Taichung 台中, as its name describes, is located in central Taiwan. Taichung City, the heart of Taichung, is a popular destination outside Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei.
Taichung is usually associated with Fengjia Night Market and Rainbow Village but there are so much more to see and do in Taichung. Most travellers take a short day trip to Taichung and leave without experiencing the real heart and soul of Taichung!
Thanks to the kind hospitality of Lai Shu-wei, the “Taichung Ambassador” who runs the beautiful Garden Life homestay 花田民宿 in Taichung, I had such an immersive tour of Taichung. I discovered new attractions and interacted with locals like Wu De Li of Okuma Center who are so passionate about sharing the best of Taichung with travellers.
Taichung has 29 districts and this guide will focus on 4 popular districts: central 中區, Xinshe 新社區, Tanzi 潭子區, and Heping 和平區. I will share the best and new places to visit in Taichung City, Xinshe festivals and mushroom farms, Tanzi day trip itineraries, and Guguan hot spring and Lishan in the Heping District. Check out this detailed guide and enjoy Taichung like a local!
Introduction to Taichung
Taichung is huge! The land area of the Taichung is three times the size of Singapore. Taichung is the Taiwan’s second largest city and it is made up of 29 districts (district in Chinese is 區), which are spread over diverse landscape.
With its strategic location in central Taiwan, Taichung is a transportation hub that is easily accessed from different parts of Taiwan.
Taichung is one of the most liveable cities in Taiwan! Taichung is blessed with pleasant sunny weather throughout the year with an average temperature of 23˚C. Bordered by the Central Mountain Range, Taichung is usually protected from typhoons and storms. Because of Taichung’s climate and geography, it has a strong agriculture industry. Get ready to be treated to the delicious gifts of mother nature like vegetables and fruits when you are in Taichung.
Taichung has a rich history that spans the early period of the Pingpu aboriginal tribes, the European settlements by the Dutch and Spaniards, the evolution of the Ming Dynasty and Ching Dynasty, and the Japanese occupation.
As a result, Taichung embraces a vibrant confluence of cultures and an impressive collection of well-preserved historical buildings. Some parts of the city has a neat “chessboard” street plan that was initially created by the Japanese and this makes the city centre an easy place to explore.
How to get to Taichung?
Taichung lies in the heart of Taiwan main island and it is a convenient transportation hub.
Method 1: Train
You can travel using public transportation like local Taiwan Railway Administration trains (TRA) and High Speed Rail (HSR) to reach Taichung easily. HSR trains are faster and cost more while TRA are local trains that are slower and cost less.
From Taoyuan International Airport
Step 1: Taoyuan International Airport → Taoyuan HSR Rail Station (20 minutes by Taoyuan Airport MRT)
Step 2: Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station → Taichung HSR Station (40 minutes)
Travel tip: You can purchase high speed train tickets from Taiwan High Speed Rail website or discounted tickets (20% off) on Klook. Use my special Klook promo code WENDYKLOOK to enjoy 5% any Klook purchases (no min. spend; capped at USD $10).
Step 3: New Wuri station (a short 5-min walk from Taichung HSR station) → Taichung train station (15 minutes)
Please take note: Taichung HSR station is situated in the south-western part of Taichung City. You have to take the local train to Taichung train station in the city centre from New Wuri station 新烏日火車站 (a short 5-min walk from Taichung HSR station).
From Taipei
- HSR: Taipei main station → Taichung train station (40 minutes)
- Local train: Taipei main station → Taichung train station (2 hours)
Method 2: Bus
If you prefer slow and economical travel, travel by bus to Taichung. Long distance highway buses connect main transportation hubs to Taichung. The bus rides cost much less than HSR train tickets. Frequent buses are run by Kuo-Kuang bus, UBus, Free Go Bus and more.
- Taoyuan International Airport → Taichung bus station (2 hours)
- Taipei bus station → Taichung bus station (2.5 hours)
Travel tip: It is more convenient and affordable to take bus from Taoyuan International Airport to Taichung, especially if you have big luggage. Taking HSR train may seem to be faster but you will not save much time with all the transfers from Taoyuan International Airport to Taoyuan HSR station and from Taichung HSR station to Taichung city centre. Save money and enjoy the bus ride!
