In Asia, there are three unique sightseeing points that are only in Changhua. They are the only operating live historic monument, the Train Station Hotel – Round House, and the only trip for oyster picking by the sea on an ox-drawn cart. They are all important intangible cultural heritage aspects of Taiwan. The only glass Mazu Temple – the Hu Sheng Temple – is situated in the Taiwan Glass Gallery. The most hospitable Tianzhong Marathon would like to invite friends from Hong Kong and Macau to join the contest.
Changhua is located in central Taiwan. There are 55 flights flying from Hong Kong to Taiwan every day. It just takes an hour and more to arrive here. Especially, there are flights flying from Hong Kong to Taichung directly, shortening its distance from Taiwan.
Changhua began to develop very early, being the starting point of the history of the development of central Taiwan. There is an old saying, “the first was Tainan; the second, Lukang; the third, Meengjia.” Regarded as the cultural and historical capital in central Taiwan, it achieved handsomely in various aspects, including handicrafts, xiqu (traditional opera), architecture, literature, art, and more. In fact, it is a gem of Taiwan’s culture and history. It not only has refined handicrafts, precious historical architecture, and national class artisans, but also diverse local cuisine, including oyster omelets, deep-fried oysters, mud shrimp, roasted wheat flour, steamed meat buns, beauty’s eye, ox tongue cake, and more.
In the West Coast of Changhua, there is the largest intertidal zone in Taiwan. During the ebb, hard clams, fiddler crabs, mudskippers, and more are exposed. Visitors can enjoy the fun of “catching clams”. In addition, in the tourism industry, there are different kinds of leisure farms, vineyards, and sightseeing factories. There are also many other scenic spots, such as horticulture in Tianwei Highway Park, the Great Buddha Statue – Changhua’s landmark, and more are very suitable for parents and children.
Other than eating Zongzi, the Dragon Boat Festival features the most popular sport – the dragon boat race. Although it is held in many counties and cities in Taiwan, Lukang, Changhua is the only county holding dragon boat races in central Taiwan. To provide visitors with a higher quality and more comfortable environment to enjoy the dragon boat race, it takes the lead in holding it at night. Along the banks and river, dragon boats are decorated with glamourous lights to allow athletes to locate their positions in the river. It also gives visitors an exciting experience and eye-catching effect when watching the race. It seems the race is held in a huge outdoor theater. When enjoying the dragon boat race at night, visitors can experience the exciting competition among the teams and avoid the heat and sunlight during the daytime. They can also travel to Changhua at night to feel the splendor of Lukang. It is hoped that our friends from Hong Kong and Macau will have the opportunities to participate in the contest themselves.
In addition to historic and festive activities, in sports tourism, the Changhua Tianzhong Marathon has been held for 7 years since 2012. Often, the tickets are sold in seconds when they are put up for sale. It is also the most hospitable marathon in Taiwan, regarded as a must-participate race by runners. Therefore, integrating sports and tourism, we welcome friends from Hong Kong and Macau to visit Changhua in central Taiwan.
Exhibition date: 14-17, June
News contact: Ms. Hsiu-Fang, Hsu, Department of City and Tourism (04-7532776)