Founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1624 as Fort Zeelandia, Anping Old Fort is the oldest fortress in Taiwan and marks the beginning of the island's recorded history. Visitors can climb the white observation tower, walk along the original red-brick walls, and learn about the fort's past in the on-site exhibition hall. Just steps away, the Anping Tree House, a former merchant warehouse swallowed by banyan roots, and the snack stalls of Anping Old Street make for a perfect afternoon by the harbor.

Hidden inside Taijiang National Park, the Sicao Green Tunnel is a narrow waterway where decades-old mangroves arch overhead to form a living green tunnel, earning it the nickname "Taiwan's Little Amazon." Bamboo rafts glide slowly beneath the canopy as guides introduce the mangrove species and wetland wildlife along the way, while the still water mirrors the trees above. It is especially pleasant in the cooler autumn months; visit on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowds.

Just across a small bridge from Anping, Yuguang Island is a peaceful stretch of pine forest and a crescent-shaped beach facing the Taiwan Strait. Visitors can cycle along shady forest trails, wade along the shoreline, or join locals for one of the most beautiful sunsets in Tainan. Since the first Yuguang Island Art Festival in 2017, outdoor art installations have added a creative touch to this relaxed seaside escape, which is also a favorite spot for wedding photos.

Facing the Taiwan Strait at the edge of Anping Harbor, this triangular seaside platform framed by windbreak forest is one of Tainan's favorite places to watch the sun go down. As evening falls, the sky over the harbor glows in shades of orange and violet, and after dark the low light pollution makes it a quiet spot for stargazing. It is an easy addition to an afternoon at Anping Old Fort, just a short ride away.

One of Tainan's best-preserved old streets, Shennong Street once ran beside a busy Qing-dynasty harbor channel lined with merchant houses. Today its narrow lane of restored wooden shophouses is home to art studios, cozy bars and boutique shops, and it is especially charming in the evening when red lanterns glow along the street. It is also a short walk from Tainan's famous food streets, where visitors can taste local classics such as milkfish soup, shrimp rolls and oyster omelets after the day's sessions.

On Tainan's coast, about a 40-minute drive from the city center, the Qigu Salt Mountain is a gleaming white hill left from Taiwan's centuries-old sea salt industry, where visitors can climb to the top and try a cone of salty ice cream. The surrounding salt fields and lagoons are part of Taijiang National Park, and from late autumn the wetlands welcome the endangered black-faced spoonbill for the winter, making the area a rewarding stop for nature lovers.