How to get around Taichung?
You can get around Taichung using public transportation like trains and buses.
By Bus
Taichung has a comprehensive bus system. You can check out the bus routes and timings on their Taichung Bus website.
By MRT
Taichung Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 台中捷運 started in 2021 and it operates one train route. The Green line or Wuri-Wenxin-Beitun Line (烏日文心北屯線) runs from Taichung HSR station in a north-east direction and it goes through the Xitun District (西屯區), the new downtown and city hall area, and ends at Beitun District (北屯區). The Green line does not connect to Taichung train station and the city centre so you can take the local TRA train or bus or taxi to access those areas. There are more train lines planned in the future to connect more parts of Taichung.
Top places to visit in Taichung
Central District 中區
Taichung Train Station and Taichung Station Railway Cultural Park
Start your Taichung exploration at Taichung train station 臺中火車站. The old and new Taichung train stations sit side-by-side in the heart of Taichung City. Opened in 2016, the new Taichung train station is the transportation hub of Taichung.
Before the new Taichung station was built, the original 1917 Taichung Station is the symbol of the city. Considered one of the most complete historical train stations in Taiwan, the station showcases a European architectural style interpreted by the Japanese who built it.
The historical old Taichung train station 舊台中車站 has been revitalised and converted into the Taichung Station Railway Cultural Park 臺中驛鐵道文化園區. Walk to the front of the station and admire the original façade of the station, the iconic clock tower, and red brick walls. Inside the lobby of the station, you can still see the old train displays and gantries.
The old railway tracks are preserved and some retro trains are parked on the tracks. I chanced upon the weekend market, Lu Market 小旅市集, on a Friday night. This atmospheric market is creatively integrated into the train station setting. Locals set up their cute stalls on the train platforms and some stalls are set up inside train carriages. It was my first time visiting a railway market and it was so fun to explore the creative space and I ended up taking more photos than shopping.
The chill ambience of the market was enhanced by live performances on the railway track. The audience sat on wooden benches placed over the tracks to enjoy music under the stars. How cool is that? Lu Market is open on weekends, 11:00am to 8:00pm. Check out Lu Market Instagram page for the latest updates!
Shen Ji New Village
Shen Ji New Village 審計新村 is a fascinating place to spend a few hours. The village is a cluster of buildings that used to be residential houses built in 1969 for the employees of the Taiwan Provincial Government. After the government restructured, the dormitories were left empty.
As part of the efforts to rejuvenate and preserve historical areas, Shen Ji New Village is injected a new lease of life and converted into a creative and leisure hub in 2015. The village is filled with interesting shops that sell local arts and craft, lifestyle products, and food and drinks.
On weekends, the village hosts creative markets and the outdoor area is lined with lively stalls. I visited on a Friday afternoon and the village was buzzing with visitors shopping, eating, and taking photographs of the charming buildings.
Taichung Shiyakusho
Taichung Shiyakusho 臺中市役所, also known as Taichung City Hall, is a historical building that has been artistically restored. Constructed in 1911, the European style building was the first iron-reinforced concrete architecture in Taichung.
From 1911 to 1920, the building was first used as Taichung Department of Public Affairs and Administration Office 臺中廳公共埤圳聯合會事務所. From 1920 to 1945, it became Taichung City Hall 臺中市役所. After the Japanese occupation ended, the building was for different purposes–offices for the municipal archives, news room and transportation bureau.
Today, the building is one of the top ten architectural sights in Taichung City. I enjoyed an informative guided tour by Cheng Shyun who shared Taichung Shiyakusho’s history and showed us interesting features and decorations in the building.
My favourite part of the building is the top level of the building that can be accessible via a guided tour and only 20 people can visit each day. The building is topped by a classical dome and an intricately constructed mansard roof. A unique oeil-de-boeuf, a small circular window, brings in light to illuminate the space.
Taichung Shiyakusho has two beautiful areas for visitors to enjoy food. The first floor is You Yi Si Café 有役思咖啡廳, an evocative art and culture space where you can enjoy beverages and snacks, and browse books and local creative products. The space hosts regular mini exhibitions and fun workshops.
