Central Taiwan Attractions Guide / 中台湾景点推荐

Taichung

• Fengjia Night Market – One of Taiwan's largest night markets, famous for its creative street snacks and youthful energy.
• Rainbow Village (Caihong Juan Village) – A former military dependents' village saved from demolition by a veteran's colorful murals.
• Gaomei Wetlands – Vast tidal flats with wind turbines; the boardwalk sunset is one of Taiwan's most iconic views.
• National Taichung Theater – Pritzker-winning architect Toyo Ito's curving concrete landmark, worth visiting for the architecture alone.
• Calligraphy Greenway (Caowu Dao) – Tree-lined boulevard of cafes, bookshops, and weekend markets connecting the National Museum of Natural Science to the theater district.
• Miyahara (Gongyuan Yanke) – The famous Harry Potter-esque ice-cream and pastry shop inside a restored 1927 ophthalmology clinic.

Nantou

• Sun Moon Lake – Taiwan's largest natural lake; cycle the lakeside path, ride the cable car to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, and visit Wenwu Temple.
• Qingjing Farm – High-mountain sheep farm on the road to Hehuanshan, with the famous sheep-shearing show and European-style guesthouses.
• Xitou Nature Education Area – University-run forest park of giant cypress, bamboo groves, and the skywalk through the canopy.
• Checheng & Jiji – Charming small railway towns on the Jiji branch line; Checheng's old timber factory and Jiji's banana heritage are local favorites.
• Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area – Maple-leaf valley that turns red every autumn, one of Taiwan's best fall-foliage spots.

Changhua

• Lukang Old Street – One of Taiwan's oldest towns, with Mazu Temple, Longshan Temple, narrow "touch-breast" alley (Moru Lane), and oyster omelets.
• Baguashan Great Buddha – The giant seated Buddha overlooking Changhua city, with panoramic views from the hillside park.
• Fan-shaped Train Garage (Shanxing Cheku) – Taiwan's only surviving roundhouse, still turning locomotives on its turntable — a must for rail fans.
• Wanggong Fishing Port – Coastal port known for oyster farms, sunset views, and the annual fireworks festival.

Miaoli

• Sanyi Woodcarving Street – Historic street of woodcarving shops and masters' studios; the Wood Sculpture Museum anchors the craft heritage.
• Shengxing Station – Abandoned mountain railway station on the old line, now a nostalgic stop with Hakka lei-cha tea houses nearby.
• Longteng Broken Bridge – The red-brick arches of a 1935 earthquake-ruined railway bridge, a beloved photography spot.
• Nanzhuang Old Street – Hakka mountain town with Osmanthus Lane, old post office, and riverside scenery.

Yunlin

• Beigang Chaotian Temple – One of Taiwan's most important Mazu temples, the center of the island's Mazu pilgrimage culture.
• Xiluo Bridge – The 1.9 km red steel truss bridge over the Zhuoshui River, an engineering landmark from the Japanese era.
• Jianhu Mountain World – Theme park with the "G5" roller coaster and Taiwanese puppetry (budaixi) cultural exhibits.
• Douliu & Huwei – County-seat towns with the Yunlin Puppet Museum in Huwei and the charming Taiping Old Street in Douliu.

Practical Tips

Best season: Autumn (October–November) is ideal — clear skies for Sun Moon Lake and maple season in Aowanda. Spring brings cherry blossoms to Qingjing and Alishan's neighbors. Summer is hot in the plains but cool in the mountains. Transport: HSR to Taichung (about 1 hour from Taipei), then Taiwan Tourist Shuttle buses to Sun Moon Lake, Lukang, and Xitou. The TRA Jiji branch line is a scenic ride in itself. Renting a car or scooter gives the most freedom in Nantou's mountains.

ShareCopied!

Scan with WeChat to share