Things to do and see in Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung – Taiwan’s second largest city; Centrally located in the western half of Taiwan, Taichung welcomes visitors with a pleasant climate throughout the year with an average temperature of 22.4 C

It also has a highly developed industrial and commercial base, thriving cultural scene, friendly people, and beautiful scenery. The city first rose as a major political, economic, transportation, and cultural hub during the Japanese occupation period, due highway, railway and shipping port development during that time.

It is the birthplace of pearl milk tea and is particularly known for its artistic tendencies, flower viewing, night markets, café culture, and several large universities.

After exploring Taichung and its surroundings, we’ve put together this list of the 15 attractions in Taichung. Enjoy!

Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden

The Lai Garden constructed by Lin Wenqin is commonly known as The Lin Family Garden

First you’ll be greeted by seemingly plain red brick buildings. But when you scrutinize the wooden carvings under the eaves, you can still see the delicate techniques although the trace of time has dimmed their excellence.

Enter the hall, and you will see the antique wooden armchairs for the hosts and the ordinary chairs for the guests neatly arranged in the high-ceilinged space, making you feel as though you are in an ancient Chinese drama, scenes of which appear in front of you one by one.

How to go there : from Fuzhong Station Walk 10 min.

Rainbow Village (Temporarily closed)

Rainbow village is located in Nantun district west of the Taichung city center, an area that was a part of the original Taichung City before it was amalgamated with Taichung County to become a supersized city in 2010.

97-year-old man Mr. Huang Yung-fu resides in the village for many years and started with only a paintbrush to paint an entire village with his beyond artistic imagination to prevent the government from demolishing.

How to go there : from Taichung Station take a bus number and walk 400 metre

National Taichung Theater

The National Taichung Theater  is an opera house in the Situn District of Taichung. The estimated area of the structure is 57,685 square meters (620,920 sq ft). It was designed by Japanese architect Ito Toyo in collaboration with Cecil Balmond at Arup AGU. It was contracted on 11 November 2009 with construction planned for 45 months. The venue had a partial opening on 23 November 2014.It was officially opened in 2016.

Based on the “sound cave” concept, elements such as curved-wall units and air holes are used to build this changed space. The result is a newfound building that stands on its own firmly without supporting pillars or 90-degree walls at all.

The theater is equipped with three professional performing venues which meet international standards: Grand Theatre, Playhouse and Black Box. They can each be adapted to fit the needs of various types of productions. There is also a multi-functional space, “Corner Salon,” where educational events and public speeches may be held. The green Outdoor Plaza and the rooftop Sky Garden are great for the public to spend some leisurely hours in.

How to go there : Taichung Station → Bus 5, 33, 73, 323, 323S, 324, 325, 326 → Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store Bus Stop → 5 to 10-minute walk → NTT

Luce Memorial Chapel

The Luce Memorial Chapel is a Christian chapel on the campus of Tunghai University in Xitun District, Taichung. It was provided by the architects. Named after an American missionary of the late 19th century. It was designed by Chen Chi-Kwan, an artist and architect, in collaboration with the infamous architect I.M. Pei.

Calligraphy Greenway

Calligraphy Greenway is a 3.6 kilometer long, 6.5 hectare green open space stretching from the National Museum of Natural Science in the north to the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in the south. Located in the heart of Taichung, Calligraphy Greenway is the arts and cultural center of the city. It’s a pleasant tree-lined area on either side of which is a plethora of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

How to go there : There’s no metro system in Taichung so the easiest way to get there is by Uber or taxi.

Taichung Maple Garden Park

Maple Garden is a visual enjoyment! Maple Garden is a unique U-shaped recreational greenland for the city residents. It has an area of 3 hectares, and contains a lake, red trees, green grass, and observatory bridge. It is a great place for talking a walk, and exercising. During the day, there is comforting greenness, and at night, it is filled with sleepless lighting. It has rapidly become one of the most famous scenic spots in Taichung.

How to get there :  After arriving at Maple Valley Park station A12 , walk down Chaofu Road .The park is on the left side and located along the south edge of Taiwan Boulevard.

Miyahara

Situated nearby Taichung Train Station on the bank of Luchuan, Miyahara is a red-brick architecture built by Miyahara Takeo, a Japanese ophthalmology doctor in 1927. It was the largest ophthalmology clinic in Taichung during the Japanese colonial period. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Miyahara became Taichung Health Bureau. As time passed by, the suspended Health Bureau slowly decayed and became an unused dangerous building.

