The BEST Things to do in Lukang, Taiwan

One of my favorite places to visit are the historic streets of Taiwan, and the Township of Lukang definitely comes in top three.

Lukang Township is located in the northwestern part of Changhua City, between Taichung and Yunlin. Historically, Lukang had been one of the most prominent towns in Taiwan, coming just after Tainan.

fun fact: in Mandarin, there’s a saying that goes- “一府二鹿三艋舺”, which refers to three of Taiwan’s then-largest cities in order- Tainan, Lukang, and Wanhua (also known as Bangka in Hakka)

The name Lukang (鹿港, or lugang), formerly known as lok-a-kang (鹿仔港) in Taiwanese, literally translates to “deer port” in Mandarin. This is because the Lukang sea port used to be an important center for deer skin trade during the Dutch colonial era in Taiwan. Today it is a very popular tourist destination due to its rich history, beautifully preserved buildings, and delicious variety of traditional Taiwanese delicacies.

how to get to there

If you’re coming from other cities, the best way to get to Lukang is by intercity buses, as the train does not pass by here. From Taipei, you can take the Ubus 1652 from Taipei main station to Lukang, which will take around 3 hours.

I went from Taichung, and if that’s your starting point then you can take the 9018 bus directly from Taichung train station to Lukang; it costs 93 NTD one-way, and 74 NTD if you get on from Science Museum (Taiwan Blvd) stop. The journey will take just around 45 min.

(seriously, the buses in Taichung are so convenient it’s crazy.)

the best season to go

I think the best season to go is definitely something really personal. However, I would recommend going on weekdays during the winter or spring time.

Honestly, it’s way too hot to be walking around Lukang during the summer, there’s very little shade and the crowds make it ten times hotter. Our trip last summer was short-lasting and it was not a fun experience for me or my dogs. We literally could not stay out for more than 10 minutes.

Moreover, I prefer going on the weekdays because it’s a lot less crowded, which makes it much more comfortable and easier to explore through the town. However, what you have to keep in mind is that many food stands only come out on the weekends because that when they make most sales. So if you’re someone who doesn’t mind the crowd, then going on the weekend will make for a more well rounded experience.

things to do in Lukang

eat your way through Lukang

There are so many things to eat in Lukang, it is likely that you’ll spend an entire day just stuffing your face. The first thing that the locals will always tell you to try in Lukang are their misua, which is Taiwanese for vermicelli soup. You can find these all over Lukang, and although some stores are more are more well known and have more customers, I think they all taste pretty much the same (not the biggest fan).

At the old street, you’ll also find a large store selling taro cakes (素珠芋丸）; the line is always really long, so you’ll have no problem spotting it. This is a really old store, and their taro cakes are also something that many people recommend trying when you come to Lukang. You can buy a gift pack of many at once and bring home to share with your friends and family.

One of my favorite things that I ate in Lukang is ‘Lukang cake’, a traditional egg cake-like desert that you’ll see at the entrance of the old street. What makes this egg cake unique is that they make it with a special formula which makes the cake extra aromatic and chewy. The texture of this ‘Lukang cake’ is different from any of the egg cakes that you’ll find in Taiwan, and I absolutely adore it!

You can also find ox tongue cakes (牛舌餅) in a variety of funky flavors here, I personally like the original flavor the most tho!

sit at an ancient cafe and eat mian cha

Mian cha (麵茶) is also one of the traditional Taiwanese foods that you must try when visiting Lukang. Mian cha, or roasted wheat flour, is a traditional eastern Asian foods eaten by many families back in the days when food supply was scarce. It is what many toddlers and children grew up eating when there wasn’t enough food and milk for the kids. Today it is eaten as a traditional sweet snack and it is very very delicious.

The best place to try mian cha in Lukang is at 彥仲麵茶 (Yanzhong mian cha cafe), acafe in a historical building with many mian cha specialties. We tried the hot mian cha and the mian cha drink. They also sell have mian cha shaved ice (highly recommended) and to-go miancha slushy outside of the cafe. Here, you can also buy mian cha powders of different flavors to take home and make for yourself.

stroll around the old street in a qipao

Qipaos are traditional Chinese attire which are available for rent at some stores here in Lukang. Lukang is the perfect place to take photos qipao due to the entire historical atmosphere of the township, every corner makes for an amazing shoot. This is definitely an unforgettable unique experience that you should try here.

osmanthus lane art village 桂花巷藝術村

The osmanthus lane art village is a new creative park that was designed recently, with lots of cute shops and cafes here that you can wander through. You’ll also find a lot of picture-worthy wall arts. Overall it is a really nice and chill place for you to walk around, especially if you’re into aesthetic arts and shops.

walk through moru lane

Moru lane is an extremely narrow alleyway which literally translates to “breast touching lane”. Legend says that because the lane is so narrow, you’ll accidentally brush against the breast of a woman if you pass by her. It is also often referred to as gentleman’s lane because a gentleman would try to avoid such an awkward and inappropriate situation.

The lane becomes increasingly narrow, and it is a very interesting experience to walk in such a narrow lane.

enjoy your time at cute aesthetic shops

Daily Sweet Thing is a cafe located on the left side at the end of Moru lane, and this cafe was literally the highlight of my trip. They have the most beautiful setting and as someone who cannot resist aesthetic cafes and cute things, I couldn’t help but spend a lot of my time here.

They also sell a lot of super fun stationery, soaps, etc- just all of the things that i absolutely cannot resist! On one side of the wall there are a lot of books, and what’s special about it is that they’re all self-help or productivity books, and that is right up my aisle! I would literally read all the books on their shelf. If you visit Lukang, then I definitely recommend you check out this cafe.

There are also many cute shops in the old streets of Lukang. Another really adorable shop that we passed through sell a lot of Japanese styled tote and bento bags- super cute! (Put some cute dogs on the bag and I will give you all my money)

Even though Lukang is a historical township very rich in Taiwanese culture, I find it super fascinating that you can still find sprinkles of modernism throughout the town.

zheng yu zhen bakery 鄭玉珍餅鋪

This bakery located in the historic street has more than a century of history. Some say that it dates back to 1877, which is crazy! They sell a lot of traditional Taiwanese treats, and they make for the perfect souvenir options. Amongst their sweets, the phoenix eye cake is what most travelers come here to try.

What are some of your favorite historical streets in your country?

tell me all about it in the comment section below! <3

Until next time,