Cold wave hits Tainan—stay warm with hot springs, gourmet food, and five great attractions

By MOOK Scenic Spots Kelly, compiled and reported
 
As successive cold fronts bring temperatures below 10°C, many people have given up on travel plans and chosen to stay home to avoid the winter chill, which is quite a pity. Now, Tainan offers many lesser-known winter retreats where you can not only enjoy warm-weather scenic spots but also savor heartwarming and stomach-warming Tainan cuisine, making it the best choice for winter travel.

1. Nansi Meiling (Plum Ridge)

Plum blossoms bloom more vibrantly in the cold, and at this time, the plum blossoms on Meiling have already bloomed and are gradually covering the mountains. On a lucky day, you might even see accompanying distant cloud waterfalls, making it the best spot for plum blossom viewing. The surrounding green, mirror-like Zengwen Reservoir in the valley also offers a breathtakingly dreamy scenery. Besides strolling along the trails to admire the flowers at Meiling, various dishes of plum chicken are must-try delicacies. The sweet and sour plums paired with hot chicken soup in winter warm both body and soul—it’s nothing short of bliss.

2. Liujia Orange-Red Bald Cypress

Located next to the Linfengying Ranch on Provincial Highway 1, it features a pondside boardwalk. After winding through Qingpu Pond, a whole row of dense bald cypress trees comes into view. Strolling around the pond feels like being immersed in an exotic landscape. When winter’s cold turns the forest colors, the bald cypress gradually turns a passionate orange-red. Here, you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also take photos and share them freely, bringing a delightful experience.

3. Guanziling Hot Springs

Tainan’s Guanziling Hot Springs are special mud baths with a history of over a hundred years. The area also boasts many scenic spots such as Lingding Hero Slope, Fire and Water Spring, and Volcano Biyun Temple. In addition, local mountain delicacies like barrel chicken, mushroom eggs, and sweet wild vegetables are beloved by travelers from home and abroad. Nearby, along the 175 Coffee Highway, you can enjoy aromatic coffee while taking in the views. It’s the most unmissable spot for winter travel in Tainan to enjoy hot spring activities.

4. Clear-Blanched Beef Soup

Tainan’s Shanhua is currently the main production area of native Taiwanese beef in Taiwan. Using fresh, warm-body beef delivered the same morning, the entire process—from delivery to cooking—is never frozen, giving Tainan the sweetest and most tender meat. This has also led to a thriving variety of Tainan beef soups, all highly praised. Several thin slices of beef are placed at the bottom of a large bowl, then blanched in a clear broth simmered from beef bones for five to seven minutes until medium-rare. The pinkish-red beef shimmers slightly, with rising steam enhancing the aroma. Served with plain rice or minced pork rice, it’s a common breakfast choice for locals in Tainan and one of the must-try delicacies for visitors.