TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan was ranked fourth on a list of top Asian travel destinations by the British magazine Time Out.
On Dec. 19, Time Out released its “Travel experts' guide to the best places to visit in Asia in 2025.” The editors and travel contributors included Tainan in the top eight rankings and described it as an Asian destination "you need on your bucket list.”
Ahead of Tainan was Sumba, Indonesia, which ranked first, followed by Siargao, Philippines, and Da Nang, Vietnam. Trailing Tainan were, Ipoh, Malaysia; Osaka, Japan; Nan, Thailand; and Lijiang, China.
Time Out noted that Tainan is Taiwan's oldest city, original capital, and foodie capital. The magazine described the city as a “warm-weather southern gem, rich with history, a vibrant culture, cutting-edge arts, cool bars, and drool-worthy cuisine.”
The article pointed out that in Tainan, Michelin-listed restaurants can be found amidst “bustling street stalls.” The magazine recommended visiting Tongji Anping Bean Curd to try Tainan's douhua, a sweet or savory snack made from silken tofu.
The review picked Anping Tree House, a part of the National Anping Harbor Historic Park, as an unusual spot to explore. The structure, once a warehouse, is now overrun by the roots and branches of a banyan tree “creating a surreal blend of nature and architecture with a root system large enough to walk through.”
With Tainan having just celebrated its 400th-anniversary last year, the magazine observed that there are still a plethora of commemorative events scheduled by the city government this year. Among these events, the magazine recommended attending the Tainan 400 Agricultural Landscape Festival, which runs until April 30.
The Tainan International Dragon Boat Championships, which takes place on May 30 and 31, was listed as a “Time Out Tip.” The magazine advised the best views of the races can be seen along the Yunhe River between Anyi Bridge and Chengtian Bridge.
Tainan has also been recently featured in other top travel lists, including CNN's "Where to go in 2024: The best places to visit" and National Geographic's "The Cool List 2024: the 30 most exciting destinations to visit in 2024."
