More beautiful than a café: A new design-forward library in Tainan becomes a hot photo spot

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

In recent years, Tainan has seen the emergence of many new attractions and photo spots. Aside from giant capsule toy machines and container markets, the all-white, design-focused Taijiang Academy has also become very popular. Recently, the “Yancheng Library,” located in the southern district, has gained attention for its stylish exterior and interior decor, becoming a new IG-worthy hotspot.

Yancheng Library is the second public library in Tainan’s southern district. It opened in 2015 and covers a site area of approximately 3,682 square meters, with one basement level and three above-ground floors. The library was personally designed by architect Tsai I-chang, who was also responsible for the design of the Chimei Museum. Its exterior resembles stacked books, symbolizing a crystallization of knowledge and reflecting both the library’s identity and the local characteristics of Yancheng. The outdoor public art piece “Let’s Fly Together – Kids,” created jointly by artists Lü Muyi and Jiao Shengwei, conveys the wish that children may be lifted by knowledge and share the joy of soaring through it.

Yancheng Library serves the community with its rich collection, user-friendly new facilities, and a comfortable, thoughtful reading environment. The library is expected to house 100,000 volumes, with around 50,000 currently in stock. Aside from picture books, children’s literature, adult fiction, sports and health titles favored by various readers, it also provides audiovisual materials for borrowing. New equipment includes self-service book borrowing machines and book sterilizers, making the borrowing process more convenient and reassuring for visitors.