Located on the second floor, Narratore 說故事的人 is an elegant Italian restaurant that serves innovative cuisine inspired by local ingredients. The food is served like artworks and complements the artistic decor of the restaurants.
Taichung Second Market
Taichung Second Market 臺中市第二市場 was a vibrant marketplace during the Japanese colonial period and it continues to be a busy market with a wide range of shops spread over its retro-looking, hexagonal-shaped building. This is the place to shop and eat like the local!
Visit in the morning and start your breakfast feast with the popular Wang Jia fried radish cake and glutinous rice sausage 王家菜頭粿糯米腸. Order a plate of their special trio combo (三個) of fried rice cake, glutinous rice sausage, and fried egg drizzled with sweet sauce (that’s only $75 NTD).
Pair your breakfast with tea with Lai’s Tea Shop (Like Tea Shop) 老賴紅茶 /老賴茶棧, that is positioned just opposite Wang Jia. Locals frequent this shop as their tea is very smooth and affordable. A big cup of tea is just $35-40 NTD. They also sell big bottles of their specially brewed tea.
There are more places to explore in Taichung City like the museums (National Museum of Natural Science and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts), National Taichung Theater, Miyahara for ice cream treats, and more. Check out the Taichung travel website for more recommendations.
Xinshe District
Xinshe 新社 is an under-the-radar destination that is popular with locals but international visitors may not know much about it. I discovered Xinshe during my recent trip to Taiwan thanks to Shu-wei who lives in Xinshe.
The “hidden garden” of Taichung, Xinshe is surrounded by mountains, flowing streams and rivers, and the Dakeng Scenic Area. Xinshe enjoys comfortable weather throughout the year and it is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.
Xinshe is about a 40-minute ride from Taichung City centre and travelling by car is the easiest way to get to Xinshe. You can rent a car if you can drive, book a driver, or arrange for pick up services with your hotel.
Sea of Flowers in Xinshe Festival
Xinshe is famous for its flower fields and festivals and it is nicknamed the “Provence of Taiwan.” The annual Sea of Flowers in Xinshe 新社花海 festival attracts crowds to Xinshe in the months of November and December. The vast festival grounds are painted with rolling fields of flowers–colourful cosmos, bright yellow sunflowers, and more. Other than flower fields and displays, the festival grounds have booths and stalls where you can learn more about flowers and buy agricultural products. Xinshe is busy during the festival period so book your accommodation early if you like to stay near the festival site.
Lavender Cottage
Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林, as described by its name, is known for its lavender gardens. The cottage was the dream of two female founders and now it has become a photography hotspot in the lavender season from January to February. Other than viewing seasonal flowers, you can dine in their restaurant, join workshops, and buy lavender products, herbs, jam, and more.
Xinshe Castle
Credit: Summit Resort
Xinshe Castle (Xinshe Manor) 新社莊園, also known as Summit Resort, is a sightseeing spot and leisure resort. Situated in the Dakeng Scenic Area, Xinshe Castle is inspired by European influences and it is constructed like a medieval castle. The fairy tale-like scenery of the area attracts local and international visitors and also couples who travel to the resort for their wedding photo shoot.
Mushroom farms
Do you know Xinshe has a famous mushroom street? Xiezhong Street 協中街 is nicknamed the “mushroom street” because it is lined with mushroom farms and shops selling mushrooms. Xinshe is home to many mushroom farms and it is one of the top mushroom-growing regions in Taiwan.
The farm capitalises on Xinshe’s ideal weather conditions and fertile land to grow different types of mushrooms like shiitake and oyster mushrooms. In the farm, you can learn educational facts about the process of growing mushrooms and have a closer look at different types of mushrooms like coral and pink mushrooms.
I love mushrooms and I was so excited to try mushroom picking in A-Liang Mushroom Garden 阿亮香菇園. You can pay a small fee ($120 NTD) to pick 1 jin 斤, about 600 grams of mushrooms.
Mushroom-picking tips: Pick larger mushrooms and remove the mushroom stems from the ground gently.
The farm has a shop selling dried mushrooms and mushroom products like mushroom cookies. I couldn’t resist and bought dried mushrooms and many packets of the mushroom cookies, which are very yummy healthy snacks (great for light bites during road trips).
