Taichung

Understand

History

Aboriginal era Indigenous people used to populate the plain where modern Taichung City is located. They lived by cultivating millet and taro and hunted deer. Several local names in central Taiwan contain the word for "deer," including Shalu Township and Lukang Township in Changhua County.

Early history of Taichung Taichung was founded in 1705 as a part of Changhua County with the name of Dadun (ch: 大墩; p: Dàdūn; w: Ta-tun; lit. large mound). At this point in history, the Qing Dynasty, formed by invading Manchus in the 1640s, was consolidating its hold on western Taiwan, which it had wrested from the Cheng family in 1682. As a part of strengthening its control, a garrison was founded in 1721 near the site of present-day Taichung Park by Lan Ting-chen. All was not peaceful for Qing authorities in central Taiwan. North of the city, at the Dajia River, an Indigenous revolt broke out in 1731 after Chinese officials moved in and compelled them to provide labor. After being joined by other Indigenous people, they were driven as far south as the county seat of Changhua in May 1732 before being chased into the mountains by Qing forces. Another rebellion, this one in 1786, against Qing authorities had its roots in the nearby town of Dali, just south of Taichung City. Led by Lin Shuang-wen, it began as an attempt to overthrow the Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty. As they moved northward, they turned to slaughter and looting. They were eventually defeated by a coalition of Hakka, Quanzhou Fujianese descendants, and Aboriginal volunteers who joined with the government to defeat the rebels.

Qing Dynasty rule era Taiwan became a province of Qing-dynasty China in 1885, and the city, named Taiwan at the time, was named capital of Taiwan Prefecture, one of three prefectures in the newly created Taiwan Province. It was also initially designated as the provincial capital, and Qing official Liu Mung-chuan received the authority from the Guangxu Emperor to oversee development of the area. However, four years later, Liu was forced to retire by Empress Dowager Cixi, and the provincial capital was moved to what is now known as Taipei.

Japanese colonial era China lost the Sino-Japanese War in 1895. As a consequence, the Qing Dynasty was forced to surrender Taiwan to the Japanese in the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The Japanese changed the name of the city from Dadun to Taichū (臺中), and began to develop the city, setting out to make it the first “modern” area of Taiwan. However, Taichū bore the brunt of early Japanese repression. There were many rebel

Getting there

By plane

1 Taichung International Airport (RMQ IATA), 臺中市沙鹿區中航路1段168號, ☏ +886-4-2615-5000, fax: +886-4-2615-5201, [email protected]. The joint-use airport is the only airport in Central Taiwan. It has domestic flights and international flights in different halls. For domestic, it provides flights from/to Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and Hualien. For international, it provides scheduled flights from/to Hong Kong, Japan (Okinawa and Takamatsu), Macau, South Korea (Incheon), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc). It sometimes provides non-scheduled flights from/to China. Taichung International Airport is more limited compared to Taipei and Kaohsiung since most airlines operate their flights from other airports before considering Taichung and the military instructs heavy restrictions to the airport. There are no metro or HSR lines to the airport directly. Passengers can only access the airport by bus when considering public transport. The airport, which is on the Dadu Mountain, is far away from downtown and very close to National Freeway 3 (國道三號), so it is generally not a good idea to access the airport by scooter or bicycle. Rather, it is easier to access by bus, car, or taxi. When accessing downtown from the airport by car or scooter (which is not recommended), drive straight to Zhongqing Road (中清路).

By bus Buses are the most convenient and least expensive option. From Taipei Train Station, go to the bus terminal and take the U-Bus (統聯客運), Kuo-Kuang Bus (國光客運). Tickets cost from NT$100–350, depending on what day of the week you travel on. Buses depart several times an hour from the early morning through evenings and the entire ride is about three hours long.

