Rediscover the joy of reading & wander through 4+ boutique bookstores in the historic city

Text & Photos / Fion

San Francisco has "City Lights Bookstore," Paris has "Shakespeare and Company," Kyoto has "Keibunsha," and Tokyo has "Tsutaya Bookstore." In the culturally rich ancient city of Tainan, the density of bookstores in the urban area is among the richest in the nation. These bookstores are tucked away in the corners of the city—perhaps without lavish decor or lighting—but they stand firmly in their place, quietly nurturing a unique cultural vibe and becoming the most beautiful humanities hubs in the city. For book lovers visiting Tainan, after sampling all the delicious food, it’s perfect to take a stroll through the bookstores to enjoy a moment of peaceful relaxation and digestion. When returning home, besides luggage full of local specialties, finding one or two favorite books in the bookstore can be an unexpected treasure.

Old Shops of Southern Tainan
A space filled with sunshine and the fragrance of books

The bookstore owner, Cai Hanzhong, is a well-known second-hand book collector in Tainan. Even before opening Old Shops of Southern Tainan, he had launched several renowned used bookstores. The first was "Grass Altar," a second-hand bookstore in the Confucius Temple commercial area (now closed), which once implemented a membership system due to excessive tourists affecting service quality—it hoped to attract genuine book lovers rather than casual visitors. There’s also "Molin," a second-hand bookstore located in the basement opposite the Guangfu Campus of National Cheng Kung University. Though small, its comprehensive collection draws students looking for hidden gems.

The newest branch of Old Shops of Southern Tainan is located on Qingzhong Street, boasting the largest space and the most extensive book collection. However, its location isn’t as bustling as the previous two, so most visitors are dedicated book lovers who come specifically. Walking along a path lined with greenery into this sunlit bookstore, large transparent floor-to-ceiling windows reflect the light. The air carries the scent of sunlight and books, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. The space displays a wealth of antiques, showing that the owner is also a soul enamored with vintage items. The thoughtfully arranged shelves hold a vast number of books that make it hard to pull your eyes away—you naturally slow your pace and happily pick up volumes from the shelves.

Old Shops of Southern Tainan
Address: No. 68, Qingzhong St., West Central District, Tainan City　
Phone: 06-2135567　
Hours: 12:00–21:00 (Closed Thursdays)
 

Apple Used Books
A retro-style second-hand bookstore
 

Located on Guohua Street, Apple Used Book Room was created by renovating two connected old houses over 40 years old. Far from the bustling foodie battle zones on the main streets, it offers more tranquility and leisure. The owner Kakashi and his family are big fans of Japanese culture, hence the name “Apple,” which is the Chinese character for "apple." Kakashi said that since both characters of “Apple” contain the “tree” radical, closely related to books, they fell in love with the name.

What sets it apart from other used bookstores is probably the dazzling array of independent publications and handmade goods at the counter. Manga and audiovisual publications are also a major highlight—you can cozy up in the sunny lawn area surrounded by comics. If you’re lucky, you might even find recordings by Lin Huiping, Tsai Chin, or LA Boys in the audiovisual section. The bookstore encourages creativity by allowing creators to consign their own products, and even purchases small batches to support them. Here, we found that every book, CD, and movie DVD carries the blessing of its previous owner—casual browsing feels like discovering a new side of yourself.


Address: No. 24, Section 1, Guohua St., South District, Tainan City　
Phone: 0905-951-593　
Hours: 12:00–20:00 (Closed Thursdays & Sundays)