Sprawling on the edge of Taichung City, the South District centres around the leafy green space of Jiankang Park. It’s home to the campus of National Chung Hsing University and the Cultural Heritage Park, as well as a former woodworking factory that makes carpentry accessible to young and old.
Things to do in South District
The work of contemporary artisans, designers and architects is on display at the Cultural Heritage Park, which was originally constructed in 1916 as a brewery. In the early 21st century, several of its buildings were heritage-listed and transformed into exhibition and performance venues. Wander between the galleries and handicraft stores that occupy its beautiful old buildings, which are surrounded by hedge gardens.
Stay until after dark to explore the Zhongxiao Road Night Market, which lies a short walk to the south of the Cultural Heritage Park. Dating from the Japanese colonial period, the market is packed with food stalls selling grilled meats, oyster vermicelli and bamboo rice, as well as sugarcane juice and papaya milk. One of the market’s signature dishes is spicy hot pot, which can also be found in nearby restaurants.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at woodworking, head to the Mutou Wood Workshop, which was originally established as a factory for manufacturing wooden playground equipment and teaching aids. In its Magical Carpentry Workshop, you can get hands-on with a range of DIY projects, all of which are based on cultural puppets and games.
Getting around South District
The Taichung South District is a 10-minute drive from the centre of Taichung City and 40 minutes from Taichung International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia. Trains connect to Daqing and Wuquan railway stations while buses travel throughout the district.