A Two-Day Tour of Tainan’s Back Garden – Shopping and Spring Outings in One Go

Text / Compiled and Reported by the Editorial Team of MOOK Travel & Lifestyle

To welcome the Year of the Sheep, the Tainan Tourism Bureau has combined holiday sightseeing with New Year shopping by specially designing one- and two-day “Tainan Back Garden Spring Outing” tours centered around areas such as Xinhua, Daniao, and Zuozhen, allowing the public to not only easily purchase all their New Year goods in one go but also take advantage of the holidays to explore the outskirts, achieving two goals at once. The Xinhua New Year Street will officially open on February 12, 2015, running for six days.

The Tourism Bureau has introduced three one-day tour routes themed around connecting with nature, intellectual enrichment, and historical exploration. Nature lovers can start by watching the sunrise at Erliau, then head to the Xinhua National Botanical Garden to enjoy the natural phytoncides, and stop by the Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area and Xinhua New Year Street. For those interested in an intellectual journey, they can shop for New Year goods at Xinhua New Year Street before visiting the Yang Kui Literature Memorial Hall and the South Taiwan Science Education Center to explore the wonders of literature and science. History enthusiasts can shop at Xinhua New Year Street and then visit the Xinhua Street Office, Xinhua Martial Arts Hall, and other sites to appreciate the beauty of historic architecture and religious culture, before heading to the Zuozhen Cailiao Fossil Museum and Natural History Education Center for a journey through time.

For those who want more than just a day trip, the Tourism Bureau also offers two two-day tours. Travelers interested in exploring natural and cultural landscapes can start by shopping at Xinhua New Year Street, then visit popular attractions in the Xinhua area such as the Street Office, Ou Wei Film Museum, and Martial Arts Hall. On the second day, they can head to Horseback Mare Ranch, the Jiang Family Ancestral House, and the Xuankong Temple—ranked first in the online vote for Taiwan’s Top 100 Religious Sites—which features a variety of exotic trees, elegant stones, stalactites, petrified jade, cultural relics, and ancient Buddha statues. Outdoor enthusiasts can spend the second day at the Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area, Dakeng Leisure Farm, and Caoshan Moon World, giving their tired minds and bodies a well-deserved break in nature and enjoying a relaxing holiday. Whether you opt for a one-day or two-day tour, a deep exploration of “Tainan’s Back Garden” is truly worthwhile.