Miaoli

Understand

Miaoli is the main center of Hakka culture in Taiwan. Hakka cuisine and language differ significantly from those of the majority Taiwanese speakers in Taiwan. Politically, due to its large Hakka population, Miaoli is considered to be a KMT stronghold, though the DPP has made inroads, particularly among the younger generation.

Getting there

By car Miaoli can be accessed from Taipei on the Sun-Yat Sen Expressway (中山高). The interchange is located to the south of the city.

By bus Miaoli is served by intercity buses from Hsinchu and Taichung. The bus terminal is located next to the train station in the middle of Miaoli.

By train Miaoli is served by both the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR), and slower Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) trains on the Taichung Line.

1 Miaoli Station (苗栗車站). TRA station in the city center of Miaoli. (updated Jul 2022) 2 Miaoli HSR Station (高鐵苗栗站). The THSR serving Miaoli, with connections from Taiwan's major cities along the West Coast. It is located in a somewhat remote place north of the city centre, but the TRA Fengfu Station is located adjacent to Miaoli HSR station, where you can transfer onto a regular TRA train to take you into Miaoli station in the middle of town. (updated Jul 2022) 3 Nanshi Station (南勢車站). (updated Oct 2019)

Getting around

Due to Miaoli's small size, buses run throughout the county but none specifically within Miaoli. Taxis can be found right outside the train station.

See

History and culture 1 Gongweixu Tunnel (功維敘隧道). (updated Oct 2019)

Museums 2 Miaoli Railway Museum (苗栗鐵道文物展示館), ☏ +886 3 732 0157. A national level museum of the TRA system in Taiwan. The museum is only a short walk south from Miaoli station. (updated Jun 2019) 3 Miaoli County Urban Planning Exhibition Center (苗栗縣城市規劃館), No. 102, Xianfu Road, ☏ +886 3 736 9477. 09:30-16:00. A gallery covering the history of Miaoli County. (updated Oct 2019)

Temples 4 Miaoli Wenchang Temple (文昌祠), No. 756, Zhongzheng Rd, ☏ +886 3 733 3993. (updated Jun 2019) 5 Nayeli Mazu Temple (天后宮), No. 794, Zhongzheng Road, ☏ +886 3 732 1245. 07:00-21:00. An ornate temple dedicated to Mazu. (updated Oct 2019)

Parks & Nature 6 Miaolishan Park (貓貍山公園), No. 430 Gongyuan Rd, ☏ +886 3 733 7910. (updated Jun 2019)

Sleep

Wang Fu Hotel (王府大飯店) is located near the train station. Turn left immediately after leaving the station, walk 50 m and the hotel will be on your right. Li Hua Hotel (栗華大飯店) is a little farther away. If unfamiliar with Miaoli, perhaps a quick taxi trip for under NT$100 is preferable to getting lost. It is located on the corner of ZhongHua Road (中華路) and YiMin Street (義民街). The hotel has a restaurant on its first floor.