< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Originally a plan to check out Taichung Fifth Market 台中第五市场 and Painted Animation Lane 动漫彩绘巷 for their proximity to each other, Taichung Literature Park 台中文学公园 was a by-the-way as I walked past this interesting cluster even before reaching the market. (The merit of exploring cities on foot...)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场 was one of the marketplaces in my Jul 2019 itinerary, made all the more enticing as it was a mere 15-minute walk from my accommodation Petrichor Hotel 朗舍行馆 (though I usually cater more time for getting distracted enroute). Cultural Heritage Park 文化创意产业园区, on the other hand, was an inclusion by chance passing by it at the end of my marketplace stroll - though highly recommended if you have time for both.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Traditional markets are a disappearing act in modern cities. Many get an overhaul and lose their original charm, becoming nothing more than homogenous, functional places. On this note, Taiwan makes an effort to inject creativity and character into some of their modern markets - making tradition accessible and attractive to the younger generation. I love visiting marketplaces on my travels, especially traditional ones which are almost non-existent where I come from; and find revamped ones in Taiwan quite an attraction on their own. Both types are worth exploring, for the local cuisine, infectious peak hour energy and modest neighbourhood charm.
Taichung Second Market 台中第二市场 was opened way back in 1917, and regarded as a upscale market for the Japanese. Came across two interesting YouTube videos sharing insights on the century-old Taichung landmark, which you can find online:
❐ 市场寻百味: 台中第二市场额 Century-old market in Taichung, Taiwan
❐ 我在市场待了一天: Ep6 台中第二市场
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
In many progressively urbanized countries, forests, green spaces and nature have made way for concrete dwellings, which takes priority in land scarce and increasingly populated places. Those that pay attention to (restoring some) greenery, make an effort to include pockets of nature (albeit man-made) or cater for neighbourhood parks in urban planning. I feel blessed that Taiwan maintains a good mix of city-scape and breathtaking nature - allowing me varied travel experiences - and feel aghast when seeing reports of people (both locals and tourists) misbehaving at attractions.
Taiwan does a great job providing public spaces, such as parks. And it is not incidental, considering how much effort must have been put in, for so many of them to withstand the test of time. Taichung Park 台中公园 is one example, being the oldest park in the city, completed way back in 1903.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
The Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR 高铁) came into service in January 2007, and provided a fast and comfortable alternative to the older Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA 台铁) system for inter-city travel. If there is any downside to HSR, it is that it only covers the "left side" of Taiwan, versus TRA's much more extensive and intricate railway lines through the whole of Taiwan. If you ask me, both are equally functional for me, although I have another favoured mode of public transport - bus/coach (公车/客运).
It was via an inter-city long-distance bus from Taoyuan International Airport, that got me to Taichung for this trip. As a result of my travel research, I realised how vibrant and convenient the Taichung (TRA) station 台中火车站 zone is.
< Stayed in Jul 2019 >
Launched in May 2018, Petrichor Hotel 朗舍行馆 derived its name from 'the pleasant smell produced after rainfall on dry ground'. Sandwiched along a quiet stretch of low-rise shops and offices, it is a convenient 5-minutes ride or 15-minutes stroll from the bustling Taichung Railway Station zone (passing Miyahara 宫原眼科 in the middle). From the handful of room types suitable for solo travellers, couples and families, I decided to experience two of them over my six-night stay.
< Visited from 2017 - 2019 >
Eslite 诚品 bookstore is unlikely an unfamiliar name to Taiwan visitors, though more accurately, the brand has evolved into a cultural, lifestyle and retail icon, with malls operating as Eslite Spectrum 诚品生活. Place one of my favourite Taiwanese icons at one of my favourite cultural parks - and Eslite Spectrum Songyan Store 诚品生活松烟店 does not disappoint as a must-go destination.
< Visited from 2017 - 2019 >
Songshan Cultural & Creative Park 松山文创园区, or Songyan 松烟 in short, is one of my favourite haunts in Taipei. In case you are wondering why it's called Songyan 松烟, the premises were originally a Japanese tobacco factory - named Songshan Tobacco Plant 松山烟草工厂 - in the 1930s. The city government converted the space into a cultural and retail zone in early 2000s, marrying modern use with the historic site, old structures and architecture. Excellent for a few leisurely hours, I can hardly get tired of this place which keeps my wen qing 文青 soul meaningfully engaged.
