top of page
Search

Taipei-Taichung-Nantou-Taipei

Writer: 俊傑 黃
俊傑 黃
Jul 13
4 min read

Day 1: Taipei Departure - Miyahara Ophthalmology Clinic - Lunch - Puli Winery - HOHOCHA - Dinner - Hotel by Sun Moon Lake



  • Miyahara Ophthalmology Café

Back in 1927, Miyahara Eye Hospital started out as a private eye clinic run by Dr. Takeo Miyahara. Over the years, the building wore many hats—it was even used as a local health bureau at one point. But after getting hit by earthquakes and suffering years of neglect, it was eventually abandoned and left in ruins.

Fortunately, the "Dawn" group teamed up with restoration experts and spent over a year bringing the old place back to life, transforming it into the super vibrant, creative hub it is today.

The coolest part is how they blended the building's history with modern design. They added a gorgeous glass roof that lets in tons of natural light. With its high ceilings and massive wooden bookshelves, the space has this cozy, library-like vibe. It’s the perfect mix of old-school charm and fresh energy—you can really feel the history breathing through the space!




  • Puli brewery

Puli Distillery is one of Taiwan’s most iconic and historic wineries. It all started back in 1917 during the Japanese colonial era, when local prominent figures set up the "Puli Alcohol Manufacturing Co." Thanks to Puli’s amazing water quality, perfect climate, and natural environment, they started making sake, rice wine, and sticky rice wine, quickly becoming a major hub for brewing in central Taiwan.

In 1922, the Japanese government took over the distillery and made it state-owned under the Monopoly Bureau. Fast forward to after World War II, the Taiwanese government took charge, eventually renaming it the "Puli Distillery of the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Monopoly Bureau" in the 1960s. They scaled up production and, by the 1980s, launched their famous "Ailan White Liquor," making Puli the ultimate home of Taiwan's Shaoxing wine.

Today, the distillery runs on the concept of "Culture Brewing & Art Tourism." They’ve blended traditional brewing crafts with a fun tourist experience. There's a Wine Culture Museum on-site packed with history, and they even offer free guided tours to show you the whole journey—from a single grain of rice to a drop of wine.

If you visit, you can get your hands dirty with some fun DIY activities to experience the joy of winemaking. You also get to taste their signature Shaoxing wines, like "Zhuangyuan Red" and "Nu'er Red," and pair them with delicious Shaoxing-infused snacks for a deep cultural experience.

The quality of Puli’s products is top-notch—their wine was even chosen for state banquets at the Presidential Office and is exported to over 30 countries worldwide. On top of that, they’ve really embraced modern and sustainable business practices, earning ISO certifications for quality and environmental management.





  • HOHOCHA

Here is a natural and engaging English translation of the text, keeping its inviting and descriptive tone:

HOHOCHA (Taiwan Xiang Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Factory) is a tourism factory themed around Sun Moon Lake black tea. Its striking Japanese Zen-style wooden architecture is a major eye-catcher. The park perfectly combines modern Taiwanese tea culture with immersive tourism experiences, offering visitors a comprehensive journey into tea culture—from touring the black tea production process to exploring tea gifts for daily life.



Accommodation Recommendations




Day 2: Hotel Departure - Lake Cruise - Lunch - CHUNG SHE RLOWER GARDEN - SANXIA OLD STREET - Return to Taipei


  • Sun Moon Lake cruise

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s biggest natural lake, and it is absolutely stunning. The cool thing about it is that you get a totally different view depending on where you're standing.

Taking a boat ride is a absolute must-do here—you can hop between Shuishe, Xuanguang Temple, and Ita Thao piers, just cruising across the gorgeous, shimmering water. As one of Taiwan’s top eight scenic spots, there are so many ways to experience it. You can wander down the mountain trails, catching glimpses of the lake through the lush trees and flowers, or you can just relax on a boat and take in the view from the water.

A day of exploring both land and lake lets you see Sun Moon Lake from every possible angle, leaving you with memories you'll never forget.


  • Chung-She Flower Garden

Zhongshe Flower Market is the only low-altitude flower market in central Taiwan to successfully grow tulips. By utilizing unique cold-storage and cultivation techniques to control the blooming schedule, a total of 150,000 tulips take turns blossoming from January to March every year. Whenever you visit during the blooming season, you can immerse yourself in the stunning grandeur of the tulip fields. Without the hassle of traveling abroad, you'll feel as though you've stepped right into a picturesque Dutch landscape.

 

The spacious fields are planted with a wide array of brilliant colorful flowers by professional growers. The blooming flowers attract large numbers of visitors to enjoy the masses of color and the beauty, as well as the people who love photography would come with their fellows to capture the full bloom. Additionally, many newly married couples are especially fond of choosing the sight to shoot their photos for a lifetime memory.





  •  Sanxia Old Street

Sanxia Old Street—famous for its signature horn-shaped croissants—is also known as Sanjiaoyong Old Street. It’s been a bustling commercial hub ever since the Qing Dynasty. During the Japanese colonial era, the street got a major makeover, and modern Western-style buildings started popping up left and right, marking a golden age for the area.

Walking into Sanxia Old Street today feels just like stepping into a time machine. The endless red-brick arched hallways and beautiful Baroque-style facades give the street its unique, nostalgic vibe.

The area is a fantastic mix of historic sites, amazing food, and rich culture. Aside from the historic architecture, you'll find the street packed with shops selling camphor, dyed fabrics, tea, traditional Chinese medicine, and groceries—all the major industries of Sanxia back in the Qing Dynasty and Japanese era. It's well worth popping into these retro shops to get a feel for what old-school Sanxia was like! And of course, you can’t leave without trying the local eats. Make sure to grab some of Sanxia’s famous horn-shaped croissants (they come in tons of flavors!) and a bowl of the legendary, three-generation-old handmade tofu pudding.







Comments

bottom of page