The Confucius Temple Cultural District is located at the heart of Tainan City. An area cov-ering 46.9 hectares, with the Confucius Temple at its center, is composed of major historic constructions concerning aspects in politics, culture, and business since the Japanese occupation. In addition, the area is dotted with traditional temples and streets in existence since the late Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is the most important historic area of Tainan City in terms of quality, number, and development potential.
The Confucius Temple Charming Commercial District Promotion Committee was estab-lished in 2003, and it bore a target to subsidise in the Business Development Promotion Plan of the Ministry of Economic Affairs from 2005 to 2007. The area includes the Confu-cius Temple, and extends to Kaishan Road in the east, Jhongyi Road to the west, Fucian Road to the south, and Minsheng Garden to the North. Being an immensely cultural area, with 14 historic sites, cafes hidden in the streets, and interlinking old city streets, it exudes a sense of elegance as it transports tourists between the past and the present time. The main business here is local service industries, cultural industries, and high-end retailing. With the exit of administrative offices, many high standard industries with cultural and artistic focus as well as photo studios and cafes have taken over this thriving business area with an elegant yet urban lifestyle.
The attraction of Tainan City is far beyond its culinary expertise. Take a walk through Fujhong Street and you will be surprised that beyond the historic sites, there is an European-style street with a sense of nostalgia and and the aroma of coffee.
~~Elegant by day, Romantic by night~~
The Fujhong street near Minsheng Garden and the Confucius Temple was not a big attrac-tion in the early years, but recently, this path has become the favorite leisure spot for citi-zens and students alike, a transformation which not only surprised the locals but also makes it a must-see for tourists.
Fujhong Street is not a long street compared to other roads. Its length is just a few hundred meters but the neat pedestrian sidewalk of stone slabs and eclectic flowers and trees makes it a small world with its own style. Moreover, the juxtaposition of the various cafes further emphasises the unique decoration of each establishment. The tourists are attracted to the elegance here and cannot help but slow down their pace in order to find a cafe to spend a laid back afternoon sipping on an aromatic cup of coffee.
There are many little shops, each with its own style: old stores selling old-time cakes, vinegar stores with fruity aromas, and impressive stores which sell Gaoliang wine pickles. They all come with their own interesting history and stories. If you are not in a hurry, the boss will even offer you a cup of tea to watch the world go by.
The friendly locals and the romantic aroma of coffee are the reasons why people say this place is like Kyoto by day, and Europe by night. Especially on a summer night, enjoying the gentle cool breeze under the starry sky is simply divine.