Solo Trip - Taiwan (July 2023) - Tainan Anping Tree House Part 1

 

Ancient trees are magical. That's according to me based on my youth time reading list. I have never been bored walking among ancient trees. That is why, I've made my way all the way to the Anping Tree House, just to see a house swallowed by an overgrown banyan tree, with love :)

Here is some official information about the tree house and it's origin. In short, isn't it cool that Taiwanese people can turned a ruined building into a tourist attraction and still charge people to visit it? It makes you wonder, why do some government just know only how to tear down buildings and destroy their heritage....

Basically, the tree house used to be just a house. But through the ages, abandonment and what-not, the jungle has taken over it, not much different from the many abandon houses in Malaysia. But here, you can see the full wonders of the engulfment of the tree. And the cool thing is, you can walk all around, and over the tree house. They have made it very accessible!

For example, since it is an old building, the stairs are probably non-existing or too dangerous to use. But the have these metal staircases installed so that you can walk up to the 2nd storey of the building and have a different view of the tree house! How thoughtful. It wasn't something you can just admire from afar. You can go right inside!

You can also walkthrough walkways and doorways surrounded by tree branches/roots. Warning signs are everywhere to mind your head, mind your steps etc. It wasn't a place you can just walk in dreamily or you are gonna get hurt!

On the 2nd storey, tree branches are also in the path. That is, after all, the nature of a tree, lol. So don't be too busy talking to your friend when you are here, or you will get knocked right out of your skin!

The view from upstairs is just as amazing if not more. It was something you rarely see cause. And here, even on the roof, you can see mother nature taking over. Oh man, suddenly, I think I really need to go visit Angkor Wat one of these days! But first, I'm gonna start with the ruins of Ayutthaya Thailand first! Stay tune! It's gonna be a semi-solo trip to Bangkok in June 2024 if all goes as planned!

Back to Tainan, here is another view from the top looking down. The wooden flooring they have installed on the first floor makes it easier to walk, and blends in with the surrounding. I love the brown and green of the place, and it was such a beautiful day to explore this whimsical site too!

Here above is just one part of the tree house. Anping used to be a salt production area, and there is a connection bridge over some swamp/river/water area that you can go over to to take a look. It is part of the property, and I think it was still work in progress. I'll tell you more about it in my next post!

Leaving you with a mirror image of me at the tree house. The whimsical dial went up a notch at some part of the tree house where they installed mirrors, and also some small exhibition of the tree house. Goes to show how creative you can be to turn something so mundane and lost, into a treasure of your town. Good job Anping!