Tanzi District
Tanzi District 潭子區 in the northern part of Taichung is easily accessed by a short 15-minute train ride from Taichung train station. I strong recommend visiting Tanzi to discover another side of Taichung.
Tanzi District Office 臺中市潭子區公所 has curated three fun themed day trip itineraries where you can experience slow travel and enjoy best attractions in Tanzi. Check out the helpful guides and itineraries below!
Itinerary 1: Ecology and fitness fun 自讓生態強身趣
- Hanxi cycling trail (Juxing bridge) → Xintian hiking trail (car park) → Java Forest Coffee Qi Que Coffee Manor (only open on Sat) → Strawberry World Orchard (open Dec to Apr)
- 旱溪自行車道(聚興橋) → 新田登山步道停車場 → 蟄伏咖啡 新田店 → 奇雀咖啡莊園 → 草莓世界
- Access the Google map itinerary here.
Itinerary 2: Family and cultural fun 親子人文悠遊趣
- Tanzi train station → Green corridor → Okuma Center → Tan xin rail-road-sky bridge → Zhaixing Villa → Big Wood Farm → Tanzi train station
- 潭子火車站 → 綠空廊道 → 寶熊漁樂碼頭 → 潭心鐵馬空橋 → 摘星山莊 → 大木塊生態農園 → 潭子火車站
- Access the Google map itinerary here.
Itinerary 3: Slow stroll through historical neighbourhood 漫步街區訪古趣
- Tanzi train station → Tan Shui Ting Guanyin Temple → Shipai Park → Taste local specialities in the neighbourhood → Tanzi Farmers Association → Tanzi Elementary School Japanese Style Building → Tanzi train station
- 潭子火車站 → 潭水亭觀音媽廟 →石牌公園 → 街區品味傳統特色美食 → 潭子農會穀倉 → 潭子國小日式校舍 → 潭子火車站
- Access the itinerary Google map here. The map has amazing food recommendations!
If you have limited time, spend a few hours to check out these two major attractions in Tanzi!
Okuma Center
Okuma Center 寶熊漁樂碼頭 is a fishing theme park established by Okuma Fishing Tackle Company, a global fishing rods and reels manufacturer that is founded in Taiwan. The founder of Okuma, Charles Chang loves fishing since he was a young boy and he hopes to promote fishing as a fun and educational activity for all to enjoy.
Okuma, the white bear, is the adorable mascot of the theme park and it teaches visitors about the art, science, and technology related to fishing. This park focuses on edutainment and visitors can have fun while learning about fishing and the environment.
Okuma Center is great for families and even an adult like me spent many hours learning everything about fishing. Start your visit with a guided tour. The friendly guide brought us through the exhibition area where we learnt about fishing activities and the different types of fishing gear. There is also a meaningful section that teaches children how they can play a part in environment conservation and protect the fishes and ocean.
The park is huge–it houses is a 3D Ocean Theater that screens educational short films and an indoor fishing area to try fishing in a virtual environment. I had so much fun trying to pull the virtual fish out of the water using the fishing rod.
There are many interactive activities for children and adults. Once you enter the park, a striking fishing game machine greets you. It is amazing that a childhood fishing game has been expanded and it was so fun to “fish” for the adorable plastic fish. There are also DIY art and craft activities and nostalgic carnival games to entertain children. To try these activities, you have to pay for each activity in addition to the admission fee.
There are food stalls in the park where you can feed your young children hot meals, snacks and bubble tea if they get hungry during the visit. Look at how cute the Okuma bear-shaped egg cake is!
I had an extended tour of the park thanks to the park’s director Wu De Li 吳德利 who spent time sharing about the Okuma brand, the conceptualisation of the park, and the relationship between the ocean and fishing . His passion for the park to educate the next generation is very inspiring. He hopes that the younger generation will learn more about our ocean from sustainable practices of fishing. If you ever visit Taichung with young children, Okuma Center is a wonderful place for edutainment.
Tanya Shen Green Bikeway
Tanya Shen Green Bikeway 潭雅神綠園道 is a scenic cycling route that is ideal for a half day excursion. The well-marked route and suitable for all ages because the 13-km cycling path traverses a generally flat terrain with some gentle slopes that can be done in about 1.5-2 hours.
