Admire a sea of flowers and enjoy a romantic lantern festival—here are the must-visit spots for your short trip in Tainan during the Lunar New Year holiday

▲ Tainan Moon Harbor Lantern Festival. (Photo / Courtesy ofTainan City Government)

By the Travel Center / Comprehensive report

With the Lunar New Year approaching, how do you plan to spend the up to nine-day holiday? The Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau has compiled a “Tainan Holiday Travel Guide” for the public, inviting everyone across the country to visit Tainan—from before the New Year to the Lantern Festival—to shop for festive goods, enjoy blooming flowers, admire lantern displays, and soak in the unique festive atmosphere of this cultural ancient capital.

1.2016 Tainan Flower Festival(Feb 4–25)

Colorful floral displays are spread across six locations: the South District Shuiping Park, South District Shuijiao She Park, Xinying District Nan Ying Green Heart Park, Liujia District Multi-functional Sports Park, Jiali District Zhongshan Park, and Xigang District Central Park. This year, themed “Journey to the West” to celebrate the Year of the Monkey, the event showcases Tainan’s cultural charm through themed stories from the classic novel, while vibrant flower seas create a joyful festive atmosphere to welcome the spring in the ancient capital.

2.2016 Moon Harbor Lantern Festival(Jan 31–Feb 28)

With the creative theme “Moonlight Treasure Box, Illuminating Today’s Harbor,” the art installations under the moonlight highlight the charm of Yanshui, glowing like a treasure box and combining riverside landscapes, local settlement environments, and Yanshui’s cultural features into a spectacular lantern art display. Featuring works by 45 artists from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Czech Republic, the festival showcases 40 artistic lantern creations and an unprecedented 60 main lantern pieces over 30 days, offering a visual feast for visitors nationwide.

3.Yanshui Beehive Rockets(Feb 21–22)

The highlight of the Lantern Festival, the Yanshui Beehive Rockets, has been named one of the “Top 10 Best Global Festivals” by Australia’s Get Lost magazine. Experience at least once in your life the thrilling firepower of the rocket showers—a cleansing ritual believed to bring increasing good fortune in the coming year.

4. 2016 Celebrate the Tainan New Year – Xinhua Lunar New Year Street Market(Jan 31–Feb 6)

On Tainan’s Xinhua Old Street, you’ll find everything from festive goods to local delicacies. The event also offers special deals such as one-dollar auctions, limited-time half-price items, and scratch-card giveaways for shoppers spending over a hundred NT dollars. The Xinhua Old Street is also one of Taiwan’s most picturesque historic streets—stroll along and admire the old Western-style buildings and neo-Baroque facades that are truly captivating.

▲ Chimei Museum. (Photo / Provided by Chimei Museum)

5.Chimei Museum “Swing, Animals – Art & Design Exhibition”(Until Aug 31)

Starting January 27, ibon kiosks are also selling tickets for the Chimei Museum’s permanent exhibits, as well as combined “combo tickets” for both the permanent and special exhibitions, with a daily limit of 1,600 sets. The newly launched special exhibition “Swing, Animals – Art & Design Exhibition” (until Aug 31) features 25 artworks by 23 artists and designers from seven countries, all centered around animals. Displayed in the special exhibition hall and outdoor areas, the indoor section is divided into four themed zones: Insects, Fish, Birds, and Beasts, while the outdoor area features five large-scale art installations reflecting artists’ concerns about animals and the environment.

6. Shi Gu Ren Tang Cultural & Creative Park “2016 Tainan International Drum Festival”(Feb 8–14)

Open daily from day to night, with stargazing garden access until 9:30 PM and six performances per day. In addition to Taiwan’s own Shi Gu Percussion Group, the festival invites the “Japan NoBuShi Taiko Group,” “Japan GARYU Taiko Group,” “USA Hands on semble Percussion Ensemble,” and “Sichuan Percussion Ensemble,” gathering world-class drumming troupes for this annual celebration resonating beautifully across this enchanting Formosa.

▲ 3D Blueprint Art. (Photo / Provided by Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park)

7.Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park

Located right opposite Taipei 101 Xinyi A13 in Tainan, the “Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park” is a culturally creative hub deeply embedded in the city’s spatial texture. It has become a new cultural landmark in Tainan, adding an exceptional artistic experience to your spring visit to the city.

