Not to be confused with “Tainan Science Park”, the Tainan Park is located in Gong Yuan North Road in Tainan City, the oldest, most historical city in the South of Taiwan. It was previously known as Dr. Sun Yat San Park (or Sun Zhongshan) after the name of the “Father of Modern China”.
Situated right in the heart of the city, the park serves as an ideal venue for relaxation, group picnics, exercise and many others. It is one of the largest park in Taiwan with a huge space for recreational activities. It has an amphitheater, a library and a music hall.
HISTORY
In 1684, the park was used as a site for beggars huts (“Yang-Ji Yuan”). Then in 1723, the first fence was built around the South bank of Yan-Tan, which is currently the site for the pond in the park. In 1912, after the Japanese occupation of the country, all 14.63 hectares were landscaped, following its natural terrain. Small hills and streams were formed and the Yan Tan lake was enlarged. The whole construction was said to have taken four years to complete, but it had made the park the most beautiful open space in the whole of the city.
Year after year afterwards, small additions like flowers, landscaped patches of gardens, trees, plants and many others were installed in the park. And in 1956, the Tainan Park was voted as one of the 12 major attractions of Tainan.
It became the site for many city festivities and became an important landmark in Tainan. It was thoroughly maintained and beautified, and monuments, walkways and other structures were also added through the years.
TAINAN PARK TODAY
Because the park is in a very convenient location, it provides an ideal location for nature observation, picnicking, people-watching, bird-watching and many others. In fact, nowadays, the park is used by many private organizations for various group activities.
On some days, you’ll see various groups exercising on the field. Some are meditating on the grass while some are doing aerobics. The wide jogging and walking trails in the park also make a perfect venue for group jogging and running. The trees providing shades are perfect for hot afternoons, and the beautiful pond with the fishes will surely entertain the kids.
The sceneries, the peacefulness, the open-area breeze, tree-shaded areas, the picnic tables and the green soft lawns, all these are what attract the locals to just hang-out in the park and simply spend some time with friends and families.
On rainy days when people can’t use the field, the music hall, the library and the amphitheater are still open to the public for entertainment.
So if you’re looking for some peaceful time with more opportunity for bonding with the kids and your family, but with less stress on your pocket, head on to the Tainan Park. Having a great time doesn’t always mean spending great amount of money. You can experience Tainan and its culture just by visiting the park. It’s perfect for pictures you can take home with you too!
The Historic Utheem Island
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