2 Taichung Ubus terminal, 401, Taïwan, Taichung City, East District, 車站大智北路上，臺鐵一樓C區 (Near the train station (modern one) under bridge on Dazhi road near train station baggage room and next to xinmin street market (fruits, meat…)). When arriving, bus (at least from Tainan) don't stop here but following stops, some only on-demand: Zhaoma station (or Ubus Chao Ma station, next to hung’s mansion),Taiwan boulevard-wenxin intersection, Hecuo station, National museum of natural science, Minquan road, National Taichung university of education, Taichung prefectural hall, Taichung station (Minzu road), Taichung Hero house. Taipei NT$ 290-320 (about 3h trip, hourly), Hsinchu science park NT$ 165, Tainan NT$ 270-290 (about 3h trip, every 2 hours), Kaohsiung NT$ 340-370. (updated Jul 2024)

By train All Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) trains between Taipei and Kaohsiung stop at Taichung. The

Getting around

By subway

After a long and difficult construction, the Taichung Metro started operating in 2021. The Metro Line is very clean, more comfortable than buses, and can serve you from the HSR station to certain sites in western downtown Taichung. However, you will quickly find that the Green Line, the only metro line in Taichung, is insufficient even for a trip to downtown Taichung. Since the Blue Line has started its construction since 2025, and is expected to be finished in 2034, buses and bicycles are still the main public transport in your travel plans. If you are going to the High Speed Rail Station, stop at HSR Taichung Station and do not stop at Wuri Station. Despite the name suggested, they are hard to walk between two stations, so stop at the correct stations.

By train As mentioned above, the Western Line of the Taiwan Railway Administration is splitted into two branches here. You can switch each branch from Xinwuri Station (新烏日車站, where the High Speed Rail Station located). The Taichung Line, or the Mountain Line (山線), serves the downtown and is easier to access. If you are going to the High Speed Rail Station, stop at Xinwuri Station and do not stop at Wuri Station. The Taiwan Railway and the Taichung Metro are assembled in Songzhu Station (松竹車站) and Daqing Station (大慶車站).

By bus Taichung City has a fully developed bus system. 18 bus companies cover 275 routes in the 29 districts. Most of the bus lines have fixed departure schedules. All buses announce the station name in 2 languages, including Chinese and English. Bus lines such as 300, 302, 303, and 304 (which are legacies of a ceased BRT line) depart frequently on Taiwan Blvd from the train station to Shalu District. Bus lines such as 50 and 201 also run frequently from Wufeng District to the train station, Taichung Park, and Yizhong Street night market. Bus line 35 runs from Chung Hsing University to Fengjia Night Market, passing by the train station, Taichung Park, Yizhong Street, and the National Science Museum. Be mindful of the schedule as many buses have long intervals and can up to two hours in certain lines, so plan accordingly, and take bicycles as your alternative plan is buses are too long. Taichung city government offers a free website, 台中公車, in both Mandarin and English including bus routes, planner, nearby stops, and fares. It also provides mobile applications (Apple Store, Google Play Store). All bus service fares start at NT$20. Taichung citizens can apply for a free bus pass. If you are not a Taichung citizen but still want a free bus pass, consider buying Taichung Go.

See

Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Datun is the former residence and grounds of the Wufeng Lin Family. Taichung Winery. Dating back to the Japanese era, this still-operational winery also includes a wine museum, which has displays on wine-making and the history of the winery. (updated May 2021)

Museums National Museum of Natural Science in Central Taichung is a large and elaborate science-themed museum, actually composed of seven museums in one. National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Central Taichung is a large and elaborate modern arts museum, featuring rotating visual exhibits. Asia Museum of Modern Art in Datun houses a café, a shop and a lecture hall on the ground floor and art galleries on the upper and topmost floor. 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan in Datun is dedicated to the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the center of Taiwan. The museum is on the site of the former Guangfu Junior High School; the shell of the building forms the exterior walls of the museum, and the Museum's Chelungpu Fault Gallery crosses the fault on which the earthquake occurred.

Places of worship Places of worship of interest in Central Taichung include the Martyr’s Shrine, dedicated to the heroes of the Republic of China; the Pao Jiue Temple, which has a gold, seven-floor Buddha; and Luce Memorial Chapel, designed by I.M. Pei.