8.Wild Animal Kingdom “Monkeys—Come See the Capybaras Now!”(February 1 to February 29, 12:00 noon)

Visitors who take photos with a Wild World mascot doll or any item recognizable as Wild World merchandise, DMs, promotional graphics, etc., while traveling around the world, and then upload the images to the Wild World fan page, may have the chance to win a free trip to Wild World or the opportunity to interact with capybaras, elephants, giraffes, and more.

9.Jian Shan Pi Jiangnan Resort(January 21 to February 29)

Jian Shan Pi Jiangnan Resort offers free admission for those born in the Year of the Monkey upon presentation of valid ID; not applicable for groups. Use the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle “Guanziling-Wushantou Line” ticket package to visit Jiangnan Resort before June 30, and present the ticket stub to enjoy a NT$100 discount on admission. Accommodation enjoys a 40% discount on weekdays and 20% discount on holidays.

▲ Zouma Lai Farm creates a giant horse sculpture made from straw. (Photo / fromZouma Lai FarmFan Page)

10.Zouma Lai Farm’s “Horse Sculpture Spring Fun”(January 23 to February 29)

Using the farm’s signature “straw” material, a giant horse sculpture about five stories high is created, making it a one-of-a-kind giant horse in Taiwan. The event also launches a series of colorful spring activities, including a giant parent-child painting wall that allows children to get close to nature and doodle the beautiful scenery before their eyes. The artworks are displayed on a large painting board area next to the parent-child castle for visitors to enjoy.

11.Wushantou Reservoir’s “Wushantou Magic Fantasy Show”(February 8 to February 14)

Featuring magician Sheng Zhiping, a rising star who has been invited to perform in Nauru, the show runs from February 8 (Lunar New Year’s Day) to February 14 (Lunar New Year’s Seventh Day), with two 90-minute performances daily at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. After the show, there are also magic workshops and magic challenge games, where visitors can transform into wizards and participate in obstacle challenges. Those who succeed will receive a beautiful gift. Limited quantities available and given out while supplies last.

12.National Museum of Taiwan History’s “National Museum of Taiwan History – Celebrating the New Year”(February 9 to February 14)

The Children’s Gallery of the Museum of Taiwan History has arranged a variety of New Year parent-child activities for both kids and adults. In addition to guided tours of the train theater, storytelling with picture books, outdoor guided tours of the Children’s Gallery, and limited-edition handmade spring couplets, a creative spring couplet titled “My Six Taiwanese Friends” has also been designed.

13.Hsiao Long Cultural Park’s “2016 Sweet Kiss – Hsiao Long International Contemporary Art Festival”(February 8 to February 14)

Mainly divided into two parts: the “Candy Culture Exhibition” and the “International Contemporary Artists Creation Exhibition.” Under the theme of happy memories, it explores Taiwanese historical culture and international culture. Through candy, it bonds with the local sugar-making historical memory, showcasing the presence of Taiwanese sugar, and contrasts this with contemporary art works created by international artists in residence, reflecting their perspectives on Taiwan and their own memories and cultures.

14.General’s Manor Arts Center’s “Gäst – General’s Manor Resident Artists Joint Exhibition”(From now until March 27)

Created by resident artists Chen Boyi, Wang Ruiheng, and Lin Jianzhi using various media, the exhibition aims to reflect on Tainan’s unique humanities, history, and environment through the artists’ spiritual expressions.

15.Tugou Rural Art Museum’s “House of the Village Contemporary Art Exhibition”(From now until February 29)

Using houses as exhibition spaces, it establishes a platform for interaction between contemporary art and rural life. The exhibition showcases contemporary art aesthetics through homes and invites artists to set up exhibitions within the village, reflecting the value of a new rural life aesthetic. It hopes to present a rural contemporary art exhibition of “old and new, memories and happenings” through the convergence of art and old houses.

16. Major Prayer Events

Dongshan Welcoming the Buddha (February 1, February 17)
Tucheng Luermen Madonna Temple’s “New Year Carnival” (February 8 to February 14)
Luermen Tianhou Temple’s “Taiwanese New Year Culture Festival” (February 8 to February 20)
Dazhi Mountain Xuan Kong Temple 2016 Lantern Lighting Ceremony Announced (Jan 23 – Mar 27)
Taiwan’s No. 1 Temple “Nankunshen Daitian Temple” (Feb 2 – Feb 16)

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