Take a Lake Day Trip from Taichung

Among Tourists, The Gateway to Sun Moon Lake

Taichung is Taiwan’s largest city - but it doesn’t feel like it. The streets are never busy; so much so, it feels like there is nobody out and about. The city only has one metro and the nightlife scene is quiet compared to Kaohsiung or Taipei. It’s the quietest major metropolis I’ve ever been to.

Most tourists stop in Taichung as a gateway to Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan’s largest lake. As a destination in its own right, Taichung is known for its night markets, art, cafes, and as the birthplace of pearl milk tea (bubble tea). It’s a bit like Kaohsiung - livable, nice, but without destinations that wow you. A place to call home but maybe not a place to sightsee.

 

Explore Sun Moon Lake

Two hours east of Taichung, you’ll find Taiwan’s largest lake set against a mountainous backdrop: Sun Moon Lake. It is beautiful - but I think it gets a bit overhyped. Prepare for a really pretty lake but not one that is otherworldly or far superior to other mountainous lakes around the world. It’s worth the trip - but I often hear of tourists being disappointed after hearing too many hyperboles about its beauty.

You can take a local bus (about $12 round trip) from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake. It will drop you in Shuishe - where you have a few options for traveling around the lake. You can rent a bicycle or a motor scooter, or pay for an all day pass (hop-on hop-off) for the local round-the-lake public bus. I opted for the bicycle because of its flexibility; it’s a 30km ride with lots of elevation changes, though, so only rent the bike if you’re comfortable with that distance.

As you travel around the lake, you’ll see signs for short nature trails to viewpoints as well as for temples. The most common two stops are Wenwu Temple and Ci’en Pagoda. I stopped in almost all the marked trails to combine my day of biking with some hiking.

The whole day trip will take you about 9 - 12 hours (4 hours in the bus, 5-7 hours to go around the lake). Of course, you could choose to stay at a hotel or hostel along the lake instead.

 

Things to Do in Taichung

I enjoyed my time in Taichung. All the places I went were nice, often cute and charming, but nothing wowed or awed me. Here are some of the things I enjoyed or were recommended to me by locals:

  • Drink the Original Bubble Tea: Pearl Milk Tea (bubble tea) is said to have been locally created at Chun Shui Tang - a chain with many locations throughout Taichung.

  • See the Damage from the 1999 Earthquake: In 1999, over 2400 people died in Taichung from a devastating earthquake. The 921 Earthquake Museum, located in the southern outskirts of the city, is built in a destroyed Junior High School and includes a visible fault line. I didn’t get the chance to go just because it was an hour bus trip from my hostel - but I did hear it is the place in Taichung that makes tourists say “wow.” I know I’ll go on my next visit.

  • Eat the Street Food: The most famous night market in Taichung is Feng Chia Night Market. It’s a bit out of the way, so I didn’t get the chance to go. Some more centrally located options are Taichung Second Market and Yizhong Street Night Market.

  • Enjoy Some Street Art and Craft Stalls: Taichung Cultural Heritage Park is built in an old sake factory and has a cute mix of art installations of craft boutiques.

  • Visit a Former Martial Arts Hall: A rebuilt butokuden from the period of Japanese colonization, the Natural Ways Six Arts Cultural Center is a photogenic building and garden with some cultural exhibitions.

  • Enjoy Some Cartoon Street Art: A small alley, Painted Animation Lane is absolutely bursting with paintings of famous animated characters. It’s tiny but extremely photogenic.

  • Walk Along the River: In central Taichung, the city has built out a peaceful walking path along the river: Liuchan Riverside Walk

  • Relax in Taichung Park: Centrally located, Taichung Park is cute, small and well-landscaped.

  • Head to a Temple: Confucius Temple Taichung is the most commonly visited temple; beautiful and understated, it’s nice but nothing truly remarkable.

I think a day or two is plenty in Taichung. You’ll enjoy your time there - but you’ll probably leave without any standout memories. Just a blur of nice city moments.

 
Devin Scott