Tainan in southern Taiwan ranks fourth among the eight best Asian travel destinations selected by British magazine Time Out in a recent travel experts’ guide to the best places to visit in Asia this year.
In the Dec. 19 edition of Time Out, Tainan is the sole Taiwanese city on the list made by editors and travel contributors, the city government said in a press release issued yesterday.
Sumba, Indonesia; Siargao, Philippines; and Da Nang, Vietnam are ahead of Tainan on the list, followed by Ipoh, Malaysia; Osaka, Japan; Nan, Thailand; and Lijiang, China.
Photo: CNA
Citing Time Out, the city government praised “Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city and original capital — also regarded as the county’s foodie capital — as a warm-weather southern gem, rich with history, a vibrant culture, cutting-edge arts, cool bars, and drool-worthy cuisine.”
In addition to having a taste of the local favorite douhua (tofu pudding), Time Out recommended visitors head to Anping Tree House, a sprawling banyan tree that has taken over a colonial-era Japanese warehouse and created a surreal blend of nature and architecture with a root system large enough to walk through, according to the city government.
The magazine also suggests visitors do not miss the Tainan International Dragon Boat Championships from May 30 to May 31, calling the event a reflection of Tainan’s “perfect blend of tradition and riverside fun,” it said.
This is not the first time that Tainan has been chosen by international travel organizations as a place to visit.
In January last year, both CNN Travel and National Geographic Traveller (UK) chose Tainan on their respective lists “Where to go in 2024: The best places to visit,” and “The Cool List 2024: the 30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024.”
As Tainan just marked its 400th anniversary with the Tainan 400 series finishing at the end of December this year is a milestone year for the city, the city government said.
A wide variety of events, including the Agricultural and Fishing Art Festival, will run at various venues across the city until April 30, it added.
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