Taiwan Road Trip: Taipei to Kaohsiung — Taichung

Back in January, we were traveling through Taiwan. I started writing about our trip and managed to get two posts out—one about Taipei, the capital, and another about Wulai (烏來), a mountain town about an hour south of Taipei.

And then… life happened, and I never got around to finishing the story!

So, picking up where I left off, we continued our road trip south toward Kaohsiung. From Wulai, it was about a 2½-hour drive to Taichung, on the western side of central Taiwan.

Our foodie cousins were traveling with us, and they knew exactly where we needed to stop for lunch: Chun Shui Tang (春水堂), the famous restaurant credited with being the birthplace of bubble tea. I love milk tea, but I’m certainly no bubble tea connoisseur. In fact, before writing this post, I was confused about the difference between bubble tea and boba tea. Turns out, they’re essentially the same thing! Both refer to tea, usually with milk and sweetener, served with chewy tapioca pearls—or “boba.” These days, boba tea is all the rage—you can find it in just about every city!

There was a bit of a wait, but we didn’t mind. The outdoor seating had such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere that waiting actually felt like part of the experience. 

Famous bubble tea —mmm, mmm good! 🧋 Definitely lives up to the hype!

Noodle dishes

Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs

So glad we had locals to decipher the myriad choices on the menu

After lunch, we took a stroll around the National Taichung Theater, also known as Taichung’s Arts NOVA. The striking architecture and open spaces made it a lovely place to explore and take in the surroundings.

Chinese New Year, year of the Horse (Feb 17)

Admiring the skyline of Taichung from the inside

Our fun personal tour guides

Next up was a beloved gift shop for some New Year shopping. From the outside, the building looks a little weathered and unassuming—but step inside and WOW! The interior is filled with antique furniture, charming displays, and an incredible assortment of unique goodies and gifts, all perfect for sharing with family and friends during the New Year.

I didn’t know it at the time, but I later learned this was Miyahara (宮原眼科), a historic Taichung landmark dating back to 1927, when it first opened as an ophthalmology clinic during the Japanese colonial period. The original brick walls have been beautifully preserved, adding to its timeless vintage charm.

I loved the beautiful gift-wrapping papers featuring horses to celebrate the Year of the Horse. What a lovely blend of tradition, artistry, and local charm!

Pretty packages celebrating the Year of the Horse. 🐎

Too bad we had just had a big lunch, so we didn’t get to try any desserts. After reading more about Miyahara, I discovered that their ice cream is apparently not to be missed. Now I understand the long line for ice cream. Oh well—another reason to come back next time! 

Stay tuned for the next chapter of our road trip. I promise it won’t take me nearly as long to get to it this time! 😉

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Altered Book Lover.

Related Posts:

Taiwan Road Trip: Taipei to Kaohsiung — Wulai

Postcard from Taipei, Taiwan

Happy Chinese New Year