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  • Located in southwestern Tainan, Annan District borders

  • the Taiwan Strait to the west.

  • 300 years ago, the area which is current Annan

  • was completely covered by sea.

  • More specifically, it was part of the Taijiang Inner Sea.

  • In recent years, with the efforts of Tainan City Government

  • in developing the area,

  • Annan District has become livable.

  • What's special about Annan?

  • Let's check it out!

  • Hi everyone, I'm Hsuan-hui, Jacqueline.

  • Today we're here at Annan District

  • to discover a lot of tourist attractions.

  • And there are a lot of famous tourist attractions,

  • like taking a boat trip to the Green Tunnel.

  • And there are some museums and some temples.

  • So we're here now to discover some new things.

  • One of the must-visit attractions in Tainan

  • is the Green Tunnel in the Sicao Village of Annan District.

  • It's next to Dazhong Temple.

  • The Green Tunnel is a really beautiful place,

  • and is a well-known film scene location.

  • Just look at the long queue,

  • and you'll see how popular the Green Tunnel is.

  • One thing that people say you must do in Taijiang National Park

  • is to come here and take a boat trip.

  • Here at the Green Tunnel,

  • you can see a lot of beautiful plants and very special species,

  • like mangroves, and many other animals.

  • So let's check it out

  • We're now here on a quick boat trip.

  • And now you can see there are lots of ecological plants

  • and also there is mangrove, which is very famous around here.

  • This is a very wonderful place.

  • Green Tunnel has a diversified ecosystem,

  • and is home to various kinds

  • of mangroves.

  • There are many plants and fiddler crabs along the tunnel.

  • Mangroves flourish here

  • and spread to both sides of the stream, forming a green tunnel.

  • People love to take photos here.

  • However, when you admire its scenery and take photos,

  • watch out for the branches around you.

  • Many people are too busy taking photos.

  • They are not aware of the branches around them

  • and forget to lower their heads.

  • As a result, they bump into the branches,

  • and their phones drop into the water.

  • That's not romantic at all!

  • Did you just see those lovely sceneries down there?

  • So next time if you come toTaijiang National Park,

  • don't miss this boat trip.

  • At the back of Dazhong Temple,

  • there is a park

  • with a monument in honor of Koxinga's feats at the entrance.

  • It's said that about 300 years ago,

  • one of the battles between Koxinga and the Dutch

  • took place in the North Shanwei Isle,

  • and people erected the monument in honor of Koxinga's contributions.

  • When the dedication ceremony of Dazhong Temple took place in 1971,

  • many sets of bones were found around the temple.

  • As the North Shanwei Isle has been through the Zheng-Dutch War

  • and the Second World War,

  • many people believed that some of the bones belonged to Dutch soldiers.

  • The bones were then buried at the back of the temple

  • in a dome called the Tomb of Dutch Remains,

  • and most of them are incomplete.

  • Many Dutch have come to pay tribute to forerunners.

  • The park is also a great place to enjoy

  • the scenery of the Taijiang Inner Sea.

  • You can overlook the landscape of Taijiang

  • and observe the mangrove ecosystem.

  • The forest is serene and pleasantly cool.

  • It's a good place to take a walk.

  • Right across Dazhong Temple,

  • There's a museum, the Sperm Whale Museum.

  • So what's so cool ,

  • and what's the history about this Sperm Whale Museum?

  • Let's check it out!

  • In 1992, a female sperm whale and a calf

  • were stranded on the beach near Dazhong Temple.

  • They didn't even make it to prolapse the umbilical cord of the calf.

  • To keep the remains of the two sperm whales at Sicao,

  • local residents built the Museum of Sperm Whale

  • to preserve the specimens.

  • In addition to sperm whales,

  • specimens of many other oceanic creatures

  • as well as fishing tools

  • and daily necessities of fishing villages are on display.

  • Visitors can have the opportunity to know

  • the living culture of Taijiang area better.

  • In this Sperm Whale Museum,

  • you can see not only the specimen of the sperm whale,

  • but also a lot of fishing life styles.

  • You can also see a lot of fishing facilities,

  • and how the ancient people used to live with them.

  • It's very cool.

  • The Qing Government added several forts

  • and batteries along the coastal areas of Taiwan

  • during the Opium War in 1840s to strengthen

  • the defeat against British threat.

  • And the artillery fort in Sicao was one of these forts.

  • The Sicao Fortress was built in 1840

  • during the First Opium War 因為第一次鴉片戰爭爆發

  • during the First Opium War 因為第一次鴉片戰爭爆發

  • to reinforce the coastal defense of Taiwan.

  • The fortress was equipped with 10 batteries and about 300-meter long.

  • The solid defense

  • is now a part of the fence of Jhenhai Elementary School.

  • The old trees on the fortress

  • formed a special view

  • and a lot of tourists come to take photos.

  • This artillery fort may not be

  • the most impressive tourist site in this area,

  • but it is the second-class national historic site

  • due to its historical significance.

  • So next time if you come to Sicao,

  • don't miss this artillery fort.

  • Those who love cycling in Tainan,

  • all know the Shanhai Canal Greenway.

  • The scenery here is beautiful.

  • But where does the path start?

  • Let me check it out with our docent today, Zhi-zhong.

  • What is the best way to experience

  • or enjoy this the Shanhai Canal Greenway?

  • First, let me introduce you the Shanhai Canal Greenway.

  • It is a cycling path

  • built along Chianan Canalestablished by Yoichi Hatta,

  • and starting from Wushantou Reservoir.

  • The Shanhai Canal Greenway is about 45 kilometers in length.

  • It's not only a historical and cultural sight,

  • but also a river ecosystem.

  • About 15 kilometers of the greenway is situated in Annan District.