< Stayed in Jul 2019 & Nov 2018 >
In my other blog on iTaipei Service Apartment 京站酒店式公寓, I shared the pros of staying at this location. This post shares another service apartment in the same building - Taipei Beautiful Apartment 京站美丽住宿. I had come across this option when iTaipei was fully booked on my desired dates, and was glad I did - I could enjoy the same good location, in addition to another variety of rooms. Taipei Beautiful Apartment 京站美丽住宿's room rates may be lower, depending on travel season, so no harm making a comparison.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
If you have had enough of Taichung sights such as Rainbow Village, Miyahara and Fengjia Night Market, and are looking for more to do, venturing out of the city proper is an alternative. Qingshui 清水 district was one of my two day trips in July - the other being Wufeng 雾峰.
Qingshui 清水 in western Taichung and approximately 35km from the city central, got its name during Japanese rule. If the Lin clan is synonymous with Wufeng (雾峰林家), Qingshui's most famous personality must be the legendary Liao Tianding 廖添丁 - Taiwan's Robin Hood during oppressive Japanese rule.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Taiwan has a comprehensive programme to preserve and revamp old military villages (眷村) into heritage zones - as opposed to eradicating all of these abandoned communities - inviting local artists, workshops, non-profit organizations and even brands to move in and utilize the space. Qingshui Art Village 清水眷村文化园区 is one of these country-wide projects, among the many such as Guangfu Village 光復新村 in Taichung Wufeng, and Military Families Community Park 四四南村 in Taipei. Built in 1949 to house airforce personnel and named Xinyi New Village 信義新村, the area was officially marked a heritage zone in 2012.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
In 1935, the Japanese-run, then-named Qingshui First Public School 清水第一公学校 moved to its current relocation (circled below). To create staff accommodation, a cluster of dormitories was constructed at 1 side of the school, styled in a fusion of Japanese-western architecture (和洋折衷式建筑). The Qingshui Elementary School Dormitory Cluster 清水公学校日式宿舍群 (boxed below) we get to admire now, is one of the remaining buildings of this style in Taiwan.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
To say that Yorimichi Patisserie 顺道菓子店 is an unexpected find in this little town, is hardly an exaggeration. The Japanese sweets cafe is a gem among the many local eateries and street food scattered through my Qingshui day trip 清水一日游, and already an easy find on blogs when I was planning my route.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Mention Wufeng 雾峰 and what likely comes to mind is the illustrious Lin clan (雾峰林家), one of the five renowned families in Taiwan (and unrelated to Taipei Banchiao's Lin Family 板桥林家, also one of the five). A suburban district in southern Taichung, about 30 minutes drive from the city central, what used to be a primarily agricultural town now makes a good day trip destination, easily navigated by bus and on foot. Originally known as Ah Zhao Wu (阿罩雾, Ataabu) for the aboriginal tribe inhabiting the district, the later-adopted name Wufeng 雾峰 appeared as early as the Qing dynasty, and formalizing in 1920. Reference to its old name can still be spotted on some street signs and drain covers.
< Visited in Mar 2019 & Nov 2018 >
Taiwanese breakfast needs no introduction, its popularity resulting in the local taste progressively being brought to other shores, even if not as impactful as pearl milk tea and chicken cutlet. For me, nothing beats eating the real deal in Taiwan, and do only the famous brands packed with tourists count as the real deal? Honestly, no. There are way too many gems that residents (in half jest) rather people from out of the city or country not know. Sihai (Four Seas) Soybean King 四海豆浆大王 is one such breakfast place for me.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Synonymous with Taichung's Wufeng District is undisputedly the prestigious Lin Family - 雾峰林家 (not to be confused with Taipei's Banchiao Lin Family 板桥林家). Hence, no visit to Wufeng will be complete without setting foot in their former residence - Wufeng Lin Family Garden 雾峰林家宮保第园区. (Note: the official website does not convey an English name, and there are several versions online.) As the clan grew, the now-historical landmark expanded into two sections, the Upper Mansions 上厝 and Lower Mansions 下厝. Unfortunately, most of the carefully preserved grounds were destroyed in 2009 September 21's earthquake (commonly referred to as the 921 Earthquake, believed to be the second most severe quake in Taiwan's history). What has been painstakingly reconstructed for public appreciation is still very much a must-do on your Wufeng itinerary.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Guangfu Village 光复新村, a highly anticipated destination in my Wufeng day trip for my love of old "military towns", is accessible by bus to Keng Kou Li 坑口里 (a mere 6 stops from Wufeng Market 雾峰市场, where I had a hearty breakfast). In the heat of 1950s' political tension with the mainland, the KMT government relocated some provincial offices to central Taiwan. Guangfu Village 光復新村 became one such housing site for public servants and their families. As recent as 2009, there were still some households residing here, until its officially becoming a cultural site in 2012. The Guangfu Village 光復新村we see now is a base for young entrepreneurs, home to cultural workshops, retail and F&B.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
I hardly consider myself a sports enthusiast or fitness fanatic. The only time I get any exercise done is probably on vacation, by merit of the amount of walking I am happy to do. I try to include hiking trails in my itinerary where possible, and Taiwan provides an abundance of mountains and national parks, even within the cities.
