Explore Taichung in 4 hours

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Where to visit  within 4 hours in Taichung if you arrived in Taichung Ching Chun Kang Airport from Hong Kong? You can visit the nearby heritage town of Chingshui and the recreation town of Shalu by airport taxi. The airport taxi station is located across the street from the airport. It is a typical airport taxi shophouse of Taiwan. From here, you start to see the real community lifestyle of Taiwan that you do not find in Taipei.

Chingshui town which encompasses the Taichung airport was formerly called Gomach （牛骂头）, the community grounds of the Papora Aborigines of the Pingpu tribe in ancient times. In 1920, Gomach was renamed Chingshui as there was a 'magical' spring which supplied the communities with pure water. Ching Chun Kang Airport was named after this 'magical' spring. A symbolic fountain stands distances away from the base of Mount Aofeng with a monument erected explaining the name origin of Gomach.

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On the touristic Number 1 Street of Chingshui are famous temples Purple Cloud Temple （紫云严）, Three Kingdoms Royal Temple （三山国王庙）and Fortune Deed Temple (开基德福寺, the first Land God temple of Taichung) that were built during the Qing Dynasty. They narrated the stories and fortunes of the Han Chinese forefathers in Chingshui. In particular, Purple Cloud Temple is revered as a pilgrimage site. Around the temple are alleys and walkways that dated back to the Qing Dynasty and chessboard streets with cafes, food

courts and grocery shops lined on both sides.

If you are a history buff, Chingshui is an educational town with many relics from the 1930s and World War II. Before reaching the scenic Mount Aofeng, walk up the Japanese bridge from Dajie Road. Along the way you will notice the Cingshui Street Earthquake Memorial (to remember the 1935 Earthquake in Taichung) and the not-so-obvious Japanese Temple.  If you have time to spare, continue to walk up to the Relics of Gomach before considering any short hike to the pristine Mount Aofeng.

If one arrives in Taichung on Saturdays, the Chingshui Ghost Tunnel at Mount Aofeng, World War II's Japanese soldiers' defence base, is opened to the public.

If you do not have time to discover the Relics of Gomach  like I am, visit the Zheng Cheng Gong Monument Tower, which was erected to remember the Fujian chief commander of the Ming troops Zheng Cheng Gong (or Koxinga). See how the locals conserve the tower which now looks more like a temple.

Take in church architecture during a four-hour journey in Chingshui. Pass by Tianzhu Cathedral and Presbyterian Church to admire and take snapshots of the different denominations' architecture. Tianzhu Cathedral has a Chinese temple-like roof. Presbyterian Church  was established in 1897 and renovated in 1957. Alternatively, take a stroll or rest at the Garden of the Relics of Gomach and see recreation and Taiwanese flora in the park.

Before proceeding to Taichung Ching Chun Kang Airport, one may detour to visit a small porcelain production house in Shalu district named Aofeng Yao. Aofeng Yao is famous for supplying customised porcelain plates to Taipei 101 and one of the large porcelain production factories in Taiwan.

Through this trip, one learns that one does not need to go far to discover so many things in a small area. There is more diversity in a small destination.

Ought-to-buy product in Chingshui: Almond cookies.

Transport tips: Public buses serving Taichung airport operate on hourly basis. The Taiwan Tour Bus only operates infrequent rides per day although there is a one-daily shuttle service to Sun Moon Lake. The most convenient but expensive way to get around Chingshui is by airport taxi. Round trip starts from 2000 TWD. Travel in a rental car to the city downtown if you have at least eight hours to spare in Taichung.

HK Express and Mandarin Airlines fly from Hong Kong to Taichung daily while the latter has many flights from Taipei Sungshan. From Singapore, fly to Taipei Taoyuan, transfer to an airport bus for travel to Taipei Railway Station for a bullet train ride to Taichung city. In contrast, flying round trip to Taichung from Hong Kong is cheaper than travelling from Singapore to Taipei Taoyuan.

Other Tips: Bring plenty of AA batteries as AA batteries sold in Taichung last only 5 hours from the time of usage. Mineral water is not on sale in 7-11 stores of Taichung. Bottles of tea are common.

For more tourism and travel information in Taichung, visit www.tourism.taichung.gov.tw.