Rainbow Village in Taichung's Nantun District is a miracle created by an 87-year-old veteran Huang Yongfu (known as "Rainbow Grandpa") who transformed the entire village into an open-air museum with colorful graffiti starting from 2008. This old village located in Lane 56, Chun'an Road was originally faced with demolition. Rainbow Grandpa used paint and brushes to fill the walls, ground, and even storm drain covers with vibrant patterns, unexpectedly attracting many tourists and ultimately leading to the village's preservation. Currently, Rainbow Village welcomes over 2 million visitors annually and is open year-round for free, making it one of Taiwan's most representative street art landmarks.
When visiting Rainbow Village, it is recommended to go between 9 AM and 11 AM, when the light is softest and colors are most vibrant—perfect for photos and social media posts. You can choose the "Rainbow Grandpa" mural at the village entrance as a backdrop, or venture into the alleyways to find hidden dragon and phoenix patterns. The most popular composition on social media is shooting the entire colorful alley from the alley entrance using diagonal framing, or sitting on the ground and interacting with cartoon characters on the walls for photos. Since the village is not large, it can be explored in about 15-20 minutes. It is recommended to combine your visit with nearby Wenxin Forest Park.
Yizhong Commercial Area is located in Taichung's North District and is the top choice for local young people's daily shopping, covering mainly Yizhong Street, Jiguang Street, and Taiping Road. The shops in the area focus on trendy clothing, accessories, and electronic products, with prices much more affordable than Taipei's Eastern District. Jiguang Street pedestrian walkway is the core area, with clothing stores and several takoyaki specialty shops like "Little Prince" alongside. Takoyaki costs approximately TWD 40-80 per serving, making it a favorite budget snack among students. Wenchang Street is known for anime model shops and stationery stores, a great place to find Japanese imported goods. The main consumers at Yizhong Commercial Area are local university students, with the busiest crowds on weekends. Parking is available at the nearby Dudu Parking Lot.
Fengjia Night Market is located at the entrance of Feng Chia University in Xitun District, and is the largest night market in Taiwan, covering approximately 60,000 square meters with over 250 stalls and daily foot traffic exceeding 100,000 visitors. The night market is famous throughout Taiwan for its creative snacks, with the "Egg Pancake" (fried egg bun) being a must-try signature dish. It involves pouring egg batter onto special dough and frying until golden and crispy, filled with ham, cheese, and lettuce, priced at approximately TWD 30-50 per serving. Another popular item is grid waffles, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, served with ice cream or fruit at an average price of TWD 50-80. The Fengjia Night Market stretches from Fengjia Road to Fuxing Road. It is recommended to visit after 5 PM, first browse the stalls then have dinner, avoiding the dinner rush hour.
Miyahara Eye Clinic is a popular cultural and creative attraction in Taichung's city center, located on Zhongshan Road. Originally, it was an eye clinic building constructed in 1927 during the Japanese colonial period. In 2010, the Sunrise Impression Group spent funds to renovate it into an ice cream and dessert specialty store. The exterior retains the Japanese Baroque-style red brick walls and arched window frames, while the interior creates a luxurious atmosphere with ornate crystal chandeliers and vintage leather sofas. Ice cream starts at TWD 120 for a single scoop, TWD 180 for double scoops, and TWD 250 for triple scoops. "Sun Moon Lake Ruby" and "Blue Cheese" are the most popular flavors. Due to the large crowds, weekend afternoons often require queuing for over 30 minutes. It is recommended to visit on weekdays or go early. The nearby "Fourth Credit Cooperative" also belongs to the Sunrise Group and is also a popular souvenir shop.
Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park (also known as the Cultural Creative Park) is located in South District. Its predecessor was the Taichung Brewery built in 1916. After being idle for years, it was transformed in 2010 into a cultural creative industries park. The park covers approximately 6 hectares, with outdoor areas open for free viewing, while indoor exhibition halls may require fees depending on the exhibition nature. The park regularly hosts cultural creative markets, handicraft workshops, and design exhibitions. The weekend "Handmade Market" attracts many local designers to set up stalls showcasing handmade accessories, leather goods, and ceramic products. The "Abandoned Wine Bottles" installation art and massive brewing tanks inside the park have also become popular photo spots. It takes about 15 minutes by taxi from Rainbow Village, making it a good option for linking various attractions when planning a Taichung day trip.
Regarding "how to get to Rainbow Village," from Taichung Railway Station you can take Bus No. 5 and get off at the "Chun'an Road" stop, then walk approximately 3 minutes to reach the destination. Alternatively, you can take a taxi with a fare of approximately TWD 150-200. The "Fengjia Night Market must-eat list" includes: Egg Pancake, Grid Waffles, Fengjia Sausage in Rice, Fried Tofu with Black Tea, and Taro Ice Cream—these are the most discussed snacks online. The "Taichung one-day itinerary recommendation" suggests visiting Rainbow Village first in the morning (about 1 hour), having lunch and shopping at Yizhong Commercial Area at noon (2 hours), visiting Miyahara Eye Clinic for ice cream in the afternoon (1 hour), and then visiting Fengjia Night Market in the evening (3 hours). This way, you can cover Taichung's three must-visit attractions in one go.
To learn more about restaurant and souvenir options in various Taichung districts, you can refer to the complete Taichung travel guide and individual attraction merchant pages, which contain more detailed store ratings and business hour information.
FAQ
1. Is there an admission fee for Rainbow Village?
Rainbow Village is open year-round for free with no admission fee. However, please respect the local residents' lives by not speaking loudly or touching the wall paintings.
2. Is parking convenient at Fengjia Night Market?
There are several paid parking lots around Fengjia Night Market, costing TWD 30-50 per hour on weekdays and possibly increasing to TWD 50-80 on weekends. It is recommended to park at the large parking lots on Fuxing Road or Fengjia Road.
3. How much is Miyahara Eye Clinic ice cream?
Miyahara Eye Clinic ice cream costs TWD 120 for a single scoop, TWD 180 for double scoops, and TWD 250 for triple scoops. The price is mid-range among Taichung ice cream shops, but the toppings are generous and the atmosphere is unique.
4. What are the business hours for Yizhong Commercial Area?
Most shops at Yizhong Commercial Area are open from 10 AM to 10 PM. The busiest period on weekends is from 2 PM to 6 PM.
5. How much is the ticket for Taichung Cultural and Creative Industries Park?
The park's outdoor spaces and public areas are free to visit. Some special indoor exhibitions may charge a fee, with average tickets around TWD 50-150.
