Take A Day Trip With Me To Changhua, Taiwan
Take a day trip with me to Changhua, Taiwan! In our last week in Taiwan, we visited Tainan for a few days before driving back home. We decided to do a mini day trip on the way back and swing by Changhua 彰化, in central Taiwan. It’s my first time here, and I share all the spots I was able to visit within a day, including Lukang Old Street, Eight Trigram Mountain, and all the great food I got to try!
Getting To and Around Changhua
Located in central Taiwan, Changhua doesn’t normally get as many tourist compared to Taipei and Tainan, but is packed full of interesting destinations. Changhua’s actually one of the most traditional cities in Taiwan, with well preserved temples, traditional architecture, and lots and lots of yummy food. It’s a great place to see Taiwanese architecture as it was decades ago.
We drove through Changhua from Tainan today, but you can easily get to Changhua from Taipei by train. The ride is typically about 2 hours, with a transfer in between from high speed rail to local train. Google maps typically will have the available routes as well!
Once you arrive at Changhua station, you can easily access many of the locations listed in this post by walking, bus, or taxi. The city has many bus routes that lead you to various tourist destinations, so you won’t have to worry about getting around. If you’re deciding which spot to visit, you can also consult the official Changhua Tourism Site!
Popular Tourist Spots To Visit In Changhua
Changhua is the center of traditional religious celebrations, so many of their tourist destinations revolve around local religion. The district takes great care of preserving the historical architecture and cultural relics of the past. Within 30 minutes from the Changhua Train Station, you can access most of the tourist locations in Changhua by their regularly scheduled buses, especially the 台灣好行 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Route.
Eight Trigram Mountain Buddha – 八卦山大佛
You can’t visit Changhua without visiting the Iconic Great Buddha at the top of the Eight Trigram Mountain or Baguashan 八卦山. This Buddha sits 22 meters high, overlooking Changhua’s views. Sitting around it and along the way up the mountain are various temples dedicated to different gods, including one dedicated to Confucius. If you’re interested in learning about the Changhua area’s history or culture, this is a great place to start.
The surrounding natural habitat in the mountain is preserved as a nature reserve, so you can experience both the beauty of the natural life as well as the intricate architectures of the temples. As a popular spot, the trails are very easy to walk, and there are plenty of stalls and vending machines should you get thirsty or tired.
We took a slow walk to enjoy all the nature around us, and spent about 2-3 hours just looking at everything. It’s such a peaceful way to spend the morning! The Buddha is about a 20 minute bus ride from the Changhua Train station, and the schedule is quite regular, so you don’t have to worry about missing the bus!
Lukang Old Street – 鹿港老街
If you ever visit Changhua make sure to swing by Lukang 鹿港: one of the oldest and most traditional towns in Taiwan and the first Historic Preservation Area in Taiwan. The city alone has over 200 temples, and has done well maintaining the original architectures of these buildings and streets. Visiting here is like walking through a time machine!
The street has so much history that we spend hours and hours just walking around and taking everything in. It’s not just the views that bring you back in time. Lukang Old Street is lined with nostalgic trinket stores and street food. There’s so many to explore! There were so many toys and snacks from my parent’s childhood, it definitely brings them back.
Lukang Old Street is about half an hour of bus ride via the 台灣好行 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Route from the Changhua Bus Station, Be sure to plan some extra time here, because I’m sure you’ll get lost in the delicious street foods and nostalgic environment, just like us!
Lukang Mazu Temple – 鹿港天后宮
As a religion-centered port town, Lukang is also home to the Lukang Mazu Temple 鹿港天后宮, dedicated to Mazu, the local goddess of the sea. As a coastal and port town, the people of Lukang and Changhua worshipped Mazu to protect them while they’re out at sea. Mazu and other religious imagery are present throughout the artwork around the city as well as here in the Mazu Temple.
We were super lucky to also witness the Mazu Pilgrimage Parade, a procession through all the neighboring temples dedicated to Mazu, which happens once every 10 years. It was such a fun display of community, as volunteers of all ages parade by in floats, bands, or groups, celebrating the sea goddess. People from all across the country flock to the Changhua area to seek blessings from the goddess during this celebration!
Husheng Glass Temple－護聖宮
Very close to Lukang Old Street, there’s another unique Mazu temple that attracts tons of tourists every day – the Hushen Glass Temple. Made completely of glass and beautifully lit with colored lights, it’s one of few glass temple in the world. A collaboration between the local glass industry and the religious community, this beautiful temple is another dedication to Mazu, the goddess of the sea.
Admissions for the temple is free, and close to the Taiwan Glass Museum, another spot you can visit to learn more about the local glass industry. It’s common for visitors to visit the two locations together!
