New Year's Holiday: Creative Activities at Tainan Historic Sites

Limited-edition love locks at Anping Fort — couples are welcome to visit Anping Fort, attach a love lock as a symbol of your affection, and enjoy a uniquely meaningful New Year’s Eve date, letting the fort witness your heartfelt emotions. (Cultural Facilities Section)

Not sure where to go during the upcoming three-day New Year’s holiday? The Tainan City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau is celebrating the 2018 New Year’s holiday by inviting the super-cute Creamy Lion and the popular character Bucky the Cat to serve as one-day ambassadors at Tainan’s historic sites. They’ve also launched limited-edition love locks at Anping Fort. Couples are welcome to visit Anping Fort, attach a love lock as a symbol of your affection, and enjoy a uniquely meaningful New Year’s Eve date, letting the fort witness your heartfelt emotions.

Often mistaken for part of the main structure, the Anping Fort watchtower is actually an important auxiliary facility of the fort. Adjacent to the main fortress, it once served as a sentry post, and has now been restored to showcase its former glory. In addition to the fort’s history, the tower also hosts many interesting activities — whether lectures, music performances, or themed exhibitions, they’re all highly valuable and memorable experiences. The cultural facilities inside the tower have also been renovated, and the surrounding area has been enhanced with greenery, making the space even more appealing.

The sweet and long-lasting “Fort Love Locks” are initially available in two elegant designs: “Watching Blue” and “True Red.” Couples looking to firmly bind their hearts together shouldn’t miss out.

The creative activities in the historic districts aren’t limited to just the love locks. On December 30 and 31, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will invite the adorable Creamy Lion and the currently trending domestic animated character Bucky the Cat (set to be released in theaters on the 29th) to serve as one-day ambassadors at Tainan’s historic sites. They’ll interact with the public, play games, and even act as ticket sellers for the day. Fans, don’t miss this rare chance to visit the historic areas.

The “Street Art Fantasy,” “Historic Site Music Salon,” and “Treehouse Concert” will also provide visitors with a feast of captivating performances over three consecutive days at various historic sites.

Additionally, the playful “Poetic Sheep Parade” exhibition is currently on display at Up Anping Fort. Featuring 60 adorable sheep, it’s a delight for visitors. Come to Anping Fort during the New Year’s holiday and see if you can spot the sheep. On the second floor of the Zhu Jiuying Residence, the award-winning works from the elementary and middle school divisions of the “6th National Calligraphy Competition in Memory of Zhu Jiuying” are also on exhibit.

The former residence of the Tainan Prefect, which normally opens for free on a monthly basis, will be open for three consecutive days for the first time during the New Year’s holiday (December 30 to January 1).

To create more breastfeeding-friendly spaces and increase their usage, the Cultural Affairs Bureau has recently renovated the nursing rooms at Anping Fort, Anping Treehouse, and YiTZai Fortress. These newly upgraded, comfortable nursing environments ensure that even little ones can be well cared for when visiting historic sites.