Central Taiwan
4D3N: This part of Taiwan includes Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou (Sun Moon Lake). Assuming your starting point is Taipei, you can easily take the High-Speed Rail (HSR) to Taichung (less than 1 hr) and rent a car to visit this part of Taiwan. If you want to continue exploring Taiwan, look at my post on Southern Taiwan.
*Highly Recommended
Day 1 (Taichung)
HSR to Taichung
Uber to Rainbow Village Taichung
Uber to National Taichung Theater (Free admission to tour the interior and the sky garden; suggested duration 45 mins)
Lunch @ Le Ble D’or*
Ice cream @ Miyahara
Audit Village/Shenji New Village (Cute little shops/stands)
Dinner @ Volks Steak* (moderate) or L’Affection* 法森小館 (upscale)
Check-in @ Airline Inn Green Park Way
Day 2 (Changhua)
Visit Bagua mountain (八卦山) in Changhua
Lunch @ Lugang (鹿港)
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 a 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:
Nantou:
Tips:
You can buy HSR tickets for 30 days ahead online
You need an international driving permit (IDP) to rent a car. Get it from your closest AAA.
