What To Do In Taichung, Taiwan
I only spent about 36 hours in 2022 visiting Taichung, but found the vibe quite chill here even though it’s Taiwan’s second largest city. The streets are wider and there are actual sidewalks, so I think the sense of space likely added to how relaxed I felt. Many Taiwanese people also find Taichung to be very livable, even more so than Taipei.
As usual with many cities in Taiwan, there are lots of good food there, including the original bubble tea shop. I also loved how the country thoughtfully repurposes and preserves old buildings for modern use and some of the more touristy areas are obvious representations of that. The famous Miyahara Ice Cream confectionary is an old ophthamology clinic and the actual ice cream parlor is in an old bank. Many former military dormitories and villages have also been converted into art and cultural centers, including one of my favorite places, Rainbow Village.
Below are many finds via Google Maps and a few blogs and videos we saw on travel in Taichung. There’s still so much I want to see next time I’m there.
Travel journal spread with favorite foot from Taichung, Colored Pencil and Ink, 2022
Places to Eat:
Boiled Bodhi Vegetarian - Taiwan has lots of awesome vegetarian and vegan dining options, and this place had great dumplings and a rice bowl with a memorable crispy tofu skin.
平等街飯糰 - I was craving a fantuan (rice roll) and found this cart near our hotel owned by a fabulous, straight-talking Taiwanese grandma. She was quick to make the fantuans with all the fixings, and mixed in white and purple rice.
Places to Snack and Have Coffee:
Miyahara (宮原眼科) - We got snacks and gifts from the well thought-out ophthalmology clinic turned shop. All the packaging was beautifully made with a nostalgic vibe. One of the areas was decorated like a record shop and the snacks packaged accordingly, with different pineapple cakes and peanut brittles packaged in a CD case, or tea bags packaged in a vinyl record cover.
Fourth Credit Union (台中市第四信用合作社) - We had ice cream a few blocks down from Miyahara in a building that was a bank that turned into an ice cream parlor. We got the three-scoop special with kyoto grape, tieguanyin tea, and 80% dark chocolate, plus two additional toppings. It’s a touristy spot, but I loved the experience from exploring all the shops’ details and seeing all the unique flavors we could try.
艸水木堂 - Got some donuts (more cronut than donut) in this small shop that’s funkily decorated like a merry-go-round at a carnival with silly shiba inu and corgi figurines.
Yu’s Cafe (與魚咖啡) - A Google Map discovery, but a lovely place for a coffee that’s also within walking distance of Miyahara.
Places to Drink:
Taihu Brewing - Got some local beers from this popular Taiwan brewery, including a kumquat flavored ale.
Goût Bar 好吧 - Fun, no-menu bar with a secret entrance through gubami, a noodle shop.
Things to Do:
Rainbow Village - I highly recommend visiting this colorful place. It’s an old military village that has been converted into an art and cultural institution filled with vibrant colors and motifs of hope and love. Huang Yung-fu lived in this village and starting painted it (after starting to paint at 86 years young) to save it from the government knocking it down. It isn’t very big, but we spent about an hour there looking at all the art and soaking in the bright and positive vibes.
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts - The museum was in between exhibition setups so I couldn’t see too much, but the museum is one of the largest in Asia, along with free admission and a lovely outdoor space with sculptures.
審計新村 - This is a former government dormitory that’s been converted into a cultural and creative market. Some of the places where we shopped:
KerKerland 審計店 - Cute stationery store that lets you send postcards up to 10 years in the future. You pick the month and year, buy a postcard and a stamp, and they’ll put your note in the corresponding drawer for future correspondence.
能藝文具 審計店 - Art supply shop! Got some funky colored pencils here.
森林島嶼x台中審計店 - Popular spot with local handmade goods. They had a fun ceramic section.
For Next Time:
Taichung Second Market
Chun Shui Tang Siwei Original Store - The original bubble tea joint!
gubami
ISMAN whisky tasting room
方酒坊Liquorfang
The Factory Mojocoffee
ORSiR Café
Tip: Taiwan businesses use Google reviews and Facebook to keep up to date information, so for dinner and drinks at the more popular places, it’s best to call or message them a few days beforehand to make a reservation. Many popular coffee spots also have waits and are generally first come, first serve.
