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Arrived at Taichung HSR station at about 2.50 pm. Next, we proceeded to Xinwuri railway station to board our regional train to Taichung railway station.
After checked in to CityInn Hotel Plus (Taichung Station Branch), we then walked back to Taichung railway station (left photo below) to board the free Taichung Public Bus (台中客運) No. 88 (right photo below) to the Maple Garden for the Teddy Bear Lohas Carnival.
Maple Garden (秋紅谷生態公園)Positioned next to Taiwan Avenue in Taichung City, the Maple Garden is a unique concave-shaped public leisure green space. The garden covers an area of more than 3-hectares, and has lakes, mangroves, green lawns, and viewing bridges (photos below). Ever since its opening, the Maple Garden has quickly become one of the most popular attractions in Taichung.
Teddy Bear Lohas Carnival (泰迪熊樂活嘉年華)Located within the Maple Garden, this month-long event exhibited 102 painted adult-sized Teddy Bears from 28 Nov 2013 till 05 Jan 2014. These colorful Teddy Bears were so popular that it has become an annual event.
Following were the photos taken during the exhibition.
After exploring the cute teddy bears, we then walked to Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang Store (left photo below) for our dinner. This is a large shopping mall of 14-floors with lots of shops, cinemas and restaurants (right photo below).
A-Kuan Hotpot Restaurant (阿官火鍋)Decided to have hotpot at this A-Kuan Hotpot (left photo below). There were several combinations of set meals available in addition to many side dishes (right photo below).
Ordered a premiere sliced pork set which was served with standard dishes (left photo below). Really liked the xshacha sauce (沙茶醬) provided in this restaurant. After the sumptuous dinner, we were served with dessert (right photo below). The total cost for this individual hotpot meal was TWD 280.
We then walked back to hotel for an early rest.Day Four
After breakfast, we then checked out the hotel and started our two-days trip between Taichung and Nantou counties. We hired a local cab driver to ferry us to the attractions within these two days. Negotiated with the driver over the phone prior to the trip and agreed to pay TWD 3,500 for the first day and TWD 4,000 for the second day.
Rainbow Village (彩虹眷村)
First attraction was the Rainbow Village. It is located West of Taichung City Centre at Lane 56, Chun'an Road (春安路56巷), Nantun district (南屯區).
After the Nationalist army lost its Civil War in 1949, there were some 2 million Chinese, mainly soldiers, fled to Taiwan. Many of these soldiers were place in hastily constructed military dependents' village (眷村) in cities throughout Taiwan. These villages remained government property and fell in decay or were abandoned as time passed. In 2010, out of boredom, and also hearing government planned to demolish the village, Huang Yong-Fu, a former soldier, began to paint the walls of his home and surrounding buildings in an attempt to preserve them. Local university students discovered Huang's work and campaigned to save the village. Eventually authorities agreed that it should be preserved to become a cultural area.
Painted in vibrant colors, this village definitely make a good a place for photos to pimp in any social media (photos below).
Mr Huang, better known as Rainbow Grandpa, also had his side of humor who did some imaginative works on some of the famous artists (photos below).
The Rainbow Village is open from 0800 till 1800 hours and admission is free.
Houtanjing Panoramic Skywalk (猴探井天空之橋)
Located in Bagua Mountain of Nantou county, the skybridge connects both sides of the valley of Houtanjing (left photo below). It is the longest sky ladder in Taiwan and the first such suspension bridge in Taiwan. Due to its design, it can hold a maximum capacity of 150 people at any time (right photo below).
It is 204-meters long and has a total of 265 steps (left photo below). The height difference between the two ends is 5.65-meters and the bridge was suspended over bottom of the valley at 150-meters above (right photo below).
Insterestingly "Houtanjing" (猴探井) is homophonic with the Hokkien (local Taiwanese dialect) phrase "Good to make Money" (好賺錢). Indeed, the Sky Bridge has made back its investment in just three months since it opened. The admission cost was TWD 50 per adult (photo below) and opening hours from 0830 till 2030 hours daily.
Since there was some time before the next destination, our driver decided to bring us to two of the famous pineapple cake factories for a visit.
SunnyHills (微熱山丘)
- First stop was the SunnyHills factory. It was a Chinese traditional courtyard situated in the heartland among the farms and tea plantations (left photo below). Through the windows, various modern machineries could be seen in the manufacturing of these tasty pineapple cakes (right photo below).
After tasted their samples, I then decided to buy a box of 10-pieces at TWD 350 (photos below). These cakes were wonderfully light with real fibrous pineapple meat and a fluffy delicious skin.
Shimmer Forest (微光森林)
- Next stop was the Shimmer Forest factory. It was a wooden-like hut with plenty of seats for visitors to enjoy their samples (left photo below). Besides the promotional products, there were posters describing their awards won throughout the years (right photo below).
Out of curiosity, I also bought a box of 10-pieces at TWD 300 (photos below). Similar to the SunnyHills, these cakes had real fibrous pineapple meat and a fluffy butter-rich skin. However compared to SunnyHills, the pineapple meat was slightly sour, perhaps due to lesser sugar added.