The bikeway covers sections of the pre-purposed Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) Shengang railway tracks 神岡線鐵路. You can rent iBike from Taichung Export Processing Zone 臺中加工出口區, which is a short 10-minute walk from Tanzi train station and start your bike ride from there.
Immerse in nature as you ride along the Dajia River and cross bridges. Tanya Shen Green Bikeway’s photo hot spots are the picturesque S-shaped sections, which are flanked by towering trees.
Tanya Shen Green Bikeway Map. Credit: Taichung City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau and 男生宿舍.
Interested to cycle more in Taichung? Check out more Taichung cycling trips here!
Heping District
Heping District 和平區 is my favourite area in Taichung and it is the gateway to nature, mountains, and hot springs. I strongly recommend adding more days to your Taichung visit to spend time exploring the beautiful nature.
Guguan Hot Spring
Guguan Hot Spring 谷關溫泉 is a famous riverside hot spring area that is easily accessed from Taichung as it is just a 40-minute drive from Xinshe District. The name “Guguan” is inspired by the hot spring’s gorgeous location as it is tucked within a remote valley (gu 谷) and surrounded by mountains (guan 關).
Guguan Hot Spring was discovered by the Atayal Tribe in the 1900s and the area was developed into a hot spring recreation area called Meiji Hot Spring during the Japanese period. The well known legend of Guguan is that the hot spring is a “Male child spring” as it was believed that the Meiji Emperor had a son after soaking in the host spring. The carbonic acid hot spring water is filled with minerals and good for the skin and health.
Start your visit at the newly renovated Guguan Visitor Center 谷關遊客中心. The center is like a museum where you can learn about the history and ecology of Guguan and even the flora and fauna in the exhibition area in the basement.
The friendly staff at the center are eager to provide information about the area and the Seven Heroes of Guguan 谷關七雄, a network of seven hiking trails spreading throughout the mountain range. Find out more about Seven Heroes of Guguan hiking trails here.
From the visitor center, walk to the Guguan Hot Spring Park 谷關溫泉公園 to pamper yourself at public hot spring foot and fish spa for a free “fish pedicure” experience. It was a very relaxing break to rest my legs and let the fish “tickle-massage” my feet.
After walking through the Guguan Hot Spring Park, you will reach Shaolai Suspension Bridge 捎來吊橋 that will lead you to the Shaolai hiking trail 捎來步道.
If you are up for a workout, you can continue on the Shaolai trail to the Bojinjiashan trail 波津加山步道 with some steep climbs. The trail cuts through a standalone hump by the river cove, facing the Guguan Visitor Center from the other side of Dajia River. There are two entrances to the trail, one on the west end and one on the east end. The trail is 1km one way and it takes about 1 hour.
When you reach the other end of the trail, you will be rewarded with the views from the Guguan Suspension Bridge 谷關吊橋.
Marvel at the view of the Dajia River Valley from the middle of the Guguan Suspension Bridge and be transported back to the past as you stroll through the Meiji Hot Spring old street 明治溫泉老街.
Lishan
If you are lucky to have more time in Taiwan, extend your trip to Lishan 梨山. Spreading over Heping Township in Taichung, Lishan is an iconic mountain range in central Taiwan. Lishan is part of the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area 參山國家風景區. Soaring over 2000 metres in altitude, Lishan is famous for its “Switzerland-like” scenery, pristine nature, and hiking trails. Lishan is a perfect place to experience forest bathing and enjoy slow travel. Interested in forest therapy?
Lishan is home to the indigenous Atayal tribe (泰雅族) and many alluring aspects of their culture, language, and ways of living can be experienced in the mountains. Blessed with cool temperatures, Lishan is synonymous with high quality tea and fruits–Lishan oolong tea, snow pears, honey apples, and peaches are highly sought after. Check out my detailed Guide to Lishan: Best mountain in Taiwan for nature, fruits, and tea!
What to eat in Taichung?
