Sicao Green Tunnel
四草綠色隧道
A green tunnel formed by mangroves meeting above a waterway, reached by bamboo raft for about 30 minutes, with reflections like a mirror that earn it the nickname Taiwan's mini Amazon.
The Sicao Green Tunnel lies in Taijiang Park in Annan District, beside the Sicao Dazhong Temple. It is an old salt-transport waterway about 800 meters long. On both banks, four kinds of mangrove (sea mangrove, Lumnitzera (red mangrove), Ceriops and Kandelia) intertwine above the water to form an arch. Sunlight filters through the branches, and the symmetrical green tunnel is mirrored on the water, which is why it is nicknamed Taiwan's mini Amazon. To visit, ride a bamboo raft operated by the Dazhong Temple management committee. The trip takes about 30 minutes, with an adult fare of NT$200. A guide on board explains mangrove ecology, and along the way you can spot fiddler crabs, mudskippers, egrets and night herons. In winter, migratory birds such as black-faced spoonbills also appear. At the end of the tunnel are the ruins of a Dutch-era sea fort and some anglers. The same pier offers a roughly 70-minute Taijiang Sightseeing Boat route through the wider Sicao Lagoon and mangrove conservation area. Visit in the morning: sunlight through the canopy forms light columns, and the water is calm with the best reflections. After noon, the light is backlit and visitors increase. Beside the pier are the Sicao Dazhong Temple (enshrining Chen Ze, a general under Koxinga) and the Sperm Whale Exhibition Hall next to it, both worth a visit. Three kilometers south is the Taijiang Park Visitor Center, a complex of white stilt houses with free admission. Getting there: take bus 2 from Tainan Station to Anping, then transfer to bus 10 to the Sicao stop, or ride a scooter for about 30 minutes. From Anping Fort, cycling takes 15 minutes. Notes: on weekends and holidays the queue exceeds one hour, so arrive around 8:30. Boat tickets are cash only. Life jackets must be worn on board, and standing is prohibited. In summer, bring a hat for sun protection and insect repellent.
Opening hours
8:30 am–4:30 pm (until 5:00 pm on weekends; last boat depends on passenger numbers)
Nearby sights
- Anping Tree House
- Anping Fort (Fort Zeelandia)
- Anping Kaitai Tianhou Temple
- Anping Old Street
- Eternal Golden Castle
- Orthodox Luermen Shengmu Temple
- Tainan Garden Night Market
- Shennong Street