Taichung Travel Guide, Taiwan

Taichung, in north-western Taiwan, is the third largest city of the island, and an important cultural, political and financial centre. This city is an ideal place for tourists who are on the lookout for cultural attractions such as museums and temples, but there are numerous parks and gardens which, coupled with the area’s pleasant climate, make for a great holiday destination. Taichung is also famous for its night markets where you can find anything from delicious traditional foods and drinks to hand-made clothes and objects. Taichung has a little bit of everything: culture, history and entertainment, and it is the perfect destination for a few weeks of relaxation and fun. This Taichung Travel Guide will give you some basic information about this charming city.

Taichung Travel Guide - Transport

Taichung’s international airport is rather small and only offers international flights to relatively close locations, such as Xiamen or Makung. However, there are numerous domestic flights to the other major cities of Taiwan, Taipei and Kaohsiung. If you are planning to travel by plane, the best route is to fly to Taipei Taoyuan Airport, and catch a flight to Taichung from there. Fortunately for future tourists, the largest airport in Taiwan is currently being built near Taichung. If you are already in Taiwan, the most convenient way to get around the island is by bus. From the central bus station in Taipei, several buses leave every hour in the direction if Taichung. Another quick and easy way to reach Taichung is by rail. It takes about three hours to reach Taichung from both Taipei and Kaohsiung, a bit longer than by bus, but train carriages are a lot more comfortable and bus seats. You can also rent a car and drive to Taichung yourself, but you should be warned that parking spaces are extremely scarce in the city. Taichung city center is quite compact and you needn’t use public transport to get around, but in any case taxis are aplenty in the city and the public transport system is quite well organized.

Taichung Travel Guide - Accommodation

Taichung is not the best possible holiday destination for backpackers, unless they are prepared to spend more money than usual on accommodation. There are very few budget hotels in the city, and even those can be a bit pricey compared to western standards. Fu Chun Hotel, just across the street from the railway station is a decent budget hotel where you’ll find a comfortable bed and hot water. Kao Yuan Hotel is a bit higher up the quality ladder, and it offers facilities such as Jacuzzi, free internet, free English language newspapers and an excellent Chinese or Western breakfast included in the price. For high-class luxury, this Taichung Travel Guide recommends international hotels such as The Grand Hyatt or Plaza International, where your every whim will be tended to. According to the standards, these hotels offer you every imaginable amenity from sauna and fitness room to mini-bars and specialty restaurants.