[Taichung 台中] Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场 + Cultural Heritage Park 文化创意产业园区 @ Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< 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.

▲ Map overview of how near the 2 places are, with the red arrows roughly indicating my route. Note that there are many eateries dispersed in and around the marketplace, so the blue section is a vague demarcation of Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场.

Arriving at (one of the entry points into) the market around noon. I had a good breakfast this day, intentionally not visiting on an empty stomach just in case:
a) I don't see anything I feel like eating (never know how my appetite works out, especially on hot days)
b) the eateries I want to eat at are crowded and require some waiting
c) many stalls are closed for the day, limiting my choices

Also, I had planned this primarily as a stroll.

From where I entered, I first walked through a section selling dry goods and fresh produce. Just like other traditional and night markets, vehicular access is permitted, so watch out for shoppers weaving through the lanes on their bikes.

Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场 operates in the morning (what is known as 早市, usually from early morning to some time past noon), thus half of the stalls were closed at my time of visit and was not crowded. If you prefer to experience the full hustle and bustle of a traditional marketplace, do come earlier.

Appreciated some shade in the hot Taichung weather.

▼ An indoor wet market I didn't turn into, expecting most of the stalls to be closed or washing up by now.

▼ At the end of the lane, a T-junction presented a F&B cluster. Some eateries at such marketplaces operate longer hours than the fresh produce stalls, or become a night market (夜市).

▼ The only foodstall I patronised that hot afternoon (marked in my earlier map) - 阿伯无名豆花, literally translated as "Uncle's anonymous soy beancurd".

The unassuming stall at the entrance of an alley is actually 1 of the popular eateries here, from what I see in local blogs. With just a foodcart and a handful of seats by the side, I was actually thankful for it as an iced dessert looked more than right in that weather.

▼ The menu has a total of 10 "sweet soups", from left:
- sour plum, green bean, red bean and barley
- beancurd pudding with 1 other topping (green bean, red bean, barley, tapioca pearl and peanut) or a mixture of the 5.
Besides the last item at NT$40, the others are NT$30 - traditional taste at an economical price.

The friendly stall owner approached from the shade as we smiled and made eye contact. He was to close for the day soon, typical of market stalls once sold out for the day, so it may take some luck and good timing to enjoy such local favourites.

Beancurd pudding + tapioca pearl + peanut (NT$30). The beancurd was light and refreshing, the peanuts boiled to softness without losing its flavour, and the soup base not too sweet (to my liking). Suffice to say this was perfect as the one and only item I ate at Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场 that afternoon, surprisingly keeping my tummy full till I had afternoon tea.

Continuing my stroll down the same row which looked to be less than busy...

... there was just 1 foodstall in operations.

Wrapping up my marketplace stroll (hopefully to try more food next time), I found an almost concealed entrance to Cultural Heritage Park 文化创意产业园区 along the stretch of stalls.

▼ What appeared to be a back entrance.

▼ Yellow arrows indicating walking in after 阿伯无名豆花, which is diagonally opposite the entrance to Cultural Heritage Park 文化创意产业园区

Glad I strolled into the park by chance, checking another interesting space which kept me occupied for a good couple of hours. The grounds are originally an old wine factory dating as early as 1916, and now referred to as 台中旧酒厂. Touted as the most completely preserved among 5 similar factories in Taiwan, the premises were declared a historical site in 2002. Reopening as a cultural heritage park, it is now a public venue for exhibitions and events. (Read about the park's history here.)

▼ Came across this free exhibition featuring 3 maestros in local traditional art and craft, decidedly 1 of the gems of the day. While it was a unticketed exhibition, the detail and content was no sloppy affair, and provided a great hour of activity for me.

▼ 1 of the 3 sections, on Taiwanese opera 歌仔戏.

▼ Another section, on traditional woodcarving 传统木雕.

▼ The last section, on architectural painting 建筑彩绘.

▼ The yellow arrow indicates where I had entered from, and I was more than halfway through the main walkway, in the direction of the park's main entrance.

▼ Taking a while to relax and freshen up in a quiet green corner. (There is a public loo some distance away.) The hot afternoon sun made me drowsy, but the sound of birds chirping and wind rustling through the trees was rather therapeutic.

▼ Continuing my walk towards the main entrance. It was at this point that I realised I had been here before, years ago!

▼ Iconic water tanks with graffiti art at the entrance, which helped me identify this was a place I visited years before.

These are 2 places worth visiting on the same day if you are looking for a leisurely stroll. Hopefully I can revisit for more food and have the chance to check out more interesting exhibitions!

📍 Taichung Third Market 台中第三市场
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No. 90, Taizhong Road, South District, Taichung City
台中市南区, 台中路90号