The city

Taichung

Taichung (臺中 or 台中; literally "Central Taiwan"), officially known as Taichung City, is a city located in western Taiwan, with a population of just over 2.6 million people, making it the third largest city on the island. The city's motto is "economic, cultural and international city."

Taichung, in a key central Taiwan location, plays an essential role in both Taiwan's economic development and transportation systems. It is the hub for the five cities and counties in the central Taiwan region. Surrounded by the mountains and sea, it possesses the precious asset of rich cultures of numerous townships and districts. Over the centuries, people from different backgrounds migrated to Taichung and settled down, and the city has become the cosmopolis, contributing to a great society of diverse cultures. You may see plenty of characteristic cultural groups, such as Fukien, Hakka and aboriginal in Taichung. With embracing the grand vision of a "Cultured, Economic, International City", Taichung city has held a great number of international and local cultural events.

Yizhong Street

Yizhong Street Night Market is located near National Taichung University of Science and Technology and National Taichung First Senior High School in northwest of Taichung. In this particular night market, there are a wide variety of food items sold at reasonable prices. You will almost find it impossible to bargain for anything as the items are really inexpensive around here. Some highly recommended food items would be that of the 'Yizong Fong Ran Ice', shaved ice mixed with plum juice, red beans and ice cream, 'Wang Yien Dry Noodles' and the popular crispy tender 'Hao Da Big Chicken Fillet'.

Feng Chia Night Market

Fengchia Night Market is located adjacent to Fengchia University, in northern Taichung's XiTun District. In recent years, this busy, thriving area has become the city's most popular night market, particularly among university students and younger adults. The night market itself runs from the university's main gate and along its outside wall for about 300 meters before curving back to the main FuXing Road. Dozens of stands sell clothing, shoes, fashion accessories, decorative items, music, food, and a wide variety of other items. The area all around the night market, primarily FuXing and FengJia roads, is also jammed with stores, eateries, cafes and other establishments.

Taichung Park

The Taichung Park is the most time-honored park in Taichung, Taiwan. It is also called “Zhongshan Park”, and was built when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. On 17 April 1999, Taichung city government listed it as city historical sites. In recent years, people have celebrated Lantern Festival in Taichung Park.

Taroko National Park

When Taroko National Park was established on November 28, l986, it was of special significance for the environmental protection movement in Taiwan: it showed that both the public and the government agencies had realized that against the background of the nation's four decades of extraordinary economic success, serious damage was being done to its natural resources. According to the National Park Act of the Republic of China (passed in l972), parks are established to protect the natural scenery, historic relics and wildlife; to conserve natural resources; and to facilitate scientific research and promote environmental education.

Shei-Pa National Park

Shei-Pa National Park covers an area of 76,850 hectares on the central Taiwan range, slightly to the north of central Taiwan. This is a region of magnificent mountains: within the park are 51 peaks over 3,000 meters high. It is a mostly wild and undeveloped area with a range of wildlife that includes many rare and endemic species. The park was founded to protect and study this splendid wilderness, maintaining the natural environment and all forms of life it includes. Conservation is therefore the first priority for Shei-Pa National Park, and a large proportion of its land is protected as Conversation Area, or Special Scenic Area, with limited access for ordinary visitors.

Calligraphy Greenway

Taichung Calligraphy Greenway is a scenic parkway that connects all along National Museum of Natural Science, Civic Square, Wuquan Parkway, and the LiuChuan Canal, where pedestrians may take a walk on their barefoot. This green promenade had become one of the most precious scenic spots in the boisterous city of Taichung. The Calligraphy Greenway may be divided into three segments, first of which is the Van Gogh Art Square laid out in front of National Museum of Natural Science. There is a colossal, towering cubic sculpture standing at the center of the Van Gogh Art Square. The second segment is the Civic Square most desirable for recreation and sports for citizens of Taichung. In addition, there are many cafeterias and Cafés around the Civic Square. The third segment is the Wuquan Parkway that extend beyond National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Walking in the parkway, we may see all kinds of characteristic sculptures everywhere for landscaping.

Dajia Zhenlan Temple

Dajia Zhenlan Temple is alternatively known as Dajia Mazu Temple. It is one of the famous temples within Taiwan. On every 3rd month of the lunar calendar, there will be ten thousands over of devotees doing the grand pilgrimage from Dajia Zhenlan Temple to Xingang Mukden Palace and back, the total journey will last 8 days and 7 nights. The date of the pilgrimage is not fixed and is dependent on the date of the Latern Festival. For the Chinese who are visiting this temple, you will see that it has a lot more of the different deities' statues than the usual temples, and the deities are placed into different sectors of the temple, categorised to different worshipping purposes, just to name a few like for marriage, giving birth, averting bad luck and talent.

Wuling Farm

There are several farms in the mountainous regions that welcome visitors and offer an insight in local rural life. Wuling Farm is one of the most prominent. 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. The spectacular scenery of the surrounding mountains, with nice walks to scenic spots like the 50-meter Taoshan Waterfall, creates an oasis of tranquillity. As nearly all year round you will be delighted either by blossoming fruit orchards (spring and early summer) or the abundance of harvest (summer and autumn). Formosan Salmon, also known as the "Cherry Blossom Hook Salmon", which is unusual in this part of the world, is a very rare variety of fish on the verge of extinction. Wuling Farm is the home of this land-locked salmon and you can find it in the Qijiawan Creek Ecological Protection Area.

Other Information

Central Weather Bureau

Taichung City Bus Information & Transit System

Taiwan Tourism Bureau

Travel in Taichung

Compass Taichung City Guild