[Trip] Taiwan – A day trip around Taichung City

What comes into your mind  when you hear the city name: Taichung? Sun moon lake or Gaomei Wetlands? Most of it actually revolves around mountains and natural ecology.  If you have free schedule, do visit their city centre where there are alot of delicious food and interesting landmarks. 

Taichung Day Trip – Places of Attraction

How to get around?

Bus

<<Get your Easycard here>>

Rent a car

Book a half-day or one-day tour

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1) Taichung train station (台中車站)

We started our day trip from Taichung Train station. The New Taichung Train Station situated behind the original station started operating in 16 October 2016.

The century-old railway system will be connected to the high-speed rail system in the upcoming project, as direct lines from Daqing and Songzhu Stations will be linked to the Taichung Metro green line.

Where?

Operating Hours:

24/7

Cost?

Free

Duration:

15 Min (Photo taking)

Suggestion:

Don’t forget to take the photo of the old Taichung Train Station on the side, it is listed as one of the historic building in Taichung.

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2) Taichung city second market (台中第二市場)

Taichung city second market was built in 1917. In the past, the market is famous for its high-quality food and goods which attract Japanese guests to patronise. In 1936, a fire burned down the original shops, but it was immediately rebuilt. After nearly a century of development, this 7,000 square meter market has more than fifty stores and three hundred stalls.

Where?

Operating Hours:

07:00~20:00
* Closed on Monday

Cost?

100NTD~200NTD (Per Person)

Duration:

1-2 hours

What to eat?

WANG Carrot Cake(王記菜頭粿)

One of the famous stall in the market, the typical Taiwanese breakfast, a must to order if you are here.  

Menu

What we had?

 Taiwanese Fish cake (Dry) 甜不辣(乾), 40NTD

Carrot cake with egg (菜頭粿加蛋), 40NTD

Pig Blood and Small intestine Soup (粉腸豬血湯), 40NTD

Like Tea Shop 老賴茶棧（老賴紅茶）

The well-known Black Tea shop in Taichung, Like Tea shop, it started it’s first stall in Taichung city second market, now it have more than 50 stalls in Taiwan and it’s constantly growing. A drink that you should try when you are in Taichung.

Cost?

What we had?

Black Milk Tea with Bubble, 40NTD  (Cup)

Suggestion:

Bring an empty stomach so that you can fill it up with all the delicious and yummy Taiwanese cuisines. Be there early to avoid the crowd, some of the famous stalls will start to have long queues around noon and it will take some time for you to get a seat.

Try the famous Black tea, most of the people who was there actually got this drink, guess after having a heavy meal, the nice and fragrance black tea will calm your mind and improve your digestive system.

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3) Cultural Heritage Park (臺中文化創意產業園區)

A few minutes walk from the Taichung Railway Station, the Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park was a Japanese brewery in Taiwan during the Japanese colony era, and later on, in 1957 it was changed to Taiwan Provincial Tobacco and Liquor Monopoly Bureau. Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park was named and as one of the fifth Cultural and Creative Industries Parks supervised by the Ministry of Culture in February 2011.

The Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park was gradually developed from an old fashioned brewery to a park which actively promotes the cultural and creative industries in the city.

Where?

Operating Hours:

Park area: 06:00~22:00 (Mon~Sun)

Weekday Exhibition: 09:00~17:00 (Depends on varies Exhibitions)

Summer and PH: 09:00~18:00 (May~Oct)

Cost?

Free (Park)

Depends on individual events exhibitions

Duration:

30 mins~1 hour

A walk around the park.

 

The old brewery is now changed into event halls.

 

 

More information here. (Only available in Traditional Chinese)

Suggestion:

There were some events held when we were there, but it was not that crowded and a little different from the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park which is always crowded with people, and with lots of small events and exhibitions. The location might be the reason as it is not near to any shopping malls or famous tourist site, hence, most of the tourists will not walk over here. If you are interested in arts, or maybe old and authentic building you can come over here to have a look, otherwise, you can skip this place.

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4) Fourth credit union(第四信用合作社)

The sister store of the most famous dessert store in Taichung, Miyahara. Located a few minutes walk from Miyahara, Fourth credit union kept its name and building the same as Miyahara Ice Cream, it revamped the interior leaving some of its significant objects behind like the bank vault door and keeping the retro style of how the bank was in the past. Unlike, Miyahara Ice Cream where you can only take away the Ice Cream, you can sit down enjoy a cup of coffee and its famous Ice Cream in this cafe.

Where?

Operating Hours:

10:00~21:00

Cost?

Duration:

1-2 hours

Menu

The place to order your drinks

Ice cream section

There are more than 40 different flavours available for you to choose from. You can also request to try the ice cream.

