【Traveler's Note】Step into the Old Town, Stroll Through Centuries of Romance, and Savor the Flavors of Historic Houses

By TRAVELER Luxe Traveler’s Note, Hong Zhenlu

 

Tainan Park is located near Tainan Railway Station, yet it’s a place rarely visited by most tourists. When people arrive in Tainan, they rush to famous attractions and sample all kinds of local snacks. Perhaps they know Tainan has many old trees, but always associate them with historic sites or campuses, not realizing that Tainan Park actually harbors many precious ancient trees. The site where Tainan Park now stands was once a scenic spot famed for Yan Pond, and in 1917 during the Japanese colonial period, it was developed into “Taisho Park,” which also served as a tropical experimental forest. Staff from Tainan City Government’s Agriculture Bureau, Forest and Nature Conservation Section, who are responsible for maintaining these old trees, told us that because the Japanese are from a temperate climate zone, they were very fascinated by subtropical plants, so they established this experimental forest to observe their growth. Among the 200 old trees managed by Tainan City, 72 are located in Tainan Park.

Towering century-old rain trees and bodhi trees line the wooden boardwalk along South Park Road. You can’t miss the impressive centuries-old rain tree nearby, known as the “Rain Tree Second Brother” of Tainan Park, while the taller “Rain Tree First Brother” stands on the hillside near Little Yan Pond. The rain tree is a deciduous tree native to tropical America, with an elegant, tall stature and a broad canopy. Its leaves are pinnately compound, and in spring and summer, it blooms pink powder-puff flowers, with fruit that are over ten centimeters long woody capsules. As you walk here, take a moment to observe—you’ll find the tranquil, rippling shade of these trees quite enchanting.