Vol. 2: Exploring the City & Nature

When thinking of must-visit spots for exploring Taiwanese cities, night markets known for their street food come to mind. Taichung is home to Taiwan's most famous tourist night market: Feng Chia Night Market, sprawling about 1 km around Feng Chia University. Centered around Wenhua Road, Xitun Road, Feng Chia Road, and Fuxing Road, it's also renowned for its generously portioned, original street food offerings. The variety and affordability of Taiwanese snacks, or "xiaochi," are particularly well-regarded. Many long-standing stalls are located here, and it's said that many popular Taiwanese street food items originated at Feng Chia Night Market. Here, you can find local B-grade gourmet delights that people enjoy daily, such as unique drinks made with tapioca, basil seeds, and grass jelly, grilled chicken and sausages, and crispy fried stinky tofu.

Feng Chia Night Market
Address: Around Feng Chia University, Xitun District
Hours: 12:00 PM - 2:00 AM

The Lukang Old Street, designated as a historic preservation area, is another delightful place to explore Taichung's culinary scene. This town flourished as a trading port during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era, from 1785 to 1845. Left behind by modern development, traditional brick buildings over 100 years old still stand, and it now captivates tourists as an ancient city where time flows at a leisurely pace. Narrow, winding alleys extend between the brick houses, offering a feeling of stepping back in time.
The main street is lined with traditional confectioneries and seafood shops, allowing for a stroll while satisfying your hunger. Mantis shrimp and oysters are famous here, delicious when fried, in soup, or cooked with eggs. There's also a nationally renowned meat bun shop. Souvenir shops selling dumplings made from Taichung's abundant taro, traditional Taichung pastries like the sun cake (a flaky pastry), and other local sweets are also abundant, so it's recommended to come to Lukang Old Street with an appetite.

Lukang Old Street Area
Lukang Township, Changhua County

While the fun, unpretentious street food culture continues to evolve, "Sùshí" (vegetarian food) has been cherished in Taiwan for ages. Walking through the city, you'll notice many shops displaying "Sùshí" signs. This is vegetarian cuisine. Recently, many vegetarian restaurants incorporating Western flavors have also appeared.

Nestled among brick buildings in Lukang's Jiuchang Lane area, "Yilou" is home to the highly popular, modern vegetarian restaurant "Jucui Shiyan Yangshifang." The first and second floors house a cafe, while the third floor is the vegetarian restaurant. Appetizers made with fresh, organically grown vegetables and tubers from their own farm, hearty vegetarian dishes, and multigrain rice are served in a Western style. The cuisine, which emphasizes the natural flavors of ingredients and seasonality while also focusing on creativity, is gentle on the body and perfect for those whose stomachs might be feeling tired from travel, or for anyone seeking something other than Chinese cuisine for a meal. After your meal, be sure to try the "douhua" (tofu pudding), made fresh from soy milk right before your eyes. Its subtle sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture are addictive.

Jucui Shiyan Yangshifang
Address: No. 10, Jinsheng Alley, Lukang Township, Changhua County 505
Phone: +886-4-778-9112
Hours: 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
https://www.facebook.com/veggie.tw/

Among Taiwan's abundant natural beauty, Taichung is also known for its stunning scenery, boasting two national parks, three national forest recreation areas, four scenic protection areas, and three wildlife sanctuaries. Currently, Gaomei Wetlands is drawing significant attention both domestically and internationally. It is also an ecological protection area located south of the mouth of the Dajia River in Qingshui.

Although its area is a modest 300 hectares, the mix of dry and wet land, and sandy and muddy soil, has created a complex ecosystem. While rare plants, birds, fish, and crustaceans can be observed, it is the breathtaking scenery that has made this place famous.

The sunset is particularly spectacular. On calm evenings during low tide, the water's surface acts like a mirror, reflecting the light of the setting sun and bathing the entire area in orange hues. Watching the magical scenery, which changes moment by moment, makes you feel as if time has stopped. It's no wonder it's called the "Salar de Uyuni of Asia." Wind turbines also stand tall, creating a landscape where nature and technology merge.

The best season is said to be from March to October, but the scenery changes depending on the climate and time of day, so prior research is essential. While boardwalks are maintained, it is also possible to enter the wetlands; if you wish to do so, don't forget to bring a towel and beach sandals.

Gaomei Wetlands
Dajia River, Qingshui District, Taichung City
http://www.gaomei.com.tw/

A new charm of Taiwan awaits, just about an hour from Taipei. Why not embark on a journey to discover the unique flavors and landscapes of Taichung?

TRAVEL INFORMATION
● China Airlines is a convenient option for traveling to Taiwan. They operate over 200 flights per week to Taoyuan Airport from 15 cities in Japan, including Narita. From Taoyuan Airport to Taichung City, it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by direct bus.
https://www.china-airlines.com/jp/jp

● "Taiwan Hao Fun Card"
For your trip to Taichung, we recommend getting the "Taiwan Hao Fun Card" (Taiwan Fun Card) to make your travel more convenient. This electronic ticket card offers special discounts at various tourist attractions. It includes unlimited rides on over 200 bus routes within Taichung City. With this card, you can receive various special discounts and services locally. It can be purchased at the airport or convenience stores.
http://ct-pass.com/product/show/539?lang=ja

• Series | In Search of Taiwan's True Face: A Journey to Taichung TOP