Tianmu Historic Trail 天母古道 is a hiking destination I came across in (believe it or not!) an IG account of a canine adoptee from Lang Lang Don't Cry 浪浪别哭, whose owner brings him on such hikes almost everyday. From their IG posts, this hiking trail looks very scenic, with occasional encounters with monkeys! Well, if a dog can do it, so can I, right? The hike did turn out a tad challenging for me, though I say with pride that I persevered and COMPLETED the trail, albeit taking longer than planned and making more stops (to sit and rest on the stone steps). Good thing I did my solo hike on a weekend, in the company of other hikers. (Safety first, especially for solo travellers.)
Taiwan introduced a no-kill policy at state-run shelters in Feb 2017, amid much doubt that it could take off operationally. This remains a real challenge, especially in the remote areas, but shelters are putting in good effort. It is demanding and costly to expect all shelters to comply instantly with the new ruling BUT, just like how Taiwan legalised same gender marriage, I can only say they have my respect for their initiative, way faster than what many supposed civilised countries are doing.
I am an animal lover with my own furkids. I can't quite remember how I got to know Lang Lang (literally Wandering Strays) Don't Cry 浪浪别哭 - though likely from researching for pet cafes. What evolved since that accidental find is the discovery of a really purposeful establishment, founded by a couple who wanted to be halfway-house fosterers for cats and dogs, but felt that keeping these animals at home could barely give them the needed exposure among adopters. Marrying their love for old houses, the idea of a cafe, and a platform for dogs and cats looking for furever homes, Lang Lang Don't Cry 浪浪别哭 was conceived. (In September 2017, they established a second cafe in Taichung, as part of their grand plan and from crowdsourcing funds; and in Feb 2020, testing operations in their third outlet in Tainan.)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Having been in business since the 1990s, Shi Dong Market 士东市场 after a revamp is now positioned as a five-star traditional market. The award-winning market caught my eye online with its stylish stalls, even making its way to IG posts. With about 250 units over 2 floors, you can find everything that you expect of a traditional market, and more. If there is any flaw (for me), it's probably its not being within short walking distance from MRT stations - which obviously doesn't dent its crowd.
< Visited in Mar 2017 & Jul 2019 >
With the MRT Tamshui-Xinyi line extended in 2013 to cover Taipei 101/World Trade Center (R03) and Xiangshan (R02), hiking at the 183m high Elephant Mountain (or more accurately Hill, given the number of much higher mountains in Taiwan) 象山 has become a very accessible attraction.
< Visited in Jul 2019 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2016 | Sep 2015 >
The original estate which sat here was the Miyahara eye hospital, constructed in the 1900s near Taichung Railway Station and right beside the scenic "green stream" (绿川) and Zhongshan Green Bridge (中山绿桥). The founding father of the eye hospital, Master Miyahara Takekuma made meaningful contributions to Taichung, such as uniting the natives with Japanese, bringing about radio and police reforms, and encouraging Taiwanese self-government. The defunct icon in Taichung was later left to deteriorate over the years and was severely damaged by natural catastrophes.
In this modern age, like-minded people including architectural experts and artisans came together to breathe new life into the old building, now operating as a retail shop for lavishly packaged local products, a specialty ice cream and milk tea parlour, and Taiwanese restaurant. Miyahara 宮原眼科 is highly recommended for first time visitors to Taichung and for spending a good couple of hours for dining, shopping (mid-range pricing, but definitely presentable as gifts for important people) and checking out their signature ice cream or pearl milk tea.
