Taichung.
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Overview

Taichung (臺中 or 台中 Táizhōng) is a city in the west-central part of the island of Taiwan. It has a pleasant climate and a population of just over 2.8 million people, making it the second largest city on the island after New Taipei. The city is home to many manufacturers and has experienced rapid growth in the diversity of its cultural offerings.

Among the activities to catch when visiting Taichung: the world-class science museum and hiking in the nearby hills. There are also many famous night markets that provide night-time excitement. Here you can enjoy delicious food and drink, and find cheap and interesting items for sale.

Districts

Taichung is divided into 29 geographical subdivisions which may be grouped as Inner Taichung that was the smaller Taichung City until 2010, Datun southeast of Inner Taichung, Mountain Line (山線) as inland mountainous area, and Coast Line (海線) as coastal area:

Understand

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.

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.

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 rebels who stated that they had accepted amnesty from the earlier period of rebellion when the Republic of Taiwan was declared in 1895. However, many of those same people continued anti-Japanese activities. On May 25, 1902, some 360 rebels and their families accepted invitations to surrender and receive amnesty and rewards. Instead of receiving amnesty, once inside, the Japanese locked the doors and slaughtered the former rebels.

Taichū Park was completed in 1903. The old north gate, one of the few Liu-era structures to survive the Japanese reconstruction of the city, was moved to the new park. To this day, Taichung Park is one of the most popular places in the city for people to relax.

The first market in Taichū was built in 1908 along JiGuang Road between ZhongZheng and ChengGong Roads. It is still used today, and is a popular spot to purchase food and other items in downtown Taichung. Taichung Middle School (now known as Taichung First High School) was founded in 1913 by Lin Hsien-tang and his brother Lin Lie-tang, two wealthy Taiwanese intellectuals of the era. This was done in an effort to teach children the traditional culture of Taiwan and to foster a sense of local pride.

Taichū was designated as a city by Japanese Imperial authorities in 1920, and Taichū City Hall was completed in 1924 after eleven years of construction.

A Taiwanese cultural association founded in 1921 in Taipei by Lin Hsien-tang was moved to Taichū in 1927. Most of the members of this association were from Taichū and the surrounding area. The city became a center of Taiwanese culture and nationalism.

The newfound prosperity of Taichū was eventually squandered by the war effort. When World War II ended in 1945, Taiwan’s economy, like Japan’s, was in shambles.

The Japanese were forced to surrender to Republic of China forces on behalf of Allied forces on 25 October 1945, who came across the strait on U.S. ships and accepted their surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers.

The Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party, relocated the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan upon losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists.

The early post-war era was one of transition and turmoil for Taiwan. Taiwanese nationalists had divided into three prominent groups, one of which was known as the Taichung Clique. These were men with relatively high social standing during the Japanese era, such as Lin Hsien-t’ang, Yang Chao-chia, Yeh Jung-chung, and others. These men attempted to take what they believed to be their rightful place as the political leaders of the island. However, the administrator of the island, Chen Yi, opposed this faction as it contained many people, especially merchants and landlords, who had opposed his policies.

Under the authorities of the Republic of China, Taichung had become a center for organized crime and associated businesses.

In 2010, Taichung City and County of Taiwan Province merged into a new a special municipality of Taichung.

Taichung is blessed with pleasant climate outside of the summer months. It is often compared to California because of the frequency of sunny dry days. The subtropical monsoon climate gives Taichung south wind from June to August and north wind from October to May.

The highest temperature appears in the summer months of July, August, and September. Average summer temperatures are around during the day and at night, but can spike above and at night during warmer and more humid spells. The summer humidity can make the average apparent feels like temperature closer to during the day and at night, and upwards to and at night if the humidity is particularly high.

The lowest temperature arrives in the winter months of January and February. The difference in temperature between summer and winter seldom exceeds about 16°C. However, there will be short periods during the winter when the temperature barely rises much above 10°C. The city enjoys mild weather from the fall until the spring with the average annual temperature being a comfortable .

The average annual rainfall is around 1600 mm. The rain falls generously in the wet season (May – August) and scarcely in the dry season (October – February). The unique landform of basin means that the city suffers less from typhoons than other areas in Taiwan. However, typhoons still affect the city and often bring very heavy rainfall and flooding. However, by being in a valley and not having much rain, Taichung also has air quality problems throughout the year.

