Taiwan is an island in East Asia, between mainland China, Japan, and the Philippines. It’s known for its hospitable people, delicious cuisine, and incredible natural scenery. Most people fly into Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, but travelers with more than a quick 24 layovers will fall in love with Taiwan’s cultural hub, Taichung if they venture outside the capital. Taichung is a bustling city of more than 2.8 million people and has shopping districts to rival Tokyo or NYC. Find out how to spend time in Taichung to get the most out of a trip to Taiwan.
10 Eat At The Feng Chia Night Market
Feng Chia Night Market, also called Fengjia Night Market, is located in Xitun District, Taichung, next to Feng Chia University. It’s a large night market with rows of food stalls where travelers can sample authentic Taiwanese cuisine at affordable prices. Walk amidst colorful lights and lively crowds in search of some culinary staples like Stinky Tofu, Dan Bing, and Dafeng Stewed Pork.
9 Watch Sunset At The Gaomei Wetlands
The Gaomei Wetlands are a preservation area in the Qingshui District of Taichung. This wildlife sanctuary is on the west coast of Taiwan and is the perfect place to watch a glowing orange sunset while surrounded by the soothing ambiance of nature. The wetlands area covers 700 hectares of land.
8 Shop At Slow Village
Slow Village (also called Audit Village) is a trendy area of Taichung where travelers can explore market stalls, purchase artisan goods, handmade crafts, and more. The once residential area is now a quaint pedestrian street for shopping, sipping craft beer, or enjoying a morning coffee in a hip, new area of the city.
7 Eat At Taichung Second Market
At Taichung Second Market, travelers have a chance to sample the local Taiwanese cuisine. The Taichung Second Market spans an entire city block and requires patrons to bring cash because most vendors do not except debit or credit. To get the best chance of trying multiple foods before the vendors sell out for the day, start early and try delicacies like tapioca, braised minced pork, and sweet tofu.
6 Appreciate The Architecture At Taichung Folklore Park
Located in the Beitun District of Taichung, the Taichung Folklore Park is a cultural center that was opened in March 1990. The park spans 1.6 hectares and features traditional Minnan-style architecture. Travelers can come here to learn and appreciate folk customs and folk art. This is one of the top cultural experiences in Taichung.
5 Drink Bubble Tea At Chun Shui Tang
Although there are many stores in Taiwan that claim to be the original source of the world-famous bubble tea drink, Chun Shui Tang Siwei Original Store in Taichung is thought to be the place where this drink got its start. The store is located at No. 30號, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 and is open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM. The store was founded by Liu Hanjie in May 1983 and requires all staff making drinks at the restaurant to pass a tea maker certification exam. Travelers can learn about the traditional methods of making the tea and sample various flavors of milk tea featuring delicious and fresh tapioca pearls.
4 Have Some Fun At I’m Talato
Japan is well known for its quirky café culture, but travelers might not realize that Taiwan has some incredibly unique cafes and shops of its own. Talato is one such café, located at No. 451號, Yingcai Rd, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403. It’s open daily from 11:30 AM -7:30 PM and is an ice cream shop with unique setups and backdrops to allow visitors to take quirky and colorful photos for their social media feeds.
3 Paddling At Taichung Park
Escape the bustling streets of the city at the tranquil urban park that was originally built while Taiwan was under Japanese rule. It’s located in the North District of the city and is the oldest park in the city. Taichung Park spans 10 acres and has a beautiful pond inside its limits where travelers can rent a row boat and peacefully paddle around, appreciating the scenery.
2 Visit The Taichung City Confucius Temple
The Taichung City Confucius Temple is located near the Yizhong Shopping District and is constructed in a gorgeous architectural style from the Song Dynasty. The design of the temple is extremely intentional, and it was built with the intention to clearly define its differences from nearby shrines. Visiting the Taichung City Confucious Temple independently or on a guided tour is an excellent way to learn about Taiwan’s history, religions, and culture.
1 Take Photos At The Zhongshe Flower Market
The Zhongshe Flower Market Taichung is the perfect spot to take some Instagrammable photos to commemorate the trip or simply appreciate the stunning view of the florals. The landscaped garden beds stretch into the horizon and are located in Houli, a rural area of Taichung. Visitors can walk amongst the colorful blooming flowers on well-defined walkways to avoid damaging the plants while still getting close to them.
