More Instagrammable Than Cafés: Tainan’s New Design-Focused Library Hotspot

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

In recent years, Tainan has seen the emergence of many new attractions and photo spots. Beyond giant gashapon machines and container markets, the all-white, design-forward Taijiang Academy has also become quite popular. Recently, the “Yancheng Library,” located in the southern district, has gained attention for its design-forward exterior and interior decor, becoming a new hotspot that’s blowing up on social media.

Yancheng Library is the second public library in Tainan’s southern district. It opened in 2015, covering a site area of approximately 3,682 square meters, with a structure that includes one basement level and three above-ground floors. The library was personally designed by architect Tsai I-chang, who was also responsible for the Chimei Museum. Its exterior resembles a stack of books, symbolizing a crystal of knowledge and echoing both the identity of the library and the local characteristics of Yancheng. The outdoor public art piece “Let’s Fly Together – Kids,” created jointly by artists Lü Mu and Jiao Shengwei, conveys the wish that children may be lifted by knowledge and share the joy of soaring through it.

Yancheng Library serves the public with its rich collection, user-friendly new equipment, and a comfortable, thoughtful reading environment. The library is expected to house 100,000 volumes, with around 50,000 currently available. In addition to picture books, children’s literature, novels, and sports and health readings favored by both children and adults, it also offers audiovisual materials for loan. New equipment such as self-service book borrowing machines and book sterilizers make it more convenient and reassuring for visitors to borrow books.