Souvenir section

Waffle Section

You can request to try the waffle (note: only a small piece) before ordering.

More seats are available on the second floor 

We ordered the 3 Scope+ Waffle+ Luxury Toppings

The door of the Bank safe is kept untouched inside the cafe.

Suggestion:

Better avoid going over after 3pm on weekday, and of course, weekend this place will be more crowded. We went after lunch on a weekday before 3pm so it was not so crowded, crowd started to stream in after 3pm.

Although the price is quite expensive for a cup of ice cream, but it is because we get to choose the add on like the pineapple tarts, butterfly biscuit or their famous cheesecake. All these are considered luxury toppings, which can be found at their souvenirs corner.  

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5) Zhong shan Greenary Bridge (中山綠橋)

Zhongshan Green Bridge is located on Zhongshan Road and Luchuan East and West Streets in the Central District of Taichung City, is an arched bridge that crosses Luchuan. It was built in 1908 during the Japanese period named “Xinsheng Stream Bridge”. In the past, the government built the bridge at the Taichung Park for the opening of Taiwan’s entire railway celebration ceremony. On February 20, 2004, the Zhong shan Greenary Bridge is listed as a historic building by the Taichung City Government.

Where?

Operating Hours:

24/7

Cost?

Free

Duration:

15 mins

You can walk further down along the peaceful and beautiful stream.

Suggestion:

You will pass by this bridge on your way to Miyahara, can just stop over here to take some photos. If you have enough time, can walk along with stream and enjoy a nice and relaxing afternoon here. 

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6) Miyahara Ice Cream(宮原眼科)

Situated near the Taichung Train Station on the bank of Luchuan. Built-in 1927 by Miyahara Takeo, a Japanese ophthalmology doctor the largest ophthalmology clinic in Taichung during the Japanese colonial period.

In 1945 after the surrender of Japan, Miyahara became Taichung Health Bureau. Over the years, the Health Bureau was suspended, it slowly decayed and became an unused dangerous building. Dawn Cake, a renowned pastry company for its pineapple cakes, bought over the building and preserved Miyahara’s original red-brick walls and archway. 

Where?

Operating hours:

10:00~22:00

Cost?

100NTD~300NTD

Duration:

30mins – 1 hour 

What to do there?

Get your souvenirs or have a Traditional Taiwanese Cuisine at the Moon Pavilion.  

The interior decoration was redesigned to be like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. There used to be a water well in the middle of the building, but it was revamped into a modern-looking fundraising box made of glass.

To note:

The ice cream and drinks section only allow takeaway.

Suggestion:

It can be quite crowded in the afternoon and the queue at the ice cream section can be quite long. Do try their pineapple tarts and cheesecake which are the best sellers there.

 

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7) Yizhong Street Night market (一中街夜市)

Near to the Zhongyou Department Store, Yizhong night market is surrounded by 3 universities and 1 senior high school. Always crowded with students and during weekends, Yizhong street will be packed with people. Although Yizhong night market history is not as long as Fengjia night market, however, the snacks and food here are awesome. 

Where?

Operating Hours:

11:00~24:00

Cost?

100NTD and above

Duration:

1-2 hour or more

What to order?

$10 Braised sticks (一中街10元滷味串燒)

One of the cheap and good braised sticks in Yizhong Street at only 10NTD per item. 

There is quite a lot of ingredients to choose from with the price it offers this is a stall that I would recommend you to try. 

A Yueh Black Tea  (阿月紅茶冰)

One of the famous black tea bubble tea shop in Taichung other than the Like Tea shop. They are famous for their Lemon Black Tea.

Menu:

Lemon Black Tea, 45NTD

NAGEGUO MINI HOTPOT (那個鍋)

This mini mala hotpot stall is one of my favourite eating place in Taichung, if you love the Taipei hotdoufu (口吅品) then this would be a must to have here.  

Menu

Special beef pot with noodle, 168NTD

Suggestion:

The things sold here are at a more competitive price as there lots of stalls selling the same items, and there are lots of popular Taiwanese snacks and food stalls with the affordable price.

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8) National Taichung Theater (臺中國家歌劇院)

Officially established on April 2, 2014, the National Performing Arts Center is a new page in Taiwanese performing arts.

Where?

Operating Hours:

11:30~20:00
*Closed on Monday

Cost?

Free Access

Duration:

1 Hour or more

The tutu gallery

Take the lift up to Sky Graden on the 6F and have a view of Taichung City.  

Night light up during the Christmas season.

Suggestion:

The sky garden is a must to visit if you are there. The sky garden has a view of Taichung city and there are beautiful plants and flowers. On different season, there will be night illumination.