Anping Old Street

We don’t have much time but it looked like there was a good selection of food and snacks. My son bought a small dog carved out of wood to take home as a souvenir and we got some bubble tea. We also ate at a restaurant with AC and it had photos of famous people who had also eaten there. We also saw a traditional puppet show.

Walking through Anping Old Street feels like stepping back in time, with its narrow lanes, historic charm, and lively atmosphere. The street is packed with food stalls offering a variety of Taiwanese snacks, from crispy shrimp rolls to freshly grilled squid. One of my favorite finds was the coffin bread, a thick toast filled with creamy seafood or chicken—it’s both delicious and fun to eat! During my visit to Anping, I had the chance to try a traditional Chinese massage with oil, and it was exactly what I needed. After walking around all day, my body was aching, and I was feeling a bit under the weather. The massage therapist used a combination of deep pressure and smooth oil techniques to relieve tension and improve circulation. What stood out the most was how they incorporated traditional Chinese medicine principles. The therapist focused on specific pressure points and energy pathways, helping to ease body aches and restore balance. The herbal-infused oil added to the experience, providing a warm, soothing sensation that left me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. If you’re ever in Anping and need relief from travel fatigue or body aches, I highly recommend trying a Chinese oil massage. It’s not just relaxing—it’s a true healing experience!

A great walking tour destination for people who would want to know more about the early history of Tainan and Taiwan. You can find the An Ping Matsu Temple and the old site of the An Ping Fort (Fort Zeelandia), the latter also housing the Fort Zeelandia Museum and the observation tower where you can have a 360-degree view of the surrounding area.

Old city charm and lots of historical buildings and history. Take a slow stroll and walk around. Shrimp crackers stalls popped up everywhere. Nearby jetty is a nice open air break. Overall a relaxing stroll along an old city.

Best place in Tainan to find interesting artists, enjoy a walk, find snacks and dried fruit. Kids always have a wonderful time with the games and so many things to see. Prices are unbeatable here.

I came following Google Maps, it was fun, following the video. When I arrived, the road wasn't very long, and all the shops were selling the same rice crackers. I was very confused. Is there nothing else to sell? I drove a long way but there was nothing. I guess I didn't walk to the right place.

Historical Building and one of oldest historical streets, BUT too much tourist focused oriented

Old charm of communities living around a fort built by the Dutch in the 17th century. Many heritage buildings are still around and can be visited. Better to have a local guide for an immersive experience - we had a brilliant one and it was totally worth it.

Anping Old Street (安平老街) was the first street in Taiwan to be given a name 300+ years ago as it was the first street built by the Dutch in Anping. [How to get here]: Take Tainan 98 Fucheng-Taijiang Line (98府城台江線) or Route 2 (2路) from Tainan Train Station and hop off at Yanping St Station (延平街站). [What to see] * Pay an extra attention and visitors will spot Wind Lion Gods (風獅爺) on the roofs of the old buildings or Sword Lions (劍獅) on the lintels of doors. * Explore small alleyways like Jasmine Alley (茉莉巷) and Rouge Alley (胭脂巷). * The area is surrounded by historical landmarks such as Anping Old Fort (安平古堡), Anping Matsu Temple (Kaitai Tianhou Temple) 安平天后宮(開台天后宮), Anping Tree House (安平樹屋), and Eternal Golden Castle (億載金城). [Tips] * Most of the stalls and shops on Anping Old Street do not open until 11 AM or noon, so it is best to plan your visit for after lunchtime. However there are few eateries do open for breakfast so plan accordingly. To make the most of your morning, you can start at Anping Matsu Temple (opens as early as 5 AM), then visit Anping Old Fort (opens at 8:30 AM), and continue to Anping Tree House (also opens at 8:30 AM). * Many stalls tend to close one day per week typically on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. While these days may not be ideal for a visit, they shouldn't deter you if they're your only available days. [Food - Signature Items] * Candied fruits (蜜餞) from Lin Yong Taixing Candied Fruit Shop (林永泰興蜜餞行 - 2,300+ Google reviews): This century-old brand is located just off Old Street on Yanping Street (延平街). Be sure to check Google Maps for directions. * Shrimp crackers from Deyi Shrimp Crackers 得意蝦餅 (550+ Google reviews) [Food - Popular Eateries] * Chou's Shrimp Rolls 周氏蝦捲 (12,000+ Google reviews) * Chen oyster roll 陳家蚵捲 (2,300+ Google reviews) [Food - Honorable Mentions (for those willing to walk few more blocks)] * Wang Shi Fish Skin 王氏魚皮 (12,500+ Google reviews) * Win Chang Beef Soup Anping Main Shop 文章牛肉湯 (21,500+ Google reviews) * Elate Pudding 依蕾特布丁(10,000+ Google reviews) * Tongji Anping Bean Curd (Anping Main Store) 同記安平豆花 (10,000+ Google reviews) [Conclusion]: Honestly if the old street doesn't hold any historical significance, then this feels like your typical Taiwanese street market and I prefer Jiufen Old Street (九份老街) in Taipei over Anping Old Street. Unfortunately I came unprepared and didn't do much research beforehand, so I wasn't able to make the most of my visit and really missing out on some of the popular eateries. With that being said, I still think this tourist trap is worth a visit. However I would recommend tempering your expectations and planning ahead to maximize your experience here.

Lots of stalls for food, drinks, souvenirs, cute/anime items, etc. lots of choices and many stalls that sale food and drinks will let you try before you buy. You can find traditional snacks and authentic food here. Tasty and fun!

It's an old shopping street for local food vendors, narrow and short road, packed stores here and there.

This place is a trip. Been here several times over the years. Peanut brittles of all varieties (all hand made), Indonesian-style crunchy krupuk (am in love), Taiwanese bobba tea, gorgeous Taiwanese cured BBQ pork jerky (shhh don't tell my grandparents). Beware of the scooters - they are silent and end up behind, in front of and on each side of you! Love this street. I love the lifestyle here! Tainan is a laid back, polite, friendly place.

Right next to the Anping Old Fort, Yanping Street is nicknamed "Taiwan's First Street" because it is historically the first market street on the Taiwan island during the Dutch occupation. Although it no longer possesses its historical distinction, its location and proximity to nearby tourist attractions made this old street a popular attraction as well. Unfortunately because of its overwhelmingly increased popularity, Anping Old Street has became so crowded that locals had to avoid during the weekends. Although it is named the Anping Old Street, in reality the street is relatively modernized. However, what makes this street extremely popular aside from its proximity to other attractions is its abundance of interesting shops and food vendors. Here you will find the historical preserved plum shops, the notable sausage stand, and multiple retro grocery stores. The street offers so many points of amusement that it is no wonder many people flock to this area. As a former local and a frequent tourist now, Anping Old Street used to be my favorite weekend pastime, but sadly (or fortunately depending on your prospective), the street becomes so crowded on weekends that even moving down a section is a stressful chore. Even though many new businesses have branched out to Yanping Street's smaller extensions, the ridiculously large crowd makes the street a complete nightmare especially when the crowd gets aggressive. That being said, I am sad to rate my former favorite pastime so lowly, but the crowd is simply unbearable on weekends. I recommend visiting here, but if you want to have a good time, go on a weekday afternoon when the crowd is much more reasonable.