relocated and rebuilt after 1951. The building features Baroque style, with its most striking elements being the dome, colonnades, and the cross atop the roof. In addition to religious activities, the church regularly hosts community medical lectures and parent-child education programs, making it a vibrant “century-old shop” in the neighborhood.

　　Temple of Heaven

　　After Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) reclaimed Taiwan, he built an altar outside Chengtian Prefecture to offer sacrifices to Heaven in hopes of continuing the Ming dynasty’s legacy. Locals called it Tiangong Square. In the 4th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing dynasty (1854), officials and citizens jointly funded the construction of the Tiangong Altar on the original site to worship the Jade Emperor. Due to its long history, it is known as Taiwan’s Foremost Temple. Though the Temple of Heaven has undergone multiple renovations, it still houses exquisite ancient relics. Among them, the “One” character plaque in front of the worship hall and the numerous pairs of dragon pillars in the front and rear halls are the most famous.

　　Tainan Weather Observatory

　　During the Japanese colonial period, the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office established weather observatories in Tainan, Taipei, and Penghu in 1897 to monitor the island’s meteorological conditions. These were the predecessors of post-war weather stations. The Tainan Weather Observatory is one of the original buildings that still retains its original appearance, giving it considerable historical significance. To meet the needs of weather observation, the observatory was built as an almost circular eighteen-sided structure, with three concentric circles inside, interlocking layer by layer. At the center, an observation instrument was installed pointing upward, making it the tallest building of its time. Because of its unique shape, locals nicknamed it the “Pepper Tube,” and it once served as a prominent local landmark. The weather station has since been relocated, and the site is now planned to be turned into a meteorological museum.

　　Kuilou Academy

　　During the Qing dynasty, more than 60 academies were established throughout Taiwan, with 18 located in the Tainan area alone. Kuilou Academy is one of only two remaining in Tainan. Originally named Zhongshe Academy, it was founded in the 4th year of the Yongzheng reign (1726) at a site now next to Yongfu Elementary School. It served as a gathering place for local scholars and literati to exchange poetry and discuss current affairs, setting it apart from typical academies. During the Japanese colonial period, it was relocated to its current site due to urban redevelopment. The academy still preserves cultural relics such as plaques, column bases, and stone lions from the Jiaqing and Daoguang eras.

　　Tainan Theological College and Seminary

　　In 1876, Reverend James Laidlaw Maxwell, building on the preaching classes established in Tainan and Qijin, founded Tainan University (now Tainan Theological College and Seminary), which became the training ground for missionaries of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Thomas Barclay served as its first principal and also published the church bulletin here, which was Taiwan’s first newspaper. The New Building Hospital, constructed behind the seminary in 1900, was Taiwan’s first modern medical facility. Its current form is the result of renovations made after the retrocession.