Nestled between the mountains of Shei-Pa National Park and the Taiwan Strait, Tongxiao Township lies north of Taichung City. It provides the setting for the annual Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage from the elaborate Gongtian Temple and is the home to one of the most significant Shinto shrines from Taiwan’s period under Japanese rule.
Things to do in Tongxiao Township
For a taste of rural living, pay a visit to the Flying Cow Ranch, a 120-hectare cattle property that’s been transformed into a tourist attraction. It’s a great place to interact with horses, goats and rabbits and offers plenty of activities such as cow milking and ice cream making. Homemade dairy products are available to purchase on site.
Located in the coastal village of Baishatun, the Gongtian Temple was established in the 1860s and dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. Marvel at its three-story building that features opulent golden walls and a roof embossed with angels, dragons and phoenixes. Each lunar new year, the Mazu statue of the Gongtian Temple is placed in a palanquin and departs on the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage to the Chaotian Temple in Beigang.
One of Tongxiao Township’s most important historic sites is the Tongxiao Shinto Shrine, which is nestled on a hillside in Hutoushan Park. It was built in 1937 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan and is one of only a few Shinmei-style buildings on the island. In 1947, its main hall was renovated to honour the fallen soldiers of the Republic of China Armed Forces in World War II.
Getting around Tongxiao Township
Tongxiao Township is around an hour’s drive from Taichung City and just 30 minutes from Taichung International Airport. Regular trains connect to the Baishatun, Tongxiao and Xinpu railway stations while buses travel throughout the township.