  • It's designated the bike lane

  • to ensure the safety of cyclists.

  • The greenway starts from a Chinese tallow tree tunnel

  • around the National Museum of Taiwan History.

  • Trees such as Sea hibiscus, Madagascar almond,

  • Indian almond, and Chinaberry can be found along the greenway,

  • and they provide shades for cyclists.

  • Hsuan-hui, let me show you around.

  • In fact, one of the best thing about here is that,

  • when you come here to the Shanhai Canal Greenway ,

  • you don't even have to bring your own bicycle,

  • you can just rent the T-bike, and you can be on your way.

  • Let's go.

  • The viewing platform overlooks Sicao Bridge and Sicao lake

  • and gives you the chance to see the incredible sunset.

  • The greenway is both significant in its cultural and ecological values.

  • When it comes to salt fields,

  • Cigu or Jingzaijiao may come to your mind.

  • In fact, there's a salt field eco-culture village in Annan District.

  • So, what's the best way to visit this wonderful place?

  • Here, you may experience activities related to salt

  • and also understand the process of how salt is made.

  • In addition to having a try on washing salt field,

  • tourists can visit some of the historical architectures

  • built for the salt production business.

  • The docents here will show you around

  • the ecosystem, traditional beliefs and cultures of this area.

  • Hsuan-hui, we are standing by a crystallization pond

  • in a tile-paved salt field.

  • This pond is called iăm-gēh-à in Hokklo.

  • Now they are washing the iăm-gēh-à (Hokklo).

  • The salt evaporation pond has to be washed every time

  • a pile salt is harvested

  • so that there will be no impurities in the salt.

  • This circle next to the crystallization pond is a brine storage pond

  • called ĭn-gon-à in Hokklo.

  • So you see, this kind of work really depends a lot on the weather.

  • And you see, when it rains, the salt will be gone.

  • But the ancestors had a very good solution to it.

  • You see,

  • here right behind me!

  • When it rains,

  • they can put all dried salt in it again,

  • so that the dried salt would not be gone.

  • Hsuan-hui, let's go try shoving and picking salt!

  • Now, I've changed my rain boots,

  • and now we're going to try to shove salt.

  • Let's go!

  • Wow, it really takes a lot of hard work.

  • After shoving just a few minutes,

  • I'm totally worn out.

  • The salt filed eco-culture village

  • displays many daily necessities you would find in early salt villages.

  • So here at Anshun Salt Factory,

  • you can really learn a lot about salt culture.

  • And what's more important is

  • to experience how to make salt and how to dry them up.

  • We're now here at Luermen,

  • and this is where the entry point was in the past.

  • When people want to enter Taiwan or exit Taiwan,

  • they can park their ships over here in this harbor.

  • Here, a lot of business people would do some trading.

  • Like they would import stuff into Taiwan.

  • Or they can export some Taiwanese stuff to foreign countries.

  • And this is why a lot of people call here,

  • Luermen, as the door of Taiwan.

  • There is a path along the Luermen River.

  • It's a good place to take a walk

  • and enjoy sea breeze.

  • We're now here at Luermenatzu Temple

  • Before we enter the temple,

  • let's take a walk around the tour sites around the temple.

  • Just behind me, there is a park with

  • beautiful plants, trees, and flowers,

  • where you can take a walk and take a rest.

  • So, let's check it out

  • This is Mr. Yo,

  • Hi, Mr. Yo.

  • So what is the best way to visit Luermenatzu Temple?

  • I can show you around.

  • Okay!

  • First, I would recommend you to appreciate the Dashanmen.

  • And then the architecture of our temple.

  • These are all carved beams and painted pillars.

  • They are worth paying a visit.

  • What's also worth mentioning

  • is the cultural and creative products made by Luermen Matzu Temple.

  • The design of lucky charms varies from temple to temple.

  • If you bring this gift back home,

  • It's like bringing the blessing from Matzu back home!

  • So if you take this back home,

  • you should open the umbrella,

  • and put it somewhere in your home, but not in your bedroom.

  • So if you're a student,

  • it would bless you a better academic performance.

  • If you're working now,

  • it would bless you to have a better career development.

  • So if you come here,

  • don't forget to bring your blessing from Matzu back home!

  • The two statues behind me are the generals of Matzu.

  • One of them can hear from far away.

  • And the other can see from far away.

  • And these two generals are like the helpers of Matzu.

  • They will help to see if someone is doing something bad.

  • There are a lot of surprises

  • waiting for you!

  • Every year during the lantern festival,

  • many tourists swarm to Annan District

  • because the firework display here is incredible!

  • We're now here at Orthodox Luermen Shengmu Temple

  • Now, come on and let's check it out!

  • Hi,Director-general!

  • Hi! Ladies and gentlemen,

  • wish you a pleasant day.

  • Could you please briefly introduce Luermen Shengmu Temple?

  • Luermen Shengmu Temple is the largest temple of all among Southeast Asia.

  • The statues of deity Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er

  • are about 17 meters in height.

  • It's impressive.

  • Luermen Shengmu Temple worships not only Matzu,

  • but also the Wufuqiansui (the Plague Gods), Guanyin, and Yueh-lao!

  • There's also a Yueh-lao Temple where people can ask

  • for love and romantic questions.

  • So that the God could bless them with a better relationship with others.

  • The annual firework display

  • is an important event.

  • The firework display is impressive

  • and beautiful!

  • Next time, when you come to Tainan,

  • don't forget to pay a visit at Annan District.

  • All those temples and the National park,

  • and also a lot of ecological places to visit,

  • you will definitely have a great time here.

  • So, see you next time, bye.

Located in southwestern Tainan, Annan District borders

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