Tainan: All you need is a Good Friend and a Full Tank of Gas

Tainan, the ancient capital of Taiwan, is located on the southwestern coastal plains of the island. This city is the birthplace of Taiwan. 400 years ago, Fort Zeelandia was constructed in Tainan by the United East India Company. This city was the center of political, economic, and cultural activities in Taiwan until the late 19th century. Due to this, Tainan is home to many famous historic sites. In Taiwan, it is the city that has the longest history and earliest cultural roots. The 400th anniversary of the establishment of this old city in Taiwan will be celebrated next year. In addition to historic and cultural attractions, Tainan is also home to a stunning natural landscape, well-known agricultural, fishery products, and cuisine. The weather in Tainan is nice all year-round. In spring, the plum blossoms are in full bloom in the Meiling Scenic Area, attracting many hikers to the trails that are full of flowers. Summer is when tourists can observe the fireflies dancing in the air, which is considered the firefly season. Meiling’s firefly watching is an activity that is both educational and family-friendly that visitors can choose. Nanxi is a great spot for visitors to sample the delicious fruit banquet when autumn arrives. The Gueidan Hot Spring Pool is a great place to soothe sore muscles during winter.

Tainan was the capital of Taiwan until the late 19th century, thus, it is home to many famous historic sites. Apart from historic and cultural attractions, Tainan is also home to a stunning natural landscape, well-known agricultural, and local cuisine. The shallow mountain district of Tainan, such as Naxi, Dongshan, Baihe, Yujing, and Zuozhen, are famous for their stunning natural landscape, well-known agricultural, and specialty food. Mizhi, the largest village in Naxi District, is located next to Meiling and Wanqiu community to the east. Located in the mountain valley, their location is exceptionally private, and the scenery is alluring.

What to eat

Plum chicken (梅子雞) The Plum chicken is a specialty food that is made with renowned plums and free-range chicken in Meiling. The sweetness of the chicken is brought out by the sweet and sour soup. The plum chicken soup is refreshing and has an aftertaste that is infused with sesame oil. The chicken meat is also scented with plums.

Plum Tiramisu (梅酒提拉米蘇) The Plum Tiramisu is a must-try dessert in Meiling. In Plum Tiramisu, plum wine is substituted for coffee wine when soaking sponge fingers in coffee liquid and coffee wine. On the sponge fingers that were filled with plum wine, add the powder of mascarpone cheese, stack another layer of sponge fingers, and squeeze on a thicker layer of mascarpone. Finally, sprinkle bitter and fragrant cocoa powder. With sweet and sour plum wine, sponge finger, and mascarpone, the Plum Tiramisu is mouth-watering.

Fruit Banquet (水果饗宴) The Family of Fruits Farmer is the most outstanding fruit-focused restaurant in the Mizhi community, Tainan. It is well-known for its Fruit Banquet, which features a delightful selection of seasonal fruit dishes. Various culinary creations are skillfully incorporated with mangoes, pitayas, and bananas, and fresh fruit juices are also available. With their creativity and imagination, the chefs at The Family of Fruits Farmer alter the menu seasonally.

Local customs, tradition and festivities

The Mizhi community is a century-old rural community with many traditional buildings that are over 50 years old. In the past, the only way to access the community was by boat near the river. The three temples here are located on the walkway along the river shore, and there are also annual festival events tied to rivers such as the Mid-Autumn Water Lantern Festival and the spring Lantern Festival with crossing Knife Bridge activities. The community also has a unique local festival that has been passed down for hundreds of years: Starry Moon Legend Festival.

Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology USR Office

University Team

Ching -Ting Wang

Associate Professor, General Education Center

Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology

Ching-Ting Wang is an associate professor at the General Education Center of Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, dedicated to promoting the University Social Responsibility Program in the shallow mountain district of Tainan. Prior to joining Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, she served as a teacher at Thousand Oaks Chinese School in Southern California, USA. As one of the sub-moderators of the University Social Responsibility Program, she holds courses and provides talent training in the shallow mountain district. Her expertise in foreign languages helps her promote the shallow mountain district. As a representative of the Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Ching-Ting participated in the International Livable Community Competition and ultimately won the Silver Award. The small and beautiful community in Taiwan was able to showcase the promotion and creation of a sustainable environment for the SDGs to the world.

First, Ching-Ting made a decision about what to include in the itinerary and gave some information and pictures of the locations. Second, Pei-Chi visited the sites to fill in the information and pictures that were missing. She then selected the pictures and translated the information into English. In collaboration with Ping-Hua, she completed the proofreading of the document. On-site visits to places allow people to discover knowledge and folklore that are unrevealed on the Internet or in books. According to a Chinese saying, “Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books.” People can gain more knowledge from traveling to places than from reading about them in books. It is true that experiencing things by yourself can help you learn more. This work is fascinating and enables people to become more familiar with the land of Tainan. Additionally, we can acquire a more in-depth comprehension of our hometown.

Ching-Ting, Wang

Associate Professor