Central Taiwan
4D3N: This part of Taiwan includes Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou (Sun Moon Lake). Assuming your starting point is Taipei, you can take the High Speed Rail (HSR) to Taichung (less than 1 hr) and rent a car for the ease of visiting this part of Taiwan. If you can want to continue to explore Taiwan, take a look at my post on Southern Taiwan.
*Highly Recommended
Day 1 (Taichung)
- HSR to Taichung
- Rainbow Village Taichung
- 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan
- Ice cream @ Miyahara
- Lunch @ Le Ble D’or*
- Dakeng No.4 hiking trail
- Dinner @ Volks Steak* (moderate) or L’Affection* 法森小館 (high end)
- Check-in @ Airline Inn Green Park Way
Day 2 (Changhua)
- Visit Bagua mountain (八卦山) in Changhua
- Lunch @ Lugang (鹿港)
- Taiwan Glass Gallery
- Drive to Sun Moon Lake in Nantou
- Check-in @ Hotel Del Lago*
Day 3 (Sun Moon Lake)
- Breakfast @ Hotel
- Take a boat tour around the lake (~NT150/p - discounted rate per hotel)
- Take a pic of Lalu Island - In the middle of the lake (can’t go on there now)
- Xuan Guang Si Pier
- Stone with Sun Moon Lake engraved AKA fighting stone (people fight as they pose in front of this rock; see photo below)
- Temple
- Jin Men Ah Ma Cha Ye Dan (Famous tea braised egg)
- Ita Thao (The village of the Thao Aborigines)
- Enjoy some local snacks
- Take the cable car overlooking the lake (~NT$300RT)
- Visit Millet Wine Museum
- Drive around the lake:
- Wenwu Temple (文武廟) - The biggest temple on the Northern bank of the lake
- Frog statue (yardstick for the lake’s water level; see photo below)
Day 4
- Breakfast @ hotel
- Ride bike along the Siang Shan Bikeway to the Xiangshan Visitor Center and back (1.5hr RT bike ride)
- Return to Taichung HSR
Other points of interest
- Taichung National Theatre (Sky garden & outdoor theater)
- Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
- Xitou Monster Village
Tips
- You can buy HSR tickets 30 days ahead online
- You need an international driving permit (IDP) to rent a car. Get it from your closest AAA.
