Old Houses Reborn: Discovering New Vitality in Tainan’s Ancient Capital

Text & Photography by Chi Bing-hui

In recent years, a trend of nostalgia for old houses has emerged. With its abundance of historic buildings, Tainan has naturally become a standout in this movement. Even young people and artists from other regions have specifically come to Tainan to renovate these old structures, resulting in the emergence of unique attractions and homestays. These once-unremarkable old houses have been transformed into new sources of vitality within the city. The next time you visit Tainan, don’t just focus on historical sites and local snacks—take a journey through these charming old houses, and you’ll discover a different side of Tainan.

1. Explore Old Houses: Xiyu Outpost and Anping Tree House

Xiyu Outpost

“Xiyu” is a Japanese homophone for “salt,” and “Outpost” (branch office) refers to a temporary office or branch.Thus, Xiyu Outpost was originally an office used by Japanese officials during the colonial period when they were assigned business trips. At that time, it belonged to the Anping Branch of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Monopoly Bureau. Years after the retrocession, it was designated as a municipal heritage site by the government. Last year, it was entrusted to Huang Shang Enterprise for management, revitalizing the historic building as Taiwan’s first heritage spa experience venue. In addition to displaying various types of salt, salt sculptures, and salt-infused foods, the most eye-catching attraction is the “366 Color Birthday Salt.” Everyday salt is dyed in different colors based on birthdays, each representing a unique personality and trait. This has become a hot topic online and a distinctive cultural and creative souvenir.

Anping Tree House

Each time you visit the Anping Tree House, you’ll notice the banyan tree seems even more majestic. This banyan tree, which is at least a hundred years old (its exact age is unknown), is known for its vigorous growth and intolerance to other plants—its aerial roots have grown increasingly massive, giving rise to the amusing notion that “the banyan tree can walk.” The original Ficus retusa and the newer Ficus superba are intertwined, and after being re-planned by the government, it has become a large-scale landscape art piece in Tainan. Walking along the visiting route, stepping inside the house, and ascending the tree house, you can look down to see the spectacular banyan tree sprawling across the walls and floors of the structure. It’s truly amazing to witness the resilient vitality of the plant.