Our Taiwanese friends are awesome and drove us to Taichung for a 2D1N trip! Thank you Cyndi and XinZhong, loads of love from sunny Singapore. Many friends asked which hotel I stayed in Taichung for it is HUGE and cost only around S$102 for 2!

Talmud Business Hotel

Address: 404, Taiwan, 台中市北區柳川西路4段1號10F

Phone: +886 4 2206 6633

So despite the very short 2D1N trip, we narrowed to 9 must do things when in Taichung!

Here is my list of 9 things to do in Taichung:

Carton King – Taichung 紙箱王 (台中店)

No.2, Aly. 2, Sec. 2, Dongshan Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung City 406, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Telephone: +886-4-22398868

Opening hours: 10:00-21:00

I am so fascinated when I enter Carton King for almost everything is made by carton! The tables and chairs, all the decorations made up of famous buildings and animals, the plates we dine in, cup… etc Amazing! I was sceptical when I saw their tables and chairs and was a little worried it might not hold our weight but my worries are unfounded! You can also shop in their souvenir stalls and buy some local snacks. Picture worthy for all photography lovers!

Moncoeur 心之芳庭

No.1, Fangting Rd., Beitun Dist., Taichung City 406, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Telephone: +886-4-22398900

Opening hours: 11am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 10am-9.30pm (Sat-Sun)

The romantic atmosphere is what attracted millions of tourists to Moncoeur where couples are free to sit and picnic in the garden. There is also a gorgeous venue where couples can hold their dream wedding. One of the main attractions is the Lavender Cottage where one can view the lovely purple lavenders! There are also stalls selling loads of pretty lovey-dovey yummy ice creams!

Caihongchun Village 彩虹眷村 (Rainbow Village)

408, Taiwan, Taichung City, Nantun District, 春安路56巷

Rainbow Village is renowned for the colourful paintings on the walls of the buildings. All of the artworks are completed by Mr Huang who lives in the village. In 2008, he came up with the idea of painting the walls of his village in various colors and designs. Starting from his house, he gradually painted from house to house until he has finished the village including the playground. If you are lucky, you might actually catch Mr Huang in action. People still live in this village. If you would like to help, you are welcome to donate some money by purchasing their souvenirs.

Yonghe Soy Milk King

No.17 Dongyuan Alley, Taichung, Taiwan 

Indulge in Taichung’s local delicacies which are really popular such as the Shao Bing, salty soy milk, carrot cake, you tiao and more. Very authentic, delicious and cheap! I love the salty soy milk and if you are adventurous, you can mix the sweet and salty soy milk for an interesting mix!

Miyaharu (Gong Yuan Yan Ke)

No 20 Zhongshan Road, Zhong District, Taichung

Tel: +886-04-2227-1927

The shop interior is really grand and the very tall shelves kinda reminded me of Harry Potter Hogwarts! I was wondering why this established store is named eye specialist and so I asked and the staff told me this building is a former eye hospital. You can purchase yummy chocolates to pineapple tarts to other pastries all packaged in unique nice boxes here. I tried to queue for the dessert café but there was such a long queue, I was told it will take at least 2 hours to sit us. There is also a minimum spending for each pax.

The Fourth Credit Cooperation

No.72, Zhongshan Rd., Central Dist., Taichung City 400, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Telephone: +886-4-22271966

Opened by the same owners who own Miyaharu, this unique former old bank is revamped into an interesting retro-styled like dessert restaurant thus the name The Fourth Credit Cooperation! I bet you can’t tell from the name that this is a popular dessert restaurant that is posh yet retro and 3 storey high! Known for its ice desserts and varies flavours (some are seasonal), you are in for some yummy sweet treats for the portions are generous. If you like ice cream cones, you can view the making process through a glass panel located on the ground floor.

CMP Block Museum of Arts 勤美術館

No.68, Gongyi Rd., West Dist., Taichung City 403, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Telephone: +886-4-23281000

CMP Block Museum takes street blocks into art design and covers as big as 7500 square meters! I am excited for the whole area is like an intergrated living museum where one can freely indulge as one with the work of art! You can also shop at CMP Shopping Mall before making your way outside for the outdoor weekend market. There are many small stalls selling handcraft items and also stalls for cats and dogs adoption.

Fengjia Night Market 逢甲夜市

Fengjia Rd., Xitun Dist., Taichung City 407, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

There are so many night markets in Taiwan but Fengjia Night Market is by far the most popular and biggest in Taiwan! I read that it drew over 118 million visitors in just 2013 alone! Tons of people flock in to eat, relax and shop here. You have to walk around and feast as much street food as you can! I was worried when my Taiwanese friends urged me to try their favourite ‘Da chang bao xiao chang’ street food and I thought oh dear, the sound of it in Chinese means big intestines wrapped in small intestines and I don’t fancy any animal innards. When the actual snack arrived, I had a huge laugh for it is glutinous rice wrapped in taiwan sausage. Rather tasty and not as scary as it sound.

Apparently this yellow taxi is very famous in Taichung! This cabby appeared in local news and in some variety shows because you can sing KTV in this taxi! If you sing well or sing a few as requested, he might even give you a free ride! Everyone was staring at the cab and snapping pictures like I did!

Old Sichuan

No.45, Sec. 2, Nanjing E. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City 104, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Telephone: +886-2-25223333

Taiwanese love hot pots and when in Taiwan, eat Mala Hotpot! The exterior of Old Sichuan looks really posh with flying dragon stone carvings, red lanterns hanging with loads of gold paintings. I am not very good at eating anything spicy and I’ve long heard that Mala is more numbing than spicy. I decided to challenge myself and try it! The taste is still bearable initially but as the soup and ingredients boiled for some time, the flavour gets stronger along with the numbing spicy sensation! I am surprised that duck blood and tofu are top-up infinitely. The mister and I had our first duck blood and loves it!

Read about my Yilan Taiwan trip here:

http://www.modgam.com/things-to-do-in-yilan-taiwan/