Six Things to Do in Taichung, Taiwan’s Hidden Gem

Planning a trip to Taiwan? Consider spending a few days in Taichung, a hidden gem located in central Taiwan, just 45 minutes away from Taipei via high speed rail. Not only is Taichung my hometown, it is also one of my favourite cities in the world, with amazing food, shopping and attractions. Whenever I travel to Asia, I make a stop in Taichung to visit my family and stuff my face. Here are some of my recommendations for fun things to do in Taichung. To find out what some of the most instagrammable spots in Taichung are, read my blog post here.

GETTING THERE

If you’re flying internationally into Taipei (Taoyuan Airport), the fastest way is to jump on a high-speed rail to Taichung. Trains come very frequently, so usually there’s no need to book ahead of time, but you can reserve your ticket online if you. The trip is only about 45 minutes and a one-way ticket is approximately 750 NTD ($35 CAD). Prices may be higher during peak hours.

If you are looking for a cheaper mode of transportation, there are a few bus lines that run from the airport to Taichung. One-way tickets range from 60 NTD to 100 NTD (about $5 CAD), so this is definitely the most budget-friendly option. As soon as you exit the security checkpoint at the airport, you will see signs leading to the bus loop or transfers to the Taiwan High-Speed Rail. Note that there will also be groups of drivers trying to offer you a ride to your destination. You could hitch a ride with them, but the prices will likely be expensive. Instead, follow the signs at the airport to find the bus loop and High Speed Rail transfer!

TRY TAIWANESE STREET FOOD AT NIGHT MARKETS

One of the biggest draws for those travelling in Taiwan are the night markets! I love going to the night markets for shopping, games and street food! The main draw for me is THE FOOD. I recommend Feng Chia Night Market for first timers, as it’s the biggest night market in Taichung. Yizhong Night Market is great too.

Fengjia Night Market: Click here for the map.
Yizhong Night Market: Click here for the map.

SHOP TIL YOU DROP

Taichung is one of my favourite places to shop. Taiwan is known for its amazing shopping malls and night market boutiques, but in bigger cities like Taipei, sometimes the amount of stores and store offerings can be overwhelming. I’ve found that Taichung has more boutique shops with curated selections. I always find great clothing pieces, jewelry, beauty products and much more. Yizhong is my favourite night market to shop at. Some of my favourite malls in Taichung include Taroko Mall and Chungyo department store.

DISCOVER THE BIRTHPLACE OF BUBBLE TEA

It’s no secret that I LOVE bubble tea and it makes sense why since Taichung is the birthplace of bubble tea. Chun Shui Tang, the original teahouse that invented bubble tea (or so the story goes). There are a few locations in Taichung, but I usually opt for the location on No. 9 Dadun 19^th Street. It feels like you’re dining in a heritage Ancient Chinese house! The bubble tea portions are huge and you can snack on traditional Taiwanese dishes, like deep fried chicken and braised pork on rice.

Location: No. 9號, Dadun 19th Street, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403. Click here for the map.

EXPLORE SHEN JI NEW VILLAGE

What used to be a dormitory compound for tax employees is now a transformed village for local entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. Shen Ji New Village is a collection of unique shops, cafes and street vendors. This is where you can find a merry-go-round inspired café, as well various dessert shops.

Location: Click here for the map.

GET A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MASSAGE

One of my favourite things to do in Taiwan is to get traditional Chinese massages. Some of the best massages I’ve ever had were in Taiwan. After the long plane ride, my back and shoulders are usually very tight. I love hard massages and the masseuses in Taiwan aren’t afraid to apply pressure, plus they are well-trained in the pressure points. Massages in Taichung typically start at 1000 NTD for an hour, which is approximately $45 CAD. At many massage parlours), customers start with a foot soak and shoulder massage followed by a full body massage. I always feel like a ton of bricks were lifted from my back and shoulders after. Listed below are two great spots in Taichung for a massage.

鶴康屋足體養生會館 – Location: No. 151號, Wuquan 5th St, West District, Taichung City, 403. Click here for the map.

春不荖足湯中港行館 – Location: No. 157號, Section 2, Taiwan Boulevard, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403. Click here for the map.

STROLL THROUGH THE GREENWAYS

For such a densely populated city, you may be surprised to learn that Taichung (and many parts of Taiwan actually) is filled with a lot of greenery. The city has many greenways, urban spaces that stretch through many streets. These greenways are usually lined with many delicious restaurants and stores, making them a great place to explore and go for a stroll. The most famous greenway in Taichung is Calligraphy Greenway.

I hope this post was helpful! Have you been to Taichung? Let me know in the comments below where your favourite spots are if you’ve been. Since I go back to Taichung regularly, I’ll continue to update this blog post as I find more gems.