It's hailed as the most beautiful courthouse in Taiwan! A super photogenic new attraction — "Former Tainan District Court"

Text and photos byMimi Han

There's a brand-new attraction in downtown Tainan. The 【Former - Tainan District Court】, which underwent renovation for as long as three years, has finally reopened to the public. It's located at the intersection of Fufront Road and Yongfu Road in Tainan. Across from it is the Tainan Art Museum under construction. It's also within 300 meters of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and Crystal Hotels. It can be said that it connects all the Tainan attractions and food areas such as the Taiwan Literature Museum, Tainan Confucius Temple, Bao'an Road, and Guohua Street... Everyone can have fun and eat along the way without any breaks. So happy!

The original 【Tainan District Court】 seems to have tried to retain its original appearance as much as possible. Its exterior is a typical Western-style building from the Japanese colonial period, exuding a solemn and imposing aura. It has witnessed the important judicial history of Taiwan. Moreover, it was designed by the same architect as the Presidential Office Building in Taipei (the Governor - General

Actually, the sky in Tainan has been like this—gray—for the past few days. I heard it's because the PM2.5 levels are too high, but... I still couldn't resist bringing my camera to take some photos.

"When the Grand Way prevails, the world is for all. The virtuous and capable are chosen, and trustworthiness and harmony are cultivated. Thus, people do not only love their own parents, nor do they only care for their own children..." The "Great Unity" chapter from the Book of Rites is written in black ink on a white background right outside the courthouse wall. The rituals and laws Confucius spoke of thousands of years ago remain a lofty ideal even today. (The Confucius Temple is just across the street—this connection is pretty interesting.)

The entire Tainan District Court has now been designated as a national historic site, showcasing much of Taiwan’s judicial history from the Japanese colonial period to the modern day. Beyond admiring the beauty of the architecture, the site also displays many judicial artifacts, giving us a glimpse behind the mysterious veil of the courthouse.

As you step into the main hall, almost every visitor lingers here for quite a while. Everyone looks up and is inevitably drawn to the snow-white dome and the exquisitely carved pillars—what’s the deal with making a courthouse so beautiful?!

The space features various-sized artifact displays and has even recreated facilities such as the document storage rooms where verdicts and important evidence were kept, detention cells, and courtrooms. It also provides detailed insights into notable figures like the human rights lawyer Tang De-zhang and many judicial officers from Taiwan’s Japanese colonial era—these were the people who laid the foundation of Taiwan’s judiciary and protected countless common citizens at the time. I came in thinking it would be boring, but my friend and I ended up almost forgetting to pick up our kid.

The space also displays a variety of judicial decision-related equipment, documents, and verdicts, all accompanied by clear explanations. I think the overall setup is really well done. By the way, that gavel... makes you want to pick it up and see what the sound of justice actually sounds like.

Such a fun cutout stand!! Authorized personnel only, please~

The courtroom displays the uniforms of judges, prosecutors, clerks, lawyers, and public defenders, but the mannequins look a bit creepy, don’t they?

Following the visiting route, you’ll find a series of courtrooms at the back—there are about five of varying sizes. Stepping inside gives off a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

After walking around the whole place, you’ll eventually come to the detention cells—four small prison rooms in total. At the very back, there’s a tiny toilet, but to prevent detainees from harming themselves, there are no partitions, and even the toilet flush is controlled from the guard station outside. Only after walking out did I realize it was just next to the dome hall—the tour basically ends here.

The [Former] Tainan District Court is definitely a quiet spot to visit in Tainan. It might not be the most exciting, but it’s certainly profound, and it’s also a great place for photos. Next time you’re traveling in Tainan, be sure to add this to your itinerary and learn about the development of Taiwan’s judicial history from a different angle. A quick share~

The Former Tainan District Court |Facebook
Address: No. 307, Section 1, Fufeng Road, West Central District, Tainan City

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