Anping Old Street — Attraction in Tainan

It was bucking down on the day of my visit and someone took my umbrella when i put it in the shop's tin bucket for storage, not a good start. The old streets are so chaotic it's like a maze, as you have no idea where it starts and ends. I watch a video about a shop that specialised in peanuts candy, so planned on spending up to bring heaps back home as presents, in the end i couldn't find it so left empty handed. Even getting off the tourist #88 bus, i struggle to find the direction to the famous fortress. There was no signage that i can see, whatsoever, so i had to ask for directions couples time, locals are very helpful though. Also, there are simply too many shops selling prawn chips and overall the shops there don't seem to sell what tourist want. I had some shaved ice and when the dish arrived i immediately noticed 2 problem, no wonder I'm the only customer. First of all the presentation, or lack off, is a big minus for our IG obsessed generations, and secondly, there are simly too few ingredients for what i paid for, meaning poor value for money, especially in Southern parts of TW, where it's s well know for bigger bang for your buck. If you charge a premium but don't deliver the goods then tourist like me will not come back. I've even contributed extra for my bus fare, as driver don't give changes, i ended up paying $20 both ways i stead of $18. Peanuts i know but it's the principal that counts isn't it? Tainan tourism board really needs to do better to manage one of their biggest draw card. How about free bus rides for tourist to Anpen in low season to bring...

Walking through Anping Old Street feels like stepping back in time, with its narrow lanes, historic charm, and lively atmosphere. The street is packed with food stalls offering a variety of Taiwanese snacks, from crispy shrimp rolls to freshly grilled squid. One of my favorite finds was the coffin bread, a thick toast filled with creamy seafood or chicken—it’s both delicious and fun to eat! During my visit to Anping, I had the chance to try a traditional Chinese massage with oil, and it was exactly what I needed. After walking around all day, my body was aching, and I was feeling a bit under the weather. The massage therapist used a combination of deep pressure and smooth oil techniques to relieve tension and improve circulation.

What stood out the most was how they incorporated traditional Chinese medicine principles. The therapist focused on specific pressure points and energy pathways, helping to ease body aches and restore balance. The herbal-infused oil added to the experience, providing a warm, soothing sensation that left me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

If you’re ever in Anping and need relief from travel fatigue or body aches, I highly recommend trying a Chinese oil massage. It’s not just relaxing—it’s a true...

Anping Old Street is also surrounded by atmospheric historic alleyways where you can stumble upon ancient temples, traditional rammed earth houses (土角樓), and images of lions with swords in their mouths, traditional house markers which have become a symbol of Anping. The actual street name of Anping Old Street is Yanping Street (延平街). The Old Street starts on Castle Street (古堡街) just a few steps south of the southeastern corner of the Anping Old Fort grounds.

Most of the stalls and shops on Anping Old Street don’t open until 11 AM or noon, so I don’t recommend going there until lunchtime. Most of them close around 6 or 7 PM, after which the street is very quiet. I also noticed that many stalls seem to close one day per week, usually Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, so those days aren’t ideal.

I recommend visiting Anping Old Street at the end of your explorations in Anping. It makes most sense to start your day at Anping Mazu Temple (opens 5 AM), then Anping Old Fort (opens 8:30). The entrance to the fort is just behind the temple. The exit of the fort naturally leads to...