Wuyuan Garden was built in 1828 by Mr. Wu Shangxin, who made his fortune in the salt trade. During the Japanese colonial period, it was requisitioned to construct the Four Springs Hotel, a library, and a public hall. The hotel and library no longer exist, having been replaced by commercial buildings. Through different eras, what has remained?
History never teaches anyone anything outright. It’s only through slow immersion that one discovers its past and present. Pausing in quiet alleys or before old houses that have weathered time and change, you can savor their memories.
Completed in February 1911, the public hall was an important gathering place for citizens and also served to educate the public, somewhat akin to Zhongzheng Hall in the early post-retrocession period. It is now called the Social Education Center. Though its function has changed, its architectural style still showcases beautifully crafted, moving curves.
Currently, the public hall mainly hosts art exhibitions. Visiting here is not just about admiring the beauty of the architecture but also about entering a sanctuary of artistic life. With rotating exhibitions, each visit brings a different feeling.
The small historical exhibit room offers a fairly comprehensive introduction to the history of Wuyuan Garden, leaving ample room for imagination about the changes over time. Perhaps playing word games with children is also a nice way to enjoy the trip. Below the main hall exterior is a white-salt-toned arts and culture space. Last time I visited, there was a pottery exhibition; this time, it’s a photography show. Everyone has different tastes—more perspectives, broader social interactions, or perhaps simply quiet solitude. Next to the public hall is Ryugu Restaurant, built around 1934 (Showa 9 of the Japanese era), and one of the few remaining Japanese-era dining halls in Tainan. The other is Ying Restaurant. The municipal government restored its main façade to its original appearance. The wooden, fish-scale-plated exterior walls and the low-ceilinged interior rooms are elegant and simple. It’s now operated under contract and named Juhouma Tea House, with “Juhou” derived from splitting the character “willow.”Inside, you can enjoy tea and relax. One space encompasses three different eras: the modern buildings outside, the public hall from the Japanese era, and Wuyuan Garden from the Qing Dynasty. In every era, as time passes, how many people truly live on this land? Through the journey of travel, we often just seek our original intentions. External things become a form of transcendence. It turns out the focus of travel isn’t how many sights you’ve seen, but how deeply you’ve felt. Walking along the red-brick alleys, how much grassroots culture has time left behind? And I’m recording those fragmented memories bit by bit, letting my little girl pass these stories on to the next generation. Life is history, and history is life. Living well becomes incredibly important. Head east.
Centuries-old tea house: Zhenfa Tea House,Six generations of washi paper craftsmanship: Sato Paper Art Heritage,Bamboo weaving craft – Xiejin Bamboo Ware Shop,Mingzhang Tatami,
Tainan Delicacy – Sun Brand Ice Treats
Head west
Guangcai Embroidery Workshop,Xinmei Street,Hear a local Tainan story – Yongle Street Drum Tea House,Gonghou Street,Haian Road Street Art Museum PLUS,Jinxing Candy Shop
Head south
Stroll around Taiwan’s foremost temple, Tian Tan / Ying Restaurant / Former Tainan Weather Observatory,National Museum of Taiwan Literature,Tainan Art Museum,Kongmiao Charisma Business District on Fuzhong Street,Tainan District Court, Yintongli Alley 3, Kaishan Road / Cat Highland / Century-old Lushi Crystal Dumplings & Buns
Head north
Zhenbei Fang Cultural Park,321 Art Village
Wu Garden Culture and Arts Center
Phone:
Address: No. 30, Section 2, Minquan Road, Sanmin Li, West Central District, South District
Tainan Public Hall: The historical materials room is open year-round from 08:00–22:00. The performance hall and exhibition rooms are open irregularly depending on events.
Juhuayayi Tea House (formerly Wuyuan Liuyi): 10:00–20:00 (Closed Mondays)
Baiyan Se Art & Culture Space (formerly Wuyuan Pailou): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00 (Closed Mondays)
OthersTainan tourist attractions | Tainan family-friendly attractions | Tainan Instagram spots | Tainan one-day trip
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###Everyone has different preferences—only through firsthand experience can you discover the little wonders of each place.###