< Visited in Jul 2019 & Aug 2018 >
I have introduced Taipei's Lang Lang Don't Cry Pet Halfway House & Cafe 浪浪别哭 previously. When they opened their second outlet in Taichung (to expand the geographic potential of their cats and dogs getting adopted), it was a matter of time I made my way there. Nestled in an old (and according to one taxi driver who brought me there, quite known) neighbourhood, this outlet occupies a two-storey corner house, not far from a lovely open field.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
If you haven't guessed, Shiba Kori 此木二水's Chinese name - 此木二水 - combines to mean 柴冰 (literally Shiba ice). And what's a Shiba Kori cafe without a Shiba Inu? Other than the owner's (a Hong Konger who has since settled down in Taiwan) black Shiba who appears in various forms in the shop, patrons are welcomed to bring their dogs, especially Shiba Inu. Opened only in April this year, the Shiba Inu-themed cafe serves shaved ice, Hong Kong desserts and beverages.
***The establishment has relocated in May 2022, check out their FB for new address***
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Founded by 2 guys (high school classmates) who wanted to fulfil their dream, Jia Dee 呷滴 is a cafe of modest size, specializing in cake and dessert. Part of the Shandao Temple MRT Station culinary roadmap in many local blogs, I was looking for an afternoon filler after lunch at Lang Lang Don't Cry 朗朗别哭. After a call to confirm there were still seats, I took a 15-minute stroll over.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
In my quest for less touristy destinations, Pinglin 坪林 came across as being one of the more accessible districts. Governed under New Taipei City 新北市, it is an approximate hour's drive from Taipei Main Station, to an entirely different landscape. A rustic mountainous town which flourished with tea (particularly Pouchong 包種) cultivation, it used to be a popular pit-stop between Taipei and Yilan before a new highway cut the journey short. The district now promotes low carbon footprint travel, and made a marvellous day trip for me, which I'll share in this post if you are considering a similar excursion.
<Visited in Jul 2019>
Pinglin Tea Museum 坪林茶业博物馆, part of my Pinglin day trip 坪林一日游 and not to be mistaken with Tea Cultural Museum 茶产业文化馆, is about 15mins stroll from Pinglin Old Street - though it's advisable to cater more time for the scenic route.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
A name that popped up when I was researching tea plantation tours, Just Pinglin 坪感觉 is owned by a couple from other parts of Taiwan who decided to be part of the Pinglin community. With a travel service workshop set up in 2013 - Pumpkin No. 3 金瓜三号 - this cafe is their new venture and recently launched in May 2019, sitting at a prominent entrance of Pinglin Old Street.
Though I didn't take on their tour this time (something to consider for future trips, I guess), lunching here after visiting BY-TeaMaster 白青长茶作坊 was part of my highly-anticipated Pinglin day trip 坪林一日游.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Taiwan as a tea kingdom needs no introduction. As a frequent tea (and coffee) drinker, though not a connoisseur at all, my Taiwan travels have greatly exposed me to varied flavours, creative concoctions and increasingly, a thirst for related sights and knowledge. My attention was drawn to a label called Taiwan BlueMagpie Tea 台湾蓝鹊茶, having bought their tea sachets from a distributor retailer before, and seeing the work they do in the tea mountains of Pinglin through their FB. About an hour's drive from Taipei Main Station, Pinglin 坪林 was good (and new) news to me, as it means an opportunity to explore a tea town without having to travel hours all the way into the central mountains. (The other alternative in Taipei would be Maokong 猫空, which I enjoy in other ways but personally consider more touristy.)
Needless to say, I went about planning my Pinglin day trip 坪林一日游, in the course of it, discovering BY-TeaMaster 白青长茶作坊.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Huashan 1914 Creative Park 华山1914文化创意产业园区, being 1 of the 2 most prominent cultural parks in Taipei, attracts a good crowd with its rigorous line-up of exhibitions, activities, pop-up stores and F&B offerings. I make periodic trips here (and to Songyan 松烟), for shopping and dining even if not for exhibitions; though I was blessed with 3 interesting exhibitions this trip.
