1. A Comprehensive Catalog Of What Our Planet Has To Offer
A truly enormous museum complex, this city center attraction is a fantastic place for families to visit during their time in Taichung. From realistic dinosaur models and hands-on science exhibits, to lavish recreations of scenes from Chinese history, multi-colored rock collections, and a lovely 4.5 hectare botanical garden, the curators have set out to capture every aspect of the natural world, and have been surprisingly successful. A fascinating companion attraction is the center at Chelungpu Fault, site of a serious 1999 earthquake.
2. A Fitting Stage For The Island's Artistry
Taichung is one of Taiwan's most dynamic cultural centers, so it's no surprise that the city hosts the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Situated in the West District and occupying 102,000 square meters, it's easily the finest gallery of its kind on the island, regularly hosting biennales and other international artistic get-togethers. But the star of the show is the ever-growing permanent collection, with exhibits by Taiwanese artists working in eastern and western techniques, and an impressive photography collection as well.
3. Tons Of Street Treats
Over on the Wengjia Road, in Xitun District, you'll come across Taichung's undisputed champion market. This colorful, bustling nocturnal attraction is the only place to head if you want to sample Taiwan's thriving street food scene. From octopus meat balls and Taiwanese sausage rolls, to towering ice creams and oodles of bubble tea, dining out here is like being a kid in a candy store (and yes, there's plenty of candy to be had). With arcade games, clothing stalls and bars to explore, it's an amazing evening destination.
4. Elegance, Grace, And Peace In The City Center
Taichung's green oasis is a beautiful city center spot, with a bit of history behind it. Having opened in 1903, it's comfortably the oldest of the city's parks, and also the most elegant. With its pavilions, islands, and artfully constructed bridges, you could be over the water in Kyoto, which probably isn't accidental, as the park was laid out under the Japanese period of occupation, which stretched from 1895 to 1945. These days, it's an easy place to relax, although with tennis courts on-site, you can work out if you like as well.
5. Northern Taichung's Two-Wheeled Paradise
A masterful piece of urban planning, the Hou-Feng Bikeway saw a stretch of obsolete railway turned into a magical route for cyclists to explore. Running between Houli and Fengyuan in the northern part of Taichung, the bikeway runs for 3 miles, including a 1,200 meter tunnel and an attractive iron bridge which offers superb views of the Dajia River. Even better, you can rent bikes affordably at the Houli end of the route, and head off to the east on the equally picturesque Dongfeng Bikeway.
