The childhood taste in the Tainan Sightseeing City – Snow Milk Ice that delivers a pure flavor unchanged for 30 years

Text & Photos /Boge

This Weimei Snow Milk Ice shop located inside the Sightseeing City holds many childhood memories for Tainan students. The Sightseeing City was once a bustling mall in Tainan’s earlier days. After decades of prosperity, it has now declined, but that doesn’t stop locals from coming here to relive the flavors of tradition.

Look at all those packs of instant noodles—no mistake, Weimei is the pioneer of cooked noodles in Tainan!! Right across from the Sightseeing City is a middle school, so it’s easy to imagine how, come dismissal time, many students would come here hungry and order a bowl of noodles. Back in school days, that alone felt like pure happiness~~

Take a look at this price list—it’s truly an old-school Tainan-style budget afternoon tea!!

While dining, I noticed many people ordering a bowl of Snow Milk Ice along with fish cakes, taiyaki, or hot dogs. In the end, several customers couldn’t even get their orders because it had sold out.

And this bowl right here—that’s the real star I wanted to introduce today: Snow Milk Ice. At first, I had no idea it was tied to my childhood memories. I just came to try it out of curiosity, but after one bite, I instantly recognized that flavor!!!

Back when I was in elementary school, I used to walk home with my classmates every day, strolling along the sidewalk of Tainan Park, then turning into a small alleyway only accessible by motorcycles. I remember passing by a grocery store that sold this ice—though back then it was called “Qing Bing” (Clear Ice), not Snow Milk Ice. It came in a plastic cup for just 10 NT$, but for elementary school kids with only 50 NT$ of daily allowance, that was something to think about seriously XDD

I remember how every day after school, the most exciting thing was walking to that grocery store with my friends, telling the owner we wanted a cup of Qing Bing, and then walking along while holding it, chatting and eating. By the halfway point, our eating pace would slow way down because we didn’t want it to finish too soon. Eventually, it would all melt into icy water, and drinking it was just as satisfying XDD. My cousin who lived up north would also insist on having a cup of Qing Bing every time she visited—not with condensed milk, not with chocolate, just the ice itself. But as we grew up, not only did Qing Bing disappear, the whole grocery store vanished without a trace. My cousin and I could only keep the taste of Qing Bing in our memories.

If you want to eat instant noodles, just pick your favorite flavor and the shopkeeper will cook it for you—and even add an egg for extra nutrition!!! Also, don’t forget to order a cup of black tea here; you can even mix the Snow Milk Ice into the tea, which is how many locals in Tainan enjoy it.

There are two Weimei Snow Milk Ice branches, run by siblings. The one in the Sightseeing City has been around for 30 years. The other is located in a small alleyway up a slope opposite the North District’s Xiaobei Sightseeing Mall. There’s no signboard, and it’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention—but it’s been around for 40 years!!

The Park Road branch is a bit different in that it doesn’t serve instant noodles. That day I ordered a drink that’s also a childhood memory: orange soda. You can also mix Snow Milk Ice into it. That day, I even witnessed a customer take away twenty cups to go!!

When in Tainan, exploring the alleys is definitely the way to go!! Pay attention to every step, every corner—this city is full of surprises. Turn a corner, and you might just stumble upon a decades-old shop ^__^

I’m sharing my childhood memories with you all—hope you’ll love them too~~^^

◎ Tainan Southern District. Weimei Snow Milk Ice ◎
%┑ Location: No. 67, Lane 2, Section 2, Nanhai Road, South District, Tainan City (No. 67, Sightseeing City)
%┑ Phone: 06-2613368
%┯ Business Hours: Daily 10:00-20:30, Closed on Mondays

。%Q Boge Boge %Q。
I believe stories have influence and power, so I want to tell stories—and only true ones. Love travel * love food * love photography * love beauty.