Chun Shui Tang
Taiwan’s gift to the world is bubble tea and Taichung is home to the acclaimed tea shop, Chun Shui Tang 春水堂. Chun Shui Tang prides themselves for introducing the art of drinking iced tea, creating bubble black tea using cocktail shakers, and adding food ingredients like tapioca balls into cold tea drinks.
Founded in 1983, they have expanded to a global chain that brings bubble tea to countries like Japan and Hongkong. Just in their Taichung, they have over 20 stores! The popular drinks are iced pearl milk tea, premium iced teas like black tea, jasmine tea, and tieguanyin. They also have restaurants where you can enjoy hot meals like braised beef noodles with your drink. Check out their locations in Taiwan on their website.
Taro
Taro is Taichung’s prized agricultural produce. Because of the suitable weather conditions all-year-round and the fertile landscape, Dajia in Taichung is the top producer of high quality taro; betel nut taro in Taiwan. This premium type of taro is fine-grained with a delicate and smooth texture.
Savour sweet and smooth taro in Taichung! Taro products like taro pastries and cakes are very popular in Taichung so you must try them or buy some home when you visit. Master A-Tsung 阿聰師 is an award-winning Taichung-grown brand that selling cookies and pastries since 1960 and their taro cakes are famous. The founder Wu Tsung-Chao is credited for being the “Father of Taiwan Dajia Taro Pastry” as he came up with the ingenious idea to use taro in pastries when there was an oversupply of taro due to abundant harvest in Dajia in 1998.
The top-selling products in Master A-Tsung shop are the ball-shaped taro pastry 芋頭酥 and taro-shaped taro pastry called Little Taro Cake 小芋仔. The taro pastry has rich taro filling and the special versions come with chewy mochi filling.
The adorable Little Taro Cake has flaky pastry wrapped around soft taro and delish fillings like molten taro lava 流芋 (rich taro), lava custard 流心 (salted egg yolk that oozes with every bite), and brown sugar lava.
Other than taro goodies, you can buy many different types of traditional Taiwanese snacks like sun cakes, pineapple cakes, mazu cookies, mooncakes, and more. Their gift boxes come with beautiful purple-themed packaging and their assortment boxes are great souvenirs.
To learn more about taro, visit Master A-Tsung Taro Culture Museum 阿聰師芋頭文化館. Here you can find out more about how taro is cultivated in Taiwan, the evolution of the taro industry, the culture of enjoying taro, and more. Other than guided tours, you can join taro cake DIY workshop and try your hand in making taro cakes make 4 or 6 Little Taro Cakes (cost $250 / 360 NTD).
Master A-Tsung has stores in Dajia, Taichung and other cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung. Check out their shop locations on Master A-Tsung website.
Master A-Tsung Taro Culture Museum 阿聰師芋頭文化館
Address: No. 168, Xing’an Rd, Da’an District, Taichung City, Taiwan 439 (Google map)
Sun Cake
Sun cake or sun biscuits 太陽餅 is a specialty of Taichung. The circular-shaped flaky pastry is named after the sun because of its round appearance and golden-yellow colour. You can find sun cakes all round Taichung and there are many brands to choose from.
I visited the well known Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian 一福堂老店. There are two different Yi Fu Tang brands in Taichung–Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian 一福堂老店 and Yi Fu Tang 一福堂. Both brands are operated by the fourth-generation family members of Master Chen Zhou Cai 陳周財. It seems to be quite common for long-running family brand to split and different family members to set up different shops.
My local friends recommended Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian as they continue to produce their pastries and cakes using the traditional methods. Their products are freshly made and the stores have limited quantity of products each day.
The founder started Yi Fu Tang by selling handmade sun cakes that grew in popularity during the Japanese occupation. Their famous sun cakes were initially sold on trains to passengers. They are also known for their lemon cakes! I tasted lemon cake in Taiwan for the first time in Yi Fu Tang. Ah! The lemon-shaped yellow soft cakes coated with zesty lemon flavoured chocolate are so delightfully irresistible.
I could not control my dessert cravings and left Yi Fu Tang old shop with too many boxes of sun cakes and lemon cakes.
Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian 一福堂老店
- Zhongshan store 中山店: No. 52, Zhongshan Rd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
- Ziyou store 自由店: No. 19, Section 2, Ziyou Rd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
Where to stay in Taichung?