Related read:
[Taipei 台北] Huashan 1914 Creative Park 1/2 ♦ 华山1914文化创意产业园区 1/2
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Though back at Dihua Street 迪化街 primarily for two new establishments (in Blooom Together 印花作夥 and cafe wooo 窝窝 - introduced in separate blogs), I didn't want anything less than a leisurely stroll befitting of what this zone has to offer. Commencing my stroll from Da Qiao Tou MRT station 大桥头站, but this time from exit 2 in the direction of Cisheng Temple 慈圣宫.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
Despite having been to Dihua Street 迪化街 several times, there are still reasons for me to keep revisiting. One of which is homegrown label in Blooom 印花乐. First attracted to their products and fabrics inspired by traditional window panes, grilles and floor tiles, I have since amassed quite a few custom-made curtains, bags, pouches and stationery. As a loyal customer and follower, not forgetting my Kaohsiung store-manager-turned friend got posted here, I had to turn up and show my support when they opened their third outlet (and possibly biggest) at Dadaocheng 大稻埕 - inBlooom Together-Dadaocheng III 印花作夥-印花乐大稻埕三店.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
The district comprising Dadaocheng 大稻埕 and Dihua Street 迪化街 holds many surprises, luring me back time after time. Cafe wooo 窝窝 was an accidental but absolutely welcomed find, when revisiting Dihua Street was deemed necessary for inBlooom 印花乐's newest (and largest) store in Taipei.
< Visited in Jul 2019 >
In my opinion, one of the national hobbies in Taiwan is probably going to bazaars. Weekend editions, seasonal ones (e.g during school holidays), thematic types (e.g pet related, for handicraft lovers, showcasing Taiwanese brands), indoors, outdoors... the variety is pretty impressive. I find them at cultural parks (e.g Taipei's Huashan 华山 and Songyan 松烟 on weekends) or dedicated locations (e.g Taichung's Caowudao 草悟道 and Eslite Living malls 诚品生活馆). Over this Jul 2019 vacay, I visited at least five for treasure hunting.
Shenji (Audit) 368 New Village 審计368新创聚落 in Taichung is one highly-recommended bazaar destination. Positioned as a daily bazaar (vs common weekend ones), in reality it is much more than that.
< Visited in Mar 2019 >
In Taiwan, old streets are as iconic as night markets, many of them within or in close proximity to the cities. Shenkeng Old Street 深坑老街 is one such destination in New Taipei City that is worth a visit, via a half-hour cab ride or less than an hour's bus ride.
< Visited in Mar 2019 >
The Taipei most of us know consists of two separately governed municipalities - Taipei City 台北市 and New Taipei City 新北市. The latter has been seeing some new and cool urban developments (actually same for the rest of Taiwan, which continues to evolve faster than I can travel). While the latest to launch is the Circular (yellow) MRT line, in January 2020 - with vibrant Banqiao 板桥 as one of its stations - the highlight of this blog is Danhai Light Rail Transit (LRT) 淡海轻轨, opened to the public in December 2018.
< Visited in Mar 2019 >
Just like how I uncover other new gems for my Taiwan travels, Leputing 乐埔町 started popping up on local blogs when I searched for culinary experiences. Feeding my keen interest in old architecture (particularly Japanese-style or historically rich buildings) converted to modern use, and piqueing my interest with great storytelling (Taiwanese leave me in awe with their marketing) and creating new narratives for history, Leputing looked promising. Two other establishments of the same nature in Taipei worth mentioning are Geo76 (Qingtian 76 青田76) - located not too far from Leputing's hood - and Marshal Zen Garden 少帅禅园 in Beitou.
< Visited in Mar 2019 | Nov 2018 | Mar & May 2017 >
For a start, I have to clarify that this lovely breakfast & brunch place does not come with an English name - so "Single Eyelid Double Eyelid Breakfast Cafe" is really a literal translation of their chinese name 单眼皮双眼皮。早餐轻食.
Chanced upon this cafe when my gal pal and I stayed at Taipei Main Station and were looking for brunch places in our vicinity. This outlet here is their second, with the first at Wanhua District.
< Visited in Mar 2019 & Mar 2017 >
The "Miss Qin" in Miss Qin Soybean Milk 秦小姐豆漿 refers to Qin Fei Fei 秦菲菲, an old time Taiwanese celebrity who has since made local breakfast her business (and a successful and popular one at that). An eatery that popped up when I searched for traditional breakfast, it's highly favoured by locals, as well as Japanese tourists (armed with their travel guides). Where the Japanese travellers venture, despite their language barrier, you know this place must be worth checking out.
***OPERATIONS CEASED IN SEP 2021***
< Last stayed in Jul 2019 >
This is a long-due post, having stayed at Ulysses Hotel 尤利西斯酒店 for five trips. Despite an understated facade tucked away at the "back" of Taipei Main Station 台北车站, I consider it a gem, after combing online research for accommodation options in this zone, reasons which I'll share below...
