Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Visited in Aug 2018 | May 2017 | Dec 2016 | Aug 2016 >
*LONG POST! Photos are from different visits and tenants have changed over time*

Zheng Xing Street 正兴街, in the West Central district, collectively makes up a much larger and very vibrant zone with neighbouring Hai An Road 海安路, Guo Hua Street 国华街, You Ai Street 友爱街, Yong Le Market 永乐市场 and Shen Nong Street 神农街. Banding together residents, retailers, B&B and F&B establishments, the precinct was rejuvenated, making it a must-go district worthy of multiple visits, and a great location to stay at! 

Related reads:
[Tainan 台南] Yong Le Market ♦ 永乐市场
[Tainan 台南] Shen Nong Street ♦ 神农街

░ 1. Zheng Xing Street 正兴街 ░ 

▼ Brian Red Tea 布莱恩红茶 - a local brand which has since expanded to other parts of Taiwan - stands at the intersection of Zheng Xing Street 正兴街 and Guo Hua Street 国华街.

Side note: this is a beverage brand that specialises in red (black) milk/tea, and traditional tea such as tieguanyin, assam and earl grey, as well as locally cultivated from Alishan 阿里山, Hualian 花莲, Yuchi 鱼池 or Zhushan 竹山. If you prefer fruity or alternative (like yam, yogurty, cheese) flavours, you may find Brian's selection a tad less exciting.  

▼ Another beverage shop right opposite Brian Red Tea 布莱恩红茶, quite complementary in nature as they serve more fruity blends.   

▼ The same row houses shops selling accessories, apparels, knick knacks... interspersed with cafes, eateries and foodcarts. 

▼ Zhengxing Cafe 正兴咖啡馆 (also a B&B), one of my favourite hang-outs here. To my dismay, after experiencing their lovely B&B and several hot afternoons spacing out over good coffee and refreshments, they ceased operations in May 2019. 

▼ One of my previous accommodations, My Way House, is located in this lane (if you haven't spotted its eyecatching window grille). 

Related read: 
[Tainan 台南] ◈Stay宿◈ My Way House 民宿x展演

Come weekends, expect street performers, streets closed off to vehicles and a good crowd. If you prefer to explore without the sometimes daunting crowd, try going on weekdays. 

▼ Xiao Man Eatery 小满食堂 was another landmark here, who has since left the neighbourhood in a wave of iconic tenants ceasing operations around the same period.  

▼ You won't miss the popular NINAO Gelato 蜷尾家 (My Way House is right behind them) at this prominent corner. Come late and they may be sold out, or if you are lucky, be left with a single flavour (they only sell 2 or 3 flavours a day). Swung by before 7pm once, and there was only Roasted Oolong left, but I'll go with ANY flavour that's available. 

▼ Watermelon flavour on another visit

▼ Old gen Taicheng Fruit Stall 泰成水果店, which sells not only cut fruits but also shaved ice dessert with fruits - ALWAYS packed when I walk past (the only time there's no crowd is when it's closed ) so I'll be waiting to try this sometime.

▼ Special mention of Rainbow Is Coming (RIC), which I started following on FB way before I first visited Tainan. Over two trips, I amassed a number of ceramic "mountain" trays, decorative fabric (illustrated with the Zheng Xing Cats!) and, my very first stainless steel straws (see photo below). The friendly lady boss has also left a deep impression, often sharing her thoughts on life and nice places visited on their FB. They have since relocated to a new shop unit, about 10 minutes drive away.  

On the second trip, the lady boss recognised me and very kindly invited me to explore a private section opened to RIC members, Zhengxing residents and their friends, and friends of the lady boss - the concept was to exchange something you pre-loved for an item you want from the stash there.   

▼ At this end of the stretch with a graffiti wall, is the intersection of Zhengxing Street 正兴街 and Hai An Road 海安路.

░ 2. Hai An Road 海安路 ░ 

This is a developing stretch that looks to be an increasingly exciting extension of a vibrant zone. In my initial visits, there was a handful of eateries that opened at night, as well as my favourite departmental store POYA 宝雅. While they remain, I have noticed a number of new cafes, as well as the Hai An Road Art Street 海安路艺术街. 

