< Visited in Dec 2016 >
On this trip to Tainan with four elders, I included a morning of ecological sightseeing at Si Cao (literally translated as "Four Grass") Green Tunnel 四草绿色隧道, located in the outskirts of An Nan 安南 district. From Taiwanese blogs, the key attraction is a boat ride through what the locals have termed a mini Amazon river. That is not all, as there is a second boat ride option, bringing you on a narrated tour of how the rivers here used to serve as key trade routes. (Just in case you are wondering, the two boat rides' timing do not clash, so you can try mini Amazon first.)
Our plan for the morning - take the approximate 20-minute "mini Amazon" ride at 10am, followed by another 30-minute Taijiang 台江 ride at 10.45am. We arrived about half an hour in advance to buy tickets onsite - beside a 大众庙 temple which appeared to double up as its management office of sorts. There was no queue (yet) on a weekday and pretty fuss-free. Though by the time we embarked, both our rides were already full (mostly locals), demonstrating how popular this attraction is.
Follow the clear directional signages to purchase your ticket.
Buy your ticket at the counter outside, before heading into an air-conditioned waiting area. For our early arrival, we were at the front of embarkation, and through the 20 minutes or so of waiting, more customers joined us in an orderly fashion, amidst brewing excitement.
Just before boarding, the PA announcement gave safety instructions, such as to pick up a safety vest upon entering the embarkation zone. There was also a service crew onsite to assist patrons and maintain order.
Having done my research online, I felt the best spot was right in front of the boat, for unobstructed view and photography. On this note, people sitting in front should also be considerate and allow passengers sitting behind their photo opp - this is often forgotten when people get over-excited and hog the photo spot excessively.
Setting off ~ the crew member introduces sights, plants and creatures along the way, as well as remind passengers to keep our volume down while avoiding getting hit by low lying branches. While this ride was short, the view was indeed breathtaking, even if my photos don't do it justice.
Back at the departing/landing point...
By the way, it's all plastic stools onboard. Do consider if this is comfortable if you are travelling with elders (mine were all right with it), even though the ride is pretty short.
We had some time before the next Taijiang 台江 ride, and did a quick tour at the small whale museum, opened to the public at a very nominal (housekeeping) fee of NT$10. Also a good time for a pee break - the public loo is fairly spacious and clean.
Back at Taijiang Pier 台江码头, which is right opposite the mini Amazon pier. There is no queue pole here, and patrons can sit under the shelter while waiting. Thankfully, our fellow passengers were orderly and polite when embarking. It's free seating onboard, and our narrator was a humourous lady who cracked jokes while introducing the history of the rivers and a decent variety of migratory birds.
This ride turned out to be quite different from the earlier. Other than much wider waterways, the sights and highlights were refreshing and distinctive. Noting it was winter when we went (though not much impact in the afternoons or when we were in the city), that morning seemed chilly and the speed of this boat ride made it even colder. Remember to bring a jacket if you are planning to experience this.
A word of advice - we came here and left by cab, as this is located quite a distance (about 20-30 minutes ride) from the city centre. If you don't already have a cabbie tagging you, you can take your chance with the handful who hang around for passengers. Or simply ask whoever takes you here, if he/she will be willing to wait for you - don't be surprised, many of them will.
=======================================
Si Cao Green Tunnel | 四草绿色隧道
Website in Chinese only
Address --- No. 360, Dazhong Road, Annan District, Tainan City 台南市，安南区，大众街360号 (大众庙旁)
=======================================
留言列表
{{ article.title }}
