Tai’an, Taichung: finding love and peace in the countryside

I’ve always found peace in stillness. Somewhere with an abundance fresh air and the freedom to roam around the streets without being disturbed by loud passing cars.

Recently, this place for me has been Tai’an.

Tai’an is a quaint little village located in the Houli District of Taichung. It’s one of those places you’ll just fall in love with for no particular reason at all. It’s certainly not your usual touristy spot…most people don’t even know about this place. But when you spend an entire day immersed in the beauty of Tai’an, you’ll find yourself wanting to come back over and over again.

where is that place for you?

Getting to Tai’an

You can reach Tai’an directly by train. The Tze-Chiang limited express does not stop at Tai’an station so you’ll have to take the local train, which is just a little slower than the limited express.

The breezy country side here makes it great for a slow adventure. After arriving Tai’an, you’ll be able to find a Ubike station situated 50 meters outside of the train station. You can choose to ride a bike into the village, or if you’re in the mood, you can also take your time and walk. The main village is around 15 to 20 min away from the train station by foot.

Best season to go

Tai’an is just as charming throughout all four seasons of the year. But the bald cypress forest of Tai’an is definitely a bucket list item if you want to get the most out of your trip, so I recommend going during the winter between the months of December and January.

Fun things to do in Tai’an

Bald cypress forest

The bald cypress forest of Tai’an is really what brings 95% of their visitors, it’s pretty much the only touristy place in the village. Although it can get a bit crowded here, it is still definitely worth a visit.

Bald cypress season is from early December to late January each year, and it is absolutely one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan.

Old train station

The old Tai’an train station was built during the Japanese colonial era. It’s simple wooden design has been preserved beautifully through the years. You can go in and take a tour and even walk to the railway, which isn’t active anymore.

I personally love historic buildings, or anything with a piece of history to it.

(like the beautiful historic streets of Lukang!)

I spent a lot more time here than I thought I would. This is a beautiful place to just sit down and reflect on your life recently without the disturbances of the outside world. It also makes for a really cute photo background.

We spotted a very friendly cat here and got some adorable shots with her!

Try freshly popped rice cake (bon bi pahn)

‘Bon bi pahn’ is a traditional Taiwanese popped rice snack; it’s basically popcorn but with rice. Rice is popped from a machine and it’ll makes a really loud POP sound every time it comes out. It’s much louder than the sound popcorn makes. Not gonna lie, the exploding sound definitely scared me the first time I heard it!

Bon bi pahn comes in several different flavors, like sesame and peanut. You can find it in many places in Taiwan but this is the first time I’ve seen it made fresh. You don’t really see people making it fresh out of a machine anymore, so definitely give it a try if you see it!

Pop the marble soda!

Marble soda is something very special to Taiwan, you can find it sold in many historic streets throughout Taiwan. Instead of opening a can like how you would a normal soda, there is a marble on the top of the can that you have to push down to pop the soda. It tastes kinda like a mix of sprite and ice cream soda. I bought one along with the bon bi pahn and ate it while walking around Tai’an.

Good food definitely makes for a therapeutic experience.

Goat nipple marinated egg

If you walk along the rails of the old station, you’ll stumble upon a mini grandma’s shop selling a lot of weird and questionable things.

One of them was eggs marinated in goat nipples.

Before you judge though! They’re not ACTUAL goat nipples (thank god), just plants in the shape of a goat nipple with a very milky flavor.

It wasn’t my favorite, but it was definitely an interesting experience. So if you’re feeling adventurous, go ahead and give it a taste!

Watch the sunset

Staying until the sun sets isn’t hard when you’re in such a beautiful place. The sunset here is especially beautiful, with almost nothing to block your view. A whole sky of cotton candy sunset paired with the well aged buildings of Tai’an, it’s moments like this that I truly feel at peace with myself and the world.

~some final thoughts~

Tai’an is definitely an overlooked destination by many. Honestly, many Taiwanese people don’t even know about this place. But it has a very special place in my heart and it truly is a beautiful place to just wander around for some peace of mind.

If you’re a traveler who has some extra time to spare, I genuinely recommend making a stop at Tai’an for a wholesome day trip.

You won’t regret it xx

what’s your go-to getaway from the restless cities?

let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,