Fortunately, Dawn Cake, a pastry company renowned for its pineapple cakes, acquired the building and preserved Miyahara’s original red-brick walls and archway. The interior decor was redesigned like Hogwarts in the movie Harry Potter.

Visitors to Miyahara are not only recommended to appreciate the details of the historic architecture but also try Dawn Cake’s signature ice cream, bubble tea and pastries wrapped in nostalgic packings

Fourth Credit Union

Fourth Credit Union is an opulent three-story cafe set in an old converted bank.  Originally built in 1966 In 2013, Dawncake opened another store after Miyahara. Transforming an old bank into a cafe and restaurant

First floor cream counters serve 72 flavors of ice cream.  , a cafe on the second floor has popular treats like syrup waffles and cookies.  A wide variety of drinks and coffee is also available. 

Feng Chia Night Market

Fengjia Night Market is a One of the most famous night markets in Xitun District, TaichungThe market is located within 1 kilometer of Feng Chia University. It was claimed to be the largest night market in Taiwan. The snacks in the night market will make you drool. The clothing is unique and fairly priced.

Yizhong Shopping Street

Yizhong Street is a pedestrian street located in North District, Taichung, In 2006, It is located near Chungyo Department Store and linked with Sanmin Shopping District. National Taichung University of Science and Technology, according to the survey conducted by National Chung Hsing University, it is elected as the most popular shopping area in Taichung.

It is full of street vendors, and most of the clothing shops are in the small lanes. All fashionable and progressive gadgets will appear here first.

There are several historical old shops that have been established for more than 20 years, including well-known Yizhong Fengren Ice, Shanhoyan Braised Snacks, and Yizhong HOT-STAR Large Fried Chicken.

Zhongshe Flower Market

Zhongshe Flower Market is a colourful and quirky explosion of flower fields. Located a short drive from central Taichung .it covers about six hectares of land in Taichung City’s Houli district. It is well-known for its tulip blooms every first quarter of the year and the dreamy picture-perfect backdrops and props. Aside from the tulips, it also features other flowers like sunflowers, sage, cosmos, rose, and many more.

How to go there : Take the Fengyuan Bus 6606 from Taipei Bus Station to the Zhongshe stop. The journey time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Gaomei Wetlands

Gaomei Wetlands officially Gaomei Wetland Preservation Area is a wetland in Qingshui District, Taichung. The wetlands here are over 300 hectares, but the area is only 1/10 of Dadu River wetlands. The geography is divided into 7 categories, which results in diversified organisms in this area.

Despite the small area, Ecology here breeds diversified organisms of both plants and animals. Research shows that animals here include birds, fishes, crabs and invertebrates. Gaomei Wetlands is one of the few places that have wild ducks.

How to go there :Take TRA to Qingshui Station, transfer Taichung City Bus 178, 179 to Gaomei Wetlands stop.

Wuling Farm

Wuling Farm is a tourist attraction farm in Heping District, Taichung It is one of the only places that you can spot the endangered Formosan Landlocked Salmon in the wild.

This farm was established in 1963 to provide employment for retired servicemen. On the more than 700 hectares of land, at an altitude of 1,740-2,100 meters, high-mountain fruits (pears, peaches, apples, etc.) and vegetables (cabbage, spinach, etc.) as well as tea (Qingxin Oolong) are grown. It is a great place to experience Taiwan’s high mountain ecology.

Fushoushan Farm

Fushoushan Farm sits amidst the mountain ranges of Hehuanshan and Xueshan. It is praised as the Switzerland of Taiwan. The unique high-altitude environment nurtures special cultures as well as delicious fruits and fragrant tea.

In 1950, the government appointed retired soldiers to cultivate a new farm in Fushoushan, which can grow apples, peaches, pears and vegetables. The farm is 6 kilometers away from Lishan, 1,800~2,500 meters in altitude. Total area is about 900 hectares. Besides fruits, Fushoushan also grows tea and flowers. The beautiful flowers and the fruitful orchards are the achievements of those retired soldiers.

How to go to there : Take TRA to Fengyuan Station, transfer Fengyuan Bus 865 to Lishan stop, then transfer Fengyuan Bus 866 Shuttle1 to Fushoushan Farm stop.