Taichung offers a wide range of hotels. For a short visit to Taichung, you can stay near Taichung train station in the city centre for convenience. Here are the two new places I discovered during my recent trip to Taichung.
Formosa Corridor Hotel
Formosa Corridor Hotel 福爾摩沙草悟道酒店 is a four-star hotel that is near Taichung train station and cultural and shopping spots like Shen Ji New Village, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, the Calligraphy Greenway, SOGO shopping mall, local markets, and more.
The hotel has 51 elegant and comfortable rooms and they cater to different profiles of travellers: solo, couples, groups of friends, and big families. I was very impressive by their family rooms.
Their spacious family rooms have big beds and even a cute kids’ corner with a sleeping tent for children to enjoy a “Glampkation.” The hotel service is amazing and you can enjoy free ice cream in the hotel lobby.
Address: Formosa Corridor Hotel福爾摩沙草悟道酒. No. 95, Section 1, Xiangshang Rd, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 (Google map).
Garden Life Homestay B&B
Garden Life Homestay 花田民宿 is the best minsu I have ever stayed in Taiwan. Minsu refers to bed and breakfast accommodation in Taiwan and staying in the minsu is a great way to be hosted by locals and experience the Taiwanese way of life.
Garden Life Homestay is a homely and beautiful minsu that is the product of love by owners Cheng Hung Lai and Lai Shu-wei. One of the earliest minsu establishments set in Taiwan, Garden Life Homestay embodies the best of Taiwanese hospitality. The homestay is a legacy passed on to the second-generation Hung Lai and Shu-wei who left their illustrious careers as aerospace specialist and PhD research respectively to continue running the cosy homestay built by Cheng’s parents.
Top highlights of the Garden Life Homestay
The minsu is in a great location in Xinshe that is surrounded by stunning nature like hiking trails, mountains, and tranquillity.
Beautiful rooms and spacious common spaces are decorated thoughtfully with photographs of Taiwan taken by Mr Cheng who is the mastermind of the homestay and a professional photographer.
Sumptuous breakfast freshly prepared by the owners every morning and they serve local dishes made with quality produces from Taichung. The owners always make time for friendly morning chats with their guests.
The friendly owners and their children welcomed us to their warm home with such warmth and sincerity and we did not want to leave.
If you are looking for a minsu stay in nature to unwind and relax, I strongly recommend Garden Life Homestay. Their rooms are always fully booked by returning guests so book early! More information on Garden Life Homestay website.
Address: Garden Life Homestay 花田民宿. No. 17-6, Xingzhong St, Xinshe District, Taichung City, Taiwan 426 (Google map).
I hope this guide is useful for your trip planning to Taichung. Taichung has surprised me with its treasure trove of places to explore.
I am very touched by the hospitality of my Taiwanese friends who showed me their home. I am so grateful to Shu-wei and Hung Lai who welcomed me to their lovely Garden Life Homestay 花田民宿. Special thanks to Wu De Li of Okuma Center who spent his Saturday to host me and Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian 一福堂老店 and Master A-Tsung 阿聰師 for their generous gifts. Their pastries and cakes are really delicious!
This visit to Taichung was not just fun but very inspiring as I could really feel the hard work and passion of the people of Taichung who strive to do their best to create the wonderful experiences to show visitors the beauty and spirit of Taichung.
This quote by Hung Lai of Garden Life Homestay encapsulated what I learnt in Taichung–it’s great to have dreams; continue to pursue your dreams!
有夢想，很偉大！
Cheng Hung Lai , Garden Life Homestay 花田民宿
Notes: I did not include the two popular places in Taichung–Fengjia Night Market and Rainbow Village because they are not the same now as compared to their heydays. I visited Fengjia Night Market more than 10 years ago and it was a fun and busy market but I heard from the locals that the market has become smaller and less vibrant. And sadly, Rainbow Village has smaller areas of artworks left. If you like to support “Rainbow Grandpa,” please visit and make donations but try not to compare and complain that the village does not look like the past photos.
My trip to Taichung was organised and supported by Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area, Taiwan Tourism Administration Singapore and Shu-wei of Garden Life Homestay.
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