Do

Hot springs Gu-Guan Hot Spring is a nice hot spring at Mountain Line.

Parks and nature The Parkway is a narrow corridor of greenery in Central Taichung forms a pleasant parkway which runs south/north between the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Natural Science, intersected by the main Taizhonggang Rd. You can spend minutes or hours walking along it, or relax in one of the parks. Gaomei Wetlands is 1½-2 hr from central district in Coast Line. It is a popular spot for sunset. Lihpao Land is a large amusement place in Mountain Line with a waterpark (opens in summer months), an amusement park, a racing site, and famously, the tallest Ferris wheel in Taiwan.

Events Taichung Jazz Festival (臺中爵士音樂節). An annual jazz music festival in Taichung, usually held in October and around Calligraphy Greenway for 10 days. Besides inviting jazz groups, many street food vendors and stores are around the festival, creating a strong picnic culture during the festival. You can also enjoy drinks there. (updated Mar 2026)

Buy

Taichung has many department stores which can be accessed by bus. Most can be found in Central Taichung. On the other hand, night markets are another option when buying goods.

Fengjia Night Market is a large night market in Xitun District, Central Taichung. It's popular with teenagers and there's lots to buy, including restaurants and vendors selling many popular Taiwanese dishes. Beware on Fridays and weekends, however — it can be very crowded. Central Taichung is also home to Xiang Shang Market. Yizhong Street is a night market near Chungyo Department Store in Central Taichung.. The street consists of a college, a high school, and many cram schools from the Shuei Li building in the area. As a result, it is always teeming with students. Shops and restaurants are there to serve the youthful population and cater for their tastes with low prices and a casual atmosphere.

Eat

With a proliferation of noodle shops and street vendors peddling anything from the exotic to common household dishes, there is no lack of choice for enjoying local delicacies. Walking through the streets of Taichung, one can locate exotic cuisines like Indian, Japanese, Indonesian, and continental. The Taiwanese are quite accustomed to non-Chinese speakers, so using gestures will get you what you want (with perhaps a little surprise!) Taichung is also well known for its Chinese bakeries. Pastries that are worth a try include sun cakes (太陽餅) and pineapple tarts (鳯梨酥)

Jin Ming First Street (精明一街): Great place for a tea brea Central Taichung hosts the Feng Chia Night Market, Second Market, Third Market, Jianguo Market, Yizhong Street, and several traditional markets.

Sleep

Mostly, you will sleep in downtown. Mountain area and coastal area are too far from downtown, and Datun simply has no accommodation. You should consider accommodation downtown unless you want to travel in the mountain or coastal area in Taichung. In addition to traditional-style hotels, you might want to consider the exotic "love motels" for which Taichung is famous. These provide the feel of a resort with a large bath - often complete with television - large-screen television in the main room, and large beds, but without the need to travel hundreds of miles away. Rooms are individually priced and themed: everything from tropical paradise, complete with waterfall or reflecting pool, to dramatic uptown chic, to kitschy reds and pinks.

Go next

For a short distance, Nantou County and Changhua County are the most common destinations since each downtown area is very close to each other.

Nantou County - the mountains and lush plains country has Puli, where you could visit Sun Moon Lake within an hour's drive to the east. The coast is a mere half-hour from the central city to the west. Changhua County - another country in Central Taiwan that can be considered. Bagua Mountain is the most obvious spot for sightseeing. Although Miaoli County is in central Taiwan, it is further away from the other downtown areas. That said, if you are in the northern suburbs such as Houli, Miaoli can be your next destination. As Taichung is in the middle of Taiwan, it is convenient for making trips to Taipei and Kaohsiung. There are frequent, comfortable and inexpensive freeway-bus services plying the routes. The journey to either city by bus or train takes around 3 hours, or as little as one and a half hours given optimal traffic conditions. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) is now in operation, and as it will run at up to 300 km/h, travel time to Taipei and Kaohsiung is as little as 45 minutes.