▲▼ Come True Coffee 成真咖啡, which was newly opened when I walked past in Aug 2018. (Subsequently in my Jul 2019 trip to Taichung, I experienced their outlet at Shenji 368 New Village 审计368新创聚落.)

Related read:
[Taichung 台中] Shenji (Audit) 368 New Village 審计368新创聚落  

▼ Hai An Road Art Street 海安路艺术街
Marrying art and optimal use of a long stretch of road dividers (and more), the art street (or more accurately, zone) is touted to have more than 40 pieces of public art installation by a number of artists. Flanked by old buildings (some unoccupied, or even looking dilapidated) on both sides, there is an oddly contrasting beauty, the splendour different in the day and by night. I have only captured a small section here, so there is definitely a lot more for me to explore.   

▼ Poya 宝雅 and the earlier stretch of cafes and eateries are on the right of this photo, running parallel to Hai An Road Art Street 海安路艺术街.

░ 3. Guo Hua Street 国华街 ░ 

Back to the intersection of Zheng Xing Street 正兴街 and Guo Hua Street 国华街, where the Qiancao Shopping Zone 浅草青春新天地 is located. 

▼ There are weekend bazaars worthy of some gem hunting, with partial road closure making it even more conducive for shoppers. Other days, the pedestrian walkway is clear, with vehicular traffic. 

▼ There is another gelato shop at Qiancao Shopping Zone 浅草青春新天地 with an almost similar name to NINAO Gelato 蜷尾家 but they are not related. Tried their Berry Yogurt passing by one humid night. 

▼ Spoilt for choice along this food street. Don't miss the narrow lanes with inconspicuous eateries. 

▼ Supper take-out from the two stalls above : mackerel fish nuggets 土魠鱼块 NT$50, mackerel thick soup 土魠鱼羹 NT$50 and yam cake 芋粿 NT$40.

▼ Another supper take-out from the same stall selling yam cake 芋粿, this time with mushroom pork thick soup 香菇肉羹 NT$40.

▼ The Guo Hua Street 国华街 stretch continues straight across the junction at Zhong Zheng Road 中正路, though you may be tempted to steer off-course by shops to the left and right. (At this point, walking to the right actually turns you towards Hai An Road 海安路.) 

▼ Staying on-track at Guo Hua Street 国华街.

Then again, I rarely have difficulty finding street food I like, so there was always ample for a decadent dinner or supper take-out to enjoy in the comfort of my accommodation. 

▼  Passionfruit aiyu jelly 百香爱玉冰 NT$40

▼  Cut guava 现切芭乐 NT$50. The friendly cart owner gives you a choice between crunchy (harder) and softer guava, different toppings, and sometimes pink guava when available. 

▼  Fried scallion pancake 葱油饼 NT$20

▼  Leek pastry 韭菜盒子, with glass noodle and sometimes minced pork.

▼ An eyecatching dessert shop at the intersection of Guo Hua Street 国华街 and You Ai Street 友爱街, named 佛都愛玉 (literally "Buddha loves aiyu jelly"). 

▼Aiyu jelly 爱玉冰 NT$40

▼Banana (syrup) ice 香蕉冰 NT$45

░ 4. You Ai Street 友爱街 ░ 

If you made it this far, to this end of Guo Hua Street 国华街, there is just a little bit more to explore. 

I came this far as my choice of accomm on two occasions - Tainan Roots Inn 台南古根 - is located here.

Related read:
[Tainan 台南] ◈Stay宿◈ Tainan Rootsinn 台南古根  

This is a much shorter and quieter lane (with only a couple of street food and 7-11 to highlight) which makes sense for the hotel to be situated here. (At least I wasn't bothered by any street noise.)

▼ My must-have braised snack 卤味 when staying at Tainan Roots Inn 台南古根 (or if I venture this far from elsewhere in the vicinity), as the stall is right downstairs! 

Afternote:
If this long post isn't proof that the entire zone is a must-visit in Tainan, I am really not sure how else to convince you. The great thing about finding an accommodation in this large precinct, is that I got to many other places on foot. Even if I were to stay put within this zone and not go anywhere else, there is already more than enough to see, do and eat! 

=================================================