With mottling appearance, the south station is one of the few train stations that still

maintain the Japanese-style buildings.

The vicissitude of time and space makes this station hide in an unnoticed path. In the past, when we took trains between Tainan and Kaohsiung, we usually took a glimpse of this old train station at the railroad-crossing on Sheng-Chan Road. That was not far from the current Tainan Train Station, and we always wanted to explore the old building. The idea to explore it has flashed by in our mind for many times, and eventually it was realized on last Saturday. In fact, we would not have found the south station without our fully preparation. It was not easy to find the old building.

Whispering the past gently

The decorations and objects in the old days could be seen all around.

They deserve people’s stop and contemplation on them.

On the day we set off to explore the old train station, we gathered in front of a hotel. “I thought the teacher will bring us to see the train station, “said one classmate. Our classmates were familiar with this area; it was impossible to find an old train station in front of the hotel. The teacher told us that the old train station was near here after we finished our assembling. Hearing that, everybody looked around and wondered: “Where? Where? Where is the old train station ”?

As a matter of fact, walking less than one minute in the path, we found the south station. The old train station hided in the path nearby the hotel. Just like the ancestor said, things eventually appear themselves.

In terms of the appearance, the train station was old and decayed. It has been deserted and desolate for many years, with its main building mostly destroyed by typhoons and termites. A long time ago, the old train station was at risk of tore down. However, the information to tore down the building was struck against by the neighbors. The neighbors took the information seriously, and they expressed their willingness to take care of the building.

A renewed building resulted from reconstruction.

Comparing to the past, the trail of old time can still be found on the south station.

With the help from people of all walks of life, Taiwan Railways Administration agreed to let volunteers to take care of. Since then, this old train station has become a tranquil place for citizens to relax and rest. Now around the train station grow beautiful Cosmo flowers, and here are also assistive devices that can help people exercise. Because the environment is clean and beautiful, this is an ideal place for people to walk and interact after meals. Some part of the public space in this old train station has been provided for shops or restaurants. Running the train station by the way of BOT, the city government has been hoping that a balance can be found between sustainable management and environment protection.

The south station was a busy transportation hub in the past, but now it becomes a good place

to relax for tourists and citizens.

After we did research as well as studied the information board outside the south station, we learned one of the two reasons to establish this train station during the late Japanese Colonization. This train station was built so that it could cooperate with the military airport in transporting military stuffs for wars. However, we also learned the other reason during the process of research. According to the second reason, the train station was built for the chairman of Taiwan Sugar Research Institute. It was built here in 1921. This is the two reasons for everybody’s reference.

Anew horizon, a new direction

We could not know which reason is true, because the south station had already been destroyed during World War II. What we saw during the field trip was not the original one in Japanese Colonization but a new one reestablished during 1950s. We heard from the teacher that the train station will be rebuilt and start to run again because it is a part of the railway underground project in Tainan. Looking at the vast ground, we were looking forward to seeing this place become a new center of Tainan City. We hoped that this new center of the city will bring the prosperity.

Being Inseparable from the city, the old train station has taken root in the place.

Although the south station was not famous, a lot of tourists

fall in love with it after they visit here.

When we were about to finish field trip and leave the south station, we heard a old man greeted another old man energetically. “Mr. Wang, you haven’t come for three days. Let’s take a walk together for another 3 rounds, “said the old man. For many years, the citizens here have already formed the habit to walk in the part outside the south station. People tacitly came and meet here every day. From these two men, we felt the kindness among people and we realized the importance of the south station.