Jiji Green Tunnel (集集綠色隧道)
The Jiji Green Tunnel is a famous sight located between the two towns of Mingjian (名間) and Jiji (集集). The length of this green tunnel is 4.5-km. There are more than a thousand camphor trees planted on both sides in the 29th year of the Republic of China. Now, these trees are about sixty to seventy years old, and their lush camphor trees cover the entire road, thus it is known as the Green Tunnel (photos below).
Perhaps it is not uncommon back in Singapore where the roads are surrounded by thicker vegetation. However the route along this Green Tunnel was relaxing as illustrated by the video below:Jiji Railway Station (集集火車站)
Jiji Railway Station was built of cypress wood in 1933. It can be said to be the landmark of Jiji Town and the most famous station on the Jiji branch line of the railway. Damaged by the 921 earthquake, the station was rebuilt while retaining the Japanese-style wooden appearance (left photo below). It is the only remaining train station from the Japanese colonial era in Taiwan. Diagonally across from the station is a retired steam locomotive, which bears witness to the glorious history of the Jiji branch train. It has been a popular photo spot for tourists as a souvenir (right photo below).
Jiji–Checheng Train (集集-車埕火車)
In 1994, with the joint efforts of the Railway Bureau and the town office, the small train on the Jiji branch line was transformed into a tourist painted train (left photo below). Since then, tourists flocked to it during holidays, allowing Jiji to regain its former glory. Like most tourists did, we also took the train ride. This short trip cost only TWD 15 from Jiji station to Checheng station (right photo below).
Checheng (車埕) Town
Once known for its logging industry, Checheng is a rural district set along the scenic Mingtan Reservoir and its adjacent Mingtan Power Plant. Besides museum and shops, the area is dotted with casual teahouses and cafes.
Limbandao Commercial District (林班道商圈)
- The eye-catching green buildings perfectly integrated with the beautiful scenery of Checheng (left photo below). This recreational area combines exploration, food, shopping and entertainment which is a good place for relaxation (right photo below).
- Looking back decades ago, the exhibition hall that was once the Zhenchang Wood Industry Lumbur Factory. Now it created the second splendor of Checheng. Walking through the old factory building is like returning to the sawing scene of the 1950s (photos below).
- When Checheng wood industry developed in the 1950s and 1960s, overhead cranes (left photo below) were used to transport wood that were soaked in the pond to extend the sevice life of the wood (right photo below). Times have changed, and now maple trees, camphor trees, bald cypress and other plants are planted around the storage pond. The pond is also surrounded by mountains and has a beautiful scenery for an instagrammable photo.
- Our driver then recommended us to a local eatery "車埕小饭店" (left photo below) located in the Checheng old street. Paid TWD 260 for a lunch set which included a local handmade wooden barrel as a souvenir (right photo below). Taste of the meal was similar to most train bento set.
Goang Xing Paper Mill was our next stop (left photo below). It is located at No. 310, Tieshan Road, Puli Town in Nantou County. It was one of the most visited factory tours in Puli Town. The mill has planned multiple exhibition areas and DIY experience areas to let every visitor understand the history and processes of papermaking (right photo below).
Altogether there are eight essential steps in papermaking:
| Step | Process | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Material Collection | the principle of papermaking is to reorganize fibers and form different papers from different fibers. The fibers are taken from various natural plants and processed into paper through various processes. | |
| Cooking | the raw materials undergo a cooking process to accelerate the separation of plant fibers. | |
| Rinsing | wash the cooked fibers with plenty of water. | |
| Beating | the rinsed fiber raw material is turned into a slurry, which is beaten to form the so-called "pulp". | |
| Papermaking | reorganization of pulp fibers is the most wonderful procedure in the papermaking process. | |
| Paper Pressing | the pulp is formed into paper form through papermaking, and then the water is squeezed out. | |
| Baking Paper | stacks of pressed paper are formed into a tofu-like shape, and then baked into paper. | |
| Forming Paper | after the paper tofu is baked at a high temperature, it becomes precious handmade paper. |
Following is the video that captured some of the demonstrated steps (Steps 5 and 8):
The Paper Mill is opened 0900 till 1700 hours daily. Now it charges an entrance fee of TWD 50 for a guided tour.
Feeling 18 Degree Chocolate Factory (18度C 巧克力工房)
It was my second time within 2-months to visit the Feeling 18 Degree Chocolate Factory (left photo below) again. If our driver didn't tell us, we wouldn't know that there was free flow of coffee or tea for visitors besides the chocolate shop (right photo below).
It is located No. 20, Ci'en street, Puli Township in Nantou County and open daily from 1000 to 2200 hours.Stele of Taiwan's Geographical Center (臺灣地理中心)
Also known as the Center of Taiwan Monument, it is located at Mount Hutou (虎頭山) in the township of Puli of Nantou County. The base monument features an inscription "山清水秀" written by former President Chiang Ching-kuo and there are concentric steel rings on top of monument pole which formed the basis of Puli Township logo (left photo below). Another sculpture near the monument is a rock of "sweet potato" which resembles the shape of Taiwan (right photo below).
