Itinerary · Taiwan
One Day in Taichung: Taichung Park to a Night Market
A Taichung city day: Taichung Park in the morning, lunch near Yizhong Street, a museum or the National Theater, then Fengjia Night Market.
Published
Flights to Taoyuan Airport (TPE)
Who this city day is for
Taichung suits a stay of 3 to 4 days. Many of those days go out of town, to sunset at Gaomei Wetlands or a day trip to Sun Moon Lake, but sooner or later you will want a slower day in the city itself. This article lays out that day: it starts at Taichung Park, whose lakeside pavilion is a city symbol, and ends at Fengjia Night Market.
It works well on your arrival day, the day before you leave, or as a rest day after a trip out of town. For the full route with the wetlands and the lake, and for getting from the airport to Taichung, see the article and guide below.
Morning: a walk in Taichung Park
Start the day at Taichung Park, an old downtown park whose lakeside pavilion is a city symbol. It is a nice place for a morning stroll or a rest. Take in the pavilion on the lake and ease into the day.
YouBike shared bikes are also good for the park and the wide boulevards, and you can ride them with a transit card (EasyCard or iPASS). May-September is hot with afternoon showers, so in those months keep the walking for the morning.
Lunch: cheap eats around Yizhong Street and bubble tea
For lunch, head to the area around Yizhong Street, close to Taichung Park. It is a student district full of inexpensive food and shops. For something filling, try beef noodle soup with rich broth and big pieces of beef (about NT$150-250 a bowl); for something lighter, lu rou fan, braised pork over rice (about NT$40-70 a bowl).
Bubble tea is dessert. Taichung is one of the cities credited with inventing it, and a cup costs about NT$50-90. There is no eating or drinking in MRT stations or on trains, so finish your cup before you enter a station.
If you are traveling by train, also look around Taichung railway station. The area has older buildings, an old-town feel and lots of bus routes.
Afternoon: science museum or National Theater, by day of the week
Pick one of two for the afternoon. The National Museum of Natural Science has dinosaur skeletons and a botanical greenhouse, is great with kids and takes about half a day. It is closed on Mondays (except public holidays), so on a Monday pick the National Theater instead and check its opening hours in the official information.
The National Taichung Theater is a performing arts center known for its flowing, curved architecture. Check official information on visiting the public areas and the roof garden without a ticket. It stands in Xitun, the modern center with a large park and malls, so you can stroll the area after seeing the building.
- National Museum of Natural Science: half a day, closed Mondays (except public holidays); check admission in the official information before you go
- National Taichung Theater: check official information on visiting public areas and the roof garden
- Xitun: the modern center with a large park and malls
Evening: street food at Fengjia Night Market
End the day at Fengjia Night Market, one of Taiwan's largest night markets and a testing ground for new street snacks. It stays lively until late, and it sits right next to a university.
The fun is in tasting small portions: fried chicken cutlets, oyster omelets and Taiwanese sausages at about NT$50-100 each. Night markets and small eateries are often cash only, so carry Taiwan dollars; convenience store ATMs accept foreign cards.
Before heading back, pick up sun cakes to take home: flaky pastries filled with sweet malt, Taichung's classic souvenir.
Getting around, where to stay, budget and when to go
Buses are the main way to get around. Find routes in a map app and tap your card when boarding and getting off. Buy a transit card at a convenience store or station and use it for buses, the MRT, trains, YouBike and small purchases. The MRT is a single Green Line from HSR Taichung station to the northern districts. Taxis are metered and ride-hailing apps work too. Check routes and travel times between stops in the official information before you go.
Good bases for this day are around Yizhong Street (student area, cheap eats, close to Taichung Park), around Fengjia Night Market (busy and noisy late into the night) and around Taichung railway station (lots of bus routes). Xitun has stylish stays, but hotels cost a bit more. A daily budget per person is about NT$1,300-1,800 with a guesthouse, night markets and buses, or about NT$3,000-4,000 with a city hotel, restaurant meals and some taxis. There is no tipping; some restaurants add a 10% service charge.
The best time is October-April, which is drier and sunnier. Here are the 1991–2020 normals from the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, for Taichung station. May-September is hot with afternoon showers, and typhoons are possible from summer into autumn. Many shops close and sights are crowded over Lunar New Year.
- October: high 30°C · low 22°C · rain 25 mm
- January: high 22°C · low 13°C · rain 37 mm
- April: high 28°C · low 20°C · rain 127 mm
- July: high 33°C · low 26°C · rain 303 mm
Plan your Taichung trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
Services mentioned in this article
Affiliate links. You book on each company’s official site — OneWorld never takes payment.
FAQ
Can I do this day on a Monday?
Yes. The National Museum of Natural Science is closed on Mondays (except public holidays), so on a Monday swap the afternoon for the National Taichung Theater and a walk in Xitun, and check the theater's hours in the official information.
How do I get between the stops?
Mostly by bus. Find routes in a map app and tap your transit card when boarding and getting off. YouBike works well around the park, and taxis are metered.
How much should I bring for Fengjia Night Market?
Snacks such as fried chicken cutlets, oyster omelets and Taiwanese sausages cost about NT$50-100 each. Many stalls are cash only, so carry Taiwan dollars.
When is the best time to go?
October-April, which is drier and sunnier. May-September is hot with afternoon showers, so walk in Taichung Park in the morning.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Love River · 毛貓大少爺 from Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China / CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sun Moon Lake · Mitchell Hirsch / CC BY 2.0
- Gaomei Wetlands · 阿爾特斯 / CC BY 3.0