Tourist information Taichung Travel website

Get in

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). Buses depart several times an hour from the early morning through evenings and the entire ride is about three hours long.

All Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) trains between Taipei and Kaohsiung stop at Taichung. The is located in Wuri District on the outskirts of Inner Taichung. You can take a regular train between the two stations in about six minutes. In addition, a free bus is available to take HSR passengers downtown, to the universities, etc.

In addition, the Western Line of the Taiwan Railway Administration is split into the Taichung Line serving inland districts and the Coastal Line serving serving coastal districts. Many north and south bound trains make a stop at major Taichung Station in Central District along the Taichung Line. Other trains bypass Taichung Station by taking the Coastal Line. Make sure to take the correct train to reach the intended destination. The entire trip takes about three hours from both Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Taichung is served by National Highways 1 and 3. From Taoyuan Airport and from most parts of Taipei, National Highway 1 is the fastest route to central Taichung.

By boat The Cosco Star ferry runs overnight between Taichung and Xiamen on the Chinese mainland. It runs from Xiamen to Taichung on Tuesdays, and from Taichung back to Xiamen on Wednesdays. The other days of the week, it runs other routes between Taiwan and China that don't leave from or arrive at Taichung (see here for departure times of each route and here for the latest calendar of operations). There are substantial discounts for seniors (65+) and children (12 and under). The service's Taiwan-facing website is here.

CSF operates fast ferries (about 3 hours) from Pingtan in mainland China to Taichung. As of February 2019, the Pingtan-Taichung-Pingtan route runs on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays (full schedule).

As of August 2026, both passenger services remain indefinitely suspended.

Get around

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.

It also provides mobile applications (Apple Store, Google Play Store).

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.

By bicycle The YouBike system, once the iBike system, is also active in Taichung. Apple, Google), and any first 30 minutes of a bicycle trip are free.

By scooter Traveling by scooter is also convenient. Renting a scooter can be done with a Taiwanese driver's license or an International Driving Permit accompanying the original foreign license with motorcycle endorsement.

By taxi Otherwise, you will need to take taxis. Tips are not required. On foot The downtown area is sufficiently compact to make it easy to get around on foot, although many shop owners will use the sidewalk in front of their business. This can make walking something of an ordeal, dodging traffic as you are forced to walk on the street. By car

The Taichung Ring Expressway ( Provincial Highway Number 74) serves the whole city. Inside the expressway, the traffic is denser than outside. The 74 expressway can be very important if you are entering/leaving the city.

Another important road in Taichung is the Taiwan Boulevard ( Provincial Highway Number 12). Starting from Taichung Station in the downtown area and extending to Taichung Port in Wuqi, the road connects various parts of the city, including the downtown area and beyond. Driving from the boulevard can lead you anywhere in the downtown area.

The Central Cross-Island Highway ( Provincial Highway Number 8) remains closed to the public between Shangguguan (上谷關) and Deji (德基) since the major earthquake on 21 September 1999. While repairs are underway, travelling between Dongshi District and Lishan Village in Heping District on the road requires a long detour through Puli, Nantou County. Prepare to allow at least 4 hours for the extra travel on the mountainous roads. The bus route 865 of the Fengyuan Bus Transportation Co., Ltd., through the restricted road requires registering for membership to reserve a seat at a Chinese website.

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.

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.

Taichung Jazz Festival. 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.

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.

Learn

National Chung Hsing University (國立中興大學) - Taichung's top university, famous for science, technology, and agriculture. It is close to downtown and has a Chinese language centre. Feng Chia University (逢甲大學) — A prestigious private besides the famous night market, strong in science and technology and main force of the local industrial. Chinese language centre is available. A little far from downtown, but still convenient to access. Tunghai University (東海大學) — Another prestigious private, where the Luce Memorial Chapel is, well-known for architecture, humanities, and social sciences. The university is further from downtown than Chung Hsing and Feng Chia, but its large and beautiful campus can make students feel worth it. Chinese language centre is available as well.

Work

There are a good number of science and industrial parks that may offer work to foreigners.

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). Traditional sun cakes use pork lard as a shortener in the pastry, so if you are a vegetarian, Muslim or Jew, you will need to specifically seek out vegetarian versions.

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.