Tainan: Chinese New Year

John suggested we spend Chinese New Year in Tainan because of the large number of temples.  We were not disappointed.

• The highlight had to be the amateur lanterns at the Putuo temple.  The idea was very simple.  Round paper lantern decorated by school kids with paper cuts or painted.  The effect was most festive and enchanting.  Why hasn't everyone copied this idea?!
• On the eve of New Year, we made the rounds to different temples to gawk at various rituals and superstition, not unlike our rounds to churches during Easter.
• On New Year's day, there was the obligatory lion dance.
• There were only occasional fireworks, in spite of the general ban, such is the price of modern city living, regardless of thousand year old tradition.

We did self cater New Year's Eve dinner, as only minimal number of eateries were open, otherwise, at least half of the restaurants remained open, which is still a lot, given the abundance of food and drink stores in Taiwan.

Typical Tainan street scene: Buses, scooters, cyclists, and palm trees. Not so many pedestrians.




Link here.

We quickly find a vegetarian restaurant buffet: Rice + 6 dishes for 50 NT, about 1.75 USD.


In Tainan, like in most cities in Taiwan, you throw your own trash/recyclables into the truck when it comes by playing its signature tune.


The historic train station is under renovation with only the facade showing.


Japanese Occupation Architecture.

The Fire Brigade Building at night.


Hayashi Department Store


Parallel lines of traditional red lanterns and spot-saving-stools point towards Tiantan Temple, one of the busiest and most loved temples in Tainan.


Bags of paper joss money (ghost money) pile up at Tiantan Temple. Smaller amounts (see below) will be burned on site; these big bags will be burned away from city center. This fake money is part of the ancestor worship rituals and is burned in order to send it to deceased relatives for their use it the afterlife.


More (un-bagged) piles of joss money.


Provisioning for New Year's Day meals at the RT Mart.


Phalaenopsis Orchards and Lanterns.




Custard Apple. Sweet and tasty.


We set out at 10pm on Chinese New Year's Eve to check out the festivities at several temples around town. The bags of joss money are a bit higher at Tiantan Temple.


There's a line forming at the Matsu Temple waiting for the doors to open at 11pm-ish. Once inside, folks will burn joss sticks, bow to the 4 directions, leave offerings, burn paper money.


There's a cool make-by-school-children lantern display for the Year of the Pig at another temple; including a pig mascot.


As it get s closer to midnight, a few firecrackers and fireworks are set off to bring in the new year.


Back at Matsu Temple, it's busy and Matsu is looking resplendent.


Also at Matsu, there is a line to walk under a bridge.




And back to Tiantan the joss money gets piled even higher.






New Year's Day we make the rounds of the temples again. All quiet at City God Temple near us.


Many small business owners have erected a temporary shrine out in front of their establishment.


Plus we check out some city landmarks. Paperwhites.


A portion of the south city wall and gates still exists. It's now a shady park.






A large department store has Lion Dance for good luck.




Link here.

And we stop by the iconic Blueprint House.




The newly opened Tainan Art Museum (TAM).


Many folks eat a vegetarian meal on New Year's Day. We ate at a restaurant across from the Confucius Temple. They had an English Menu. We ordered A2 and A3.




This "shopping street" was busy.


And back out one last time on New Year's day Evening to visit the temples. Very busy.










Link here.

And at Tiantan the pile of bags of joss money keeps growing.