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Mar 2017 | Nov 2014 >
Fantasy Story 范特喜 is one of my earliest haunts in Taichung, before I got more adventurous. Way before I first visited Shenji (Audit) 368 New Village 審计368新创聚落, I had already been here thrice.
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Nov 2014 >
The chinese character 炊 (chui1) refers to using fire to cook, or steaming. Used in sentences, the word actually conveys a rather poetic nuance, such as in the name of this Zen-themed, fine dining restaurant up in the back mountains of Taichung - 又见一炊烟 (there is no formal English name though its FB uses 'Fooding Smoke').
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Sep 2015 >
Mention the Taipei district of Beitou 北投 and the first thing that comes to mind is undisputedly hot spring. No doubt the charming town has an abundance of hot spring facilities (both bigger hotels and smaller bath houses), as well as a free public foot soak at Beitou Park 北投公园), but there is really a lot more to see and do here.
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Nov 2014 | Stayed in Sep 2015 >
Beitou in the north of Taipei city is one of the country's hot spring zones. Since its very first hot spring hotel opened before 1900 by a Japanese businessman, the district claims a rich history and culture, and remains a charming destination for locals and travellers alike. This post shares my one-night stay at Radium Kagaya Beitou 日胜生加贺屋, and two prior visits for their private hot spring room and spa facility.
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Oct 2017 | Sep 2015 >
My first visit to the originally-named Shann Garden 禅园 was eons ago, where my friends and I sipped tea watching the lovely sunset, followed by buffet dinner at their separate restaurant. I even recall a (poor) monkey tied to a tree in the backyard, that quite entertained my friends and I (those young and ignorant days!).
After so many years and now with a different appreciation of Taiwan, what remains is my immense interest in historical places put to new use. Revisiting this gem at Beitou, it has since been renamed Marshal Zen Garden 少帅禅园 (台北北投张学良幽禁旧居).
< Stayed in Nov 2014 & Nov 2018 >
Eversince I learnt about a beautiful story of how two Taiwanese ladies (one of whom has passed away due to cancer) left their day jobs to fulfill a common dream of opening a lavender farm, I have diligently pursued Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林 and its sister brands. After Apr 2013's visit to Hsinchu's Lavender Cottage Jianshi 薰衣草森林 尖石店 and Jul 2014's stay at Adagio Jinguashi 缓慢 金瓜石, next on my checklist was Lavender Cottage Xinshe 薰衣草森林 新社's B&B Adagio Reindeer : Vanilla House 缓慢 寻路 : 香草House.
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Mar 2017 | Nov 2014 >
Xinshe 新社 is an approximate one hour drive from Taichung city into mountains of 560-620 metres altitude. Known affectionately as the garden of Taichung (台中后花园), it is also home to the highly anticipated Xinshe Flower Fest 新社花海 - usually held in Q4 annually - jamming the mountain town with locals and foreigners. Flower fest aside, the town is still worth exploring anytime of the year, for its "mushroom street", thematic garden cafes and of course, Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林.
<Stayed in Nov 2018>
Hotel Mapp 希堤微旅 was a search result for a two-night stay for 3 persons, with less consideration of proximity to rail or bus, as our primary mode of transport was by cab. Suffice to say that I eventually went with it for its affordable price point and perceived quality of room. Also noting that I had taken ill on the second day, rendering me unfit to explore more of the premises. Hopefully, there will be chance for a revisit to appreciate finer details of this lovely hotel.
< Visited in Aug 2018 & May 2017 >
The Yancheng district (盐埕区) of today is nowhere a fraction of its heyday. Located near the coast and port, locals engaged in mullet (乌鱼) fishing and later "salt sunning" (晒盐) in the olden days. What is better known of the district now are Pier-2 Art Center 驳二艺术特区 and Kuchan (Jue Jiang) Shopping District 堀江商场, though my stroll in this blog covers the vicinity of Yanchengpu MRT station (盐埕埔站周边).
< Visited in Aug 2018 & May 2017 >
The name "simtree' is a play on the chinese term 兴趣 (hobby/interest), and indeed, the whole science and art behind coffee must be the hobby or interest of many people. 兴趣xsimtree is a coffee chain that brings together beans, roasting, brews, light meals, and coffee making apparatus and accessories under one roof. There are currently five outlets in Kaohsiung. By virtue of proximity to where I like to stay (Hotel dùa 住饭店), I visited this particular outlet mere minutes away on foot.
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