Sunset at Cingjing Farm
While driving uphill towards Cingjing Farm, the sun begins to set and the beautiful scenery of sunset milky way could be seen (photos below).
Earthen Jar Chicken (甕缸雞)Along the long and winding roads running up the mountain, there are many restaurants that specialise in Earthen Jar Chicken (photos below). Cingjing is not the only place in Taiwan that cooks chickens this way, but they're considered a must-try dish when in the region.
Bucket chicken, also called Earthen Jar chicken, or kiln roasted chicken, is a kind of roast chicken in Taiwanese cuisine. It is named after the chicken is put into an iron bucket or vat during barbecue. After being served to the table, the whole chicken needs to be pulled open with cotton gloves on, which is a kind of hand-braised chicken. The dipping sauce is often topped with pepper, salt, and the flavored chicken fat that drips from the roasted chicken.
Dinner at Inako Valley View Restaurant (伊拿谷景觀餐廳)
After checked-in to our Vienna Garden Chalet, we decided to have our dinner in this Inako Valley View Restaurant (left photo below) as recommended by our driver. The dining area was crowded with patrons when we arrived at about 7 pm (right photo below).
Ordered a set meal (for 2 to 3 person) at TWD 800 which included a roasted chicken (left photo below), some stir-fried mushrooms with vegetables (right photo below), some stir-fried vegetables and stir-fried cabbages (bottom left photo), together with "unlimited" supply of rice (bottom right photo). The roasted chicken tasted great.
After dinner, we were drove back to the Vienna Garden Chalet for a good rest.Day Five
After breakfast, we then checked-out from the hotel and took our driver's car to watch the 'sea of clouds' at about 9 am.
Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area (合歡山國家森林遊樂區)
Mount Hehuan, despite its altitude of more than 3,000-meters, has a road that goes right across it, making access very convenient. Mt. Hehuan, Taiwan's "tourist mountain," rivals the island's other high peaks in scenery and atmosphere, yet it is easily reachable by car.
We then alighted at the viewing platform where the boundary marker could be seen (left photo below). From the outdoor display at the visitor centre (right photo below), it showed a windspeed of 13.2 m/s and a temperature of 2.8 °C during that time.
Needless to mention that we were shivering and could take a quick snap shot of the sceneries (photos below) before rushing back to the car.
We then drove further down until the it was less foggy and with better sceneries (photos below).
Without disappointment, the 'sea of clouds' could be clearly seen (photo below).
Cingjing Farm is an attraction located at the mountainous Ren'ai Township in Nantou County. The farm is located at an altitude of 1,748 meters above sea level and spans over an area of 760 hectares. The average daily temperature is 16°C with daily variation of around 2 to 5 °C.
Cingjing Food Court (清境農場美食廣場)
- It is a rather long stretch of food stalls (left photo below) where several local Taiwanese snacks can be bought from these stalls. The common dishes sold were bamboo soup (筍子湯), Taiwanese aboriginal bamboo tube sticky rice (竹筒飯), sesame oil chicken (麻油雞), boar meat sausages (山豬肉香腸), and slabs of tofu stuffed with pickled veggies and peanut powder (豆腐包). For me I bought only a bottle of warm goat's milk at TWD 50 (right photo below) which tasted the same as fresh cow's milk.
Green Green Grassland (青青草原)
- This is the famous part of Cingjing Farm, and sometimes the visitors just refer the whole farm with this name. Admission charge is required (left photo below) at TWD 160 per adult during weekday (right photo below).
The area has the farm's signature rolling grassy hills with spectacular scenery (photos below).
There are tons of sheep grazing on the pastures in the grassland (photos below). Along the trail, there are vending machines at TWD 30 per bag where visitors can buy grass or pellets to feed these sheep.
Due to the tight schedule, we didn't get to watch the daily sheep shearing show or the horsemanship show. Opening time of the park is from 0800 to 1700 hours daily.Little Swiss Garden (小瑞士花園)
- Also dubbed as Taiwan's Switzerland, this little Swiss garden is a place for a gentle walkabout with a beautiful pond and neatly-kept gardens filled with everything from maple trees and cypresses to colorful flowers, cool LED installations and quirky art (left photo below). Do note that admission is required to enter. We didn't visit this garden due to our limited time.
Carton King Creative Park (紙箱王)
- Similar to the Creative Park at Taichung, this park offered a restaurant and a souvenir shop (right photo below).
Before departing from Cingjing, we visited The Old England Manor for some photo shots of its exterior façade . It is the most beautiful and luxurious manor in the area and leader in bringing the trend of European-style cabins in Cingjing since 2009 (photos below). However the price per standard room can cost more than SGD 600 per night.
After admiring the manor, we then drove to Puli Town for our late lunch.