Exploring Tainan’s old town from The Theatre | From Chihkan Tower and Guohua Street to Shennong Street
- May 26
- 6 min read
Tainan's old town is one of the city's most concentrated areas of history and culture, where historic landmarks, temples, and traditional streets are all located within walking distance of one another.
Starting from The Theatre 劇院酒店 on Chenggong Road in Tainan's North District, travelers can easily walk into the heart of Tainan's historic old town. Along the route, visitors will pass through Xingji Temple, Chihkan Tower, Guohua Street, and eventually arrive at Shennong Street — creating a walking route well suited for exploring Tainan's historic neighborhoods.
This journey not only showcases the city's religious culture and historical architecture, but also offers a glimpse into the everyday rhythm of life within Tainan's old streets.
Xingji Temple | One of Tainan's most important Baosheng Emperor temples
Shortly after departing from The Theatre 劇院酒店, travelers will arrive at Xingji Temple.
Xingji Temple is one of Tainan's historic temples and serves as an important center of Baosheng Emperor worship in the city. The temple preserves traditional Minnan architectural styles, with its Sanchuan Hall, dragon pillars, painted carvings, and detailed craftsmanship reflecting the beauty of traditional Taiwanese temple art.
In Tainan's old town, temples are not only places of worship, but also important centers of local community life.
Around the temple courtyards, it is common to see residents gathering, chatting, and going about their daily routines — forming an essential part of Tainan's neighborhood culture and everyday atmosphere.
Chihkan Tower | A national historic landmark witnessing 400 years of Tainan history
Continuing on foot from Xingji Temple, travelers will soon arrive at one of Tainan's most iconic historical landmarks — Chihkan Tower.
Originally built in 1652 by the Dutch, Chihkan Tower was first known as Fort Provintia and served as one of the major administrative centers during the Dutch colonial period in Taiwan. At the time, Tainan — then referred to as Tayouan — was an important maritime trading city in East Asia.
After Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) arrived in Taiwan in 1661, Chihkan Tower became an important political and military center during the Kingdom of Tungning period. During the Qing Dynasty, the site was gradually transformed into a more traditional Chinese-style architectural complex, with temples, pavilions, and garden spaces added over time, shaping the historic landscape seen today.
Today, the site preserves its red brick walls, stone tablets, and historical structures, making it one of Tainan's most representative cultural heritage landmarks and a designated national historic site. The inscriptions and architecture throughout the complex document the city's development from the Dutch colonial era through the Ming Zheng and Qing periods.
Chihkan Tower visitor information
The historic site is currently open to visitors, with admission tickets required for entry:
Full ticket: NT$70
Discount ticket: NT$35
The site also offers scheduled guided tours, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes.
Tours are free to join and do not require advance registration. Visitors simply need to gather at the entrance around 10 minutes before the scheduled tour time.
Through the on-site guided experience, travelers can gain a deeper understanding of Chihkan Tower’s historical significance and the evolution of Tainan from the Dutch colonial period to the Ming Zheng and Qing dynasties.
The area surrounding Chihkan Tower is also one of the most important districts within Tainan's old town, where traditional local eateries and long-established shops gather throughout the neighborhood.
The combination of historic architecture and everyday city life makes this area an essential place for travelers to experience the culture and atmosphere of old Tainan.
From Chihkan Tower, visitors can also easily continue their walk toward Guohua Street and Shennong Street, two of Tainan's most well-known historic streets.
Guohua Street | Tainan's famous street for local food and everyday culture
After leaving Chihkan Tower, the walking route continues into Tainan's famous Guohua Street district.
Located in the heart of Tainan's old town, Guohua Street connects with surrounding neighborhoods such as Zhengxing Street and Hai'an Road, making it one of the city's most representative areas for local food and everyday street culture.
Along this street, many long-established Tainan eateries and local shops gather together, making Guohua Street one of the most popular neighborhoods for travelers visiting Tainan.
Yongle Market | One of Tainan's most important traditional markets
Yongle Market is one of Tainan's long-established traditional markets. Originally built in the 1960s, it continues to serve as an important daily marketplace for local residents.
Walking through the market during the daytime, visitors can find fresh produce stalls, cooked food vendors, and a wide variety of traditional Taiwanese snacks, all contributing to the lively atmosphere of everyday local life in Tainan.
For many travelers, however, the biggest attraction of Yongle Market is the concentration of famous local food stalls surrounding the market.
The area is home to many of Tainan’s well-known traditional eateries, including Yipinwei Bowl Kueh, Jin De Spring Roll, A Song Gua Bao, Xiou Ann Bean Jelly, and Fu Sheng Eel Noodles.
Among them, Yipinwei Bowl Kueh was even selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand Guide, making it one of the must-try local dishes for many visitors traveling to Tainan.
Walking through the areas around Guohua Street and Yongle Market, travelers are often drawn in by the aromas of local food while strolling through the streets.
Many of the eateries here have been operating for decades and are flavors that generations of Tainan locals grew up with, making this neighborhood one of the liveliest and most iconic food districts in Tainan's old town.
Shennong Street | A historic street with over 300 years of history
Continuing along Guohua Street and Yongle Market, and passing through Hai'an Road, travelers will arrive at one of Tainan's most distinctive historic streets — Shennong Street.
Shennong Street has a history of more than 300 years. During the Qing Dynasty's Five Canals period, the street was one of Tainan’s busiest commercial districts.
At the time, many trading companies and warehouses gathered along the street, making it an important witness to the development of Tainan's historic port trade and maritime commerce.
Walking into Shennong Street, visitors can still see many preserved buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial period.
The low-rise red brick houses, wooden doors, and traditional window designs give the entire street a strong sense of historical atmosphere and old-town charm.
Along the historic street, visitors will also find local temples that reflect Tainan’s traditional religious culture, including Kaiji Yaowang Temple.
With a history of more than 300 years, the temple is recognized as one of Tainan’s historic “Seven Temples and Eight Shrines” and is regarded as the founding temple of Yaowang worship in Taiwan.
The temple primarily worships the Medicine King, commonly associated with Shennong the Divine Farmer, a deity symbolizing medicine and healing.
While exploring the neighborhood, travelers may wish to pause for a moment to offer prayers for good health and peace.
In recent years, Shennong Street has undergone ongoing historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Many of the old buildings have been transformed into cultural boutiques, cafés, bars, and specialty souvenir shops, gradually turning the street into one of Tainan's most popular cultural districts.
As night falls, the red lanterns along Shennong Street begin to glow, casting warm light across the historic buildings and giving the street an even more distinctive atmosphere.
The combination of lantern-lit alleys and preserved old architecture makes Shennong Street one of the favorite evening walking spots for travelers exploring Tainan's old town.
A walking route through Tainan's old town from The Theatre
Theatre 劇院酒店 → Xingji Temple → Chihkan Tower → Guohua Street → Shennong Street
Starting from The Theatre 劇院酒店, travelers can first visit Xingji Temple, a historic temple filled with local religious culture, before continuing toward Chihkan Tower, one of Tainan's most iconic landmarks with over 400 years of history.
As the walk continues, the atmosphere gradually shifts into the lively rhythm of everyday city life. Guohua Street and Yongle Market are filled with local eateries, traditional shops, and some of Tainan's most beloved street food.
The route eventually arrives at Shennong Street, where travelers can experience the atmosphere of Tainan's old town among historic houses, narrow alleys, and glowing lanterns.
This walking route connects Tainan's temples, historic landmarks, local food culture, and old streets into one journey through the city's old town.
Within walking distance, travelers can experience the many different sides of Tainan and discover how history and everyday life continue to exist side by side.