Taichung — Taiwan's Creative Center
The Underrated Metropolis
Taichung (台中) with 2.8 million inhabitants is Taiwan's second-largest city — and perhaps the most underrated. While everyone flocks to Taipei, Taichung has experienced a creative revolution in recent years: former sake breweries as cultural centers, a world-famous opera house, bubble tea history, and the island's craziest artist village.
Highlights
- Rainbow Village (彩虹眷村): Former soldier Huang Yung-Fu (now over 100 years old) began painting his military settlement, slated for demolition, in bright colors in 2008 — every wall, every floor, every object. The government stopped the demolition, and the Rainbow Village became an Instagram phenomenon. Free, Bus 56 or 74.
- National Taichung Theater (國家歌劇院): Designed by Japanese star architect Toyo Ito — a futuristic building without right angles, resembling a coral reef. Even without a performance, it's worth a visit: the interior architecture is equally impressive. Free access.
- Miyahara (宮原眼科): Not an ophthalmology practice, but a former Japanese colonial hospital converted into Taiwan's most spectacular ice cream parlor and souvenir shop. The interior design is reminiscent of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley: floor-to-ceiling shelves full of tea tins and chocolates. The ice cream (bubble tea flavor!) is excellent.
- Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市): Taiwan's largest night market — over 300 stalls on several streets around Feng Chia University. Culinary trends are born here: giant chicken cutlets, cheese potatoes, innovative bubble tea variations.
- Chun Shui Tang (春水堂): This tea house in Taichung is where Bubble Tea was invented in 1983. The original branch still exists — drinking the "Original Pear Mountain Tea with Tapioca" here is a pilgrimage for bubble tea fans.
Getting There
HSR from Taipei: 47 min., 700 TWD (20€). The HSR station is outside — Bus 160 or Metro Green Line to the center (30 min.).