What To Eat In Changhua
My dad’s hometown is actually right beside Changhua, so he brought us to some of his favorite restaurants. Changhua for me is a place for me to learn more about the flavors my dad grew up loving. While in Changhua, we got to try braised pork belly rice and bawan, two very iconic Taiwanese foods that I recommend to any first time visitors to Taiwan. We also got our fill of shaved ice, since the weather was really heating up.
Braise Pork Belly Rice – 阿泉爌肉飯
For our first stop, we stopped at 阿泉爌肉飯 to get some braised pork belly rice. They’ve been opened for over 90 years, so they REALLY know what they’re doing. Their main item is, of course, the big pot of slow braised pork belly bubbling in the kitchen area. You can choose your favorite level of fattiness for your pork belly rice, and they’ll pick a good slice for you.
The pork belly is slowly cooked in aromatic spices and soy sauce for hours until it’s melt in your mouth tender They use a toothpick to help hold the shape, and my dad says this is how you know the pork belly will be good.
Every grain of rice is coated with the rich, savory sauce, making every bite rich and satisfying. With just sauce alone, I can eat bowls and bowls of rice. We loved it so much that we had to get a second bowl after!
The menu also comes with sides and soup options you can pair with your pork belly rice. The price starts at 55 NTD a bowl, but I see many people opting for the bento sizes because it’s so good! This popular lunch spot is almost always packed, so come by early!
Grass Jelly Shaved Ice – 岩森仙草
It was so hot we had to come in for a quick dessert break at 岩森仙草, a dessert and drink shop specializing in grass jelly. Grass jelly is a healthy herbal jelly that’s very popular in Asian desserts, especially shaved ice and cold drinks. We ordered the taro ball grass jelly shaved ice, and my parents each got their own grass jelly drinks.
The ice here is a little different than the usual shaved ice: they use frozen grass jelly “snow ice” instead of just normal ice. The base comes out a little more like a slushy, with all the great flavors of grass jelly. You won’t have to worry about your dessert being diluted during the hot summers! Their taro balls have a nice chewy texture with the perfectly nutty taro flavor. It’s a pretty big bowl, so it’s great for sharing.
岩森仙草 is a 10 minute walk away from the Changhua Train Station. It’s a great spot to hide from a hot day and share a bowl of shaved ice with your friends or family!
Hong Kong Style Boba Tea – 永利茶檔
Styled after a Hong Kong style cafe, 永利茶檔‘s decor is a super cute, eye-catching green. They have the usual milk and fruit tea options for boba tea shops, but they’re actually famous for their Hong Kong Silk-stocking Milk Tea and their super fluffy milk foams. You can choose to add toppings such as crystal boba, coconut pudding, aiyu jelly, grass jelly, and coconut jelly.
This is a really unique boba tea spot, and I’d definitely recommend if you’re stopping by Changhua. Their drinks range from 35 to 70 NTD, great as a drink on the way to lunch or dinner. It’s located right near Changhua Train Station, close to many of the other restaurants I mention below.
Taiwanese Crystal Meatball or Bawan – 正彰化肉圓
Changhua is home to one of Taiwan’s most unique street food: Bawan 肉圓 or chewy crystal meatballs. Taiwan’s crystal meatballs are pork meatballs packed with fillings like mushroom, bamboo shoot, scallops, and garlic, and wrapped in a thick layer of sweet potato flour dough. Here at 正彰化肉圓, Bawan has been their specialty for over 80 years!
Even though this is my all-time favorite Taiwanese street food I have never actually had it from Changhua. We lined up for 30 minutes in the sun, but once I took the first bite, I knew that it was so worth it. The meatball is first steamed until the dough becomes clear, then deep fried slowly until the outside crisps. Inside, it’s super soft and chewy, and all of the meat juices were trapped inside the dough. It’s finished off with a sweet and savory sauce.
They offer 3 different flavors: mushroom (55 NTD), egg yolk (60 NTD), spicy (100 NTD), and scallop mushroom (100 NTD). Their menu also includes 4 different soups options to choose with your meatball, ranging from 25 to 85 NTD. Their location is a quick 4 minute walk from the Changhua station, so be sure to drop by and try it out before they close at 6 PM!
Assorted Fruit Shaved Ice – Changhua Papaya Milk King
Before we left Changhua, we decided to grab some more shaved ice. Here at Changhua Papaya Milk King, they’ve been serving fresh fruits and fruit drinks for over 60 years. Their most popular drinks are their signature papaya milk and avocado milk.
We ordered the papaya milk, of course, as well as two different shaved ice: Pineapple shaved ice and Almond Jelly Plum shaved ice. Their papaya milk is super refreshing, yet smooth and velvety. It’s no wonder it’s their signature drink. Their home-cooked fruit syrups are tart and just the right amount of sweet. On top of the flaky ice, it instantly cools you down!
It’s a small store, so there will always be a line. Their options range from 50-80 NTD, so it’s a fairly affordable option on a super hot day in Changhua. Don’t miss out on this iconic Taiwanese treasure!
Looking For More Taiwan Day Trips?
