【Traveler’s Journal】Step into the Old Town, Stroll Through Centuries of Romance, and Savor Cuisine in Historic Houses

Text by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler’s Journal Hong Zhenlu

 

Tainan Park is located near Tainan Railway Station, yet it’s a place rarely visited by most tourists. When people arrive in Tainan, they rush to famous attractions and sample various local snacks and delicacies. Perhaps they know that Tainan has many old trees, but they often associate them with historical sites or campuses, not realizing that Tainan Park actually harbors many precious ancient trees. The site where Tainan Park now stands was once a scenic spot famous for Yan Pond, and in 1917, during the Japanese colonial period, it was developed into “Taisho Park,” which also served as a tropical experimental forest. Staff from Tainan City Government’s Agriculture Bureau, Forest and Nature Conservation Section, who are responsible for maintaining these old trees, told us that because the Japanese are from a temperate climate zone, they were very fascinated by subtropical plants, leading them to establish this experimental forest to observe their growth. Of the 200 old trees under Tainan City’s protection, 72 are located in Tainan Park.

Towering century-old rain trees and bodhi trees line the wooden boardwalk along South Park Road. You can’t miss the impressive century-old rain tree nearby, known as the “Rain Tree Second Brother” of Tainan Park, while the taller “Rain Tree First Brother” stands on the hillside near Little Yan Pond. The rain tree is a deciduous tree native to tropical America, known for its tall, elegant form, broad canopy, and pinnate compound leaves. In spring and summer, it blooms pink powderpuff flowers, and its fruits are woody pods over ten centimeters long. As you stroll here, take a closer look at the lush, swaying tree shadows—it’s quite captivating.