December 31, 2022

Happy New Year! What did we do on the last day of 2022?

By Żaneta Hsu December 31, 2022 // No comments

We traveled back south to meet my parents-in-law and sister-in-law for lunch. They found an Italian restaurant in Changhua. Actually, they had planned to go there a few weeks ago, but it was fully booked until today. The food was nice, with great pizza, gnocchi, and steaks.

Afterwards, we went around Tianwei Gardens. I had seen marjoram before but regretted not buying it at that time, so I was hoping to find it again.

Later on, my parents-in-law decided to stay longer in Changhua, so we went to the Rice Museum before heading back to their place. We didn't do anything special on this day and didn't watch fireworks either.

A&G La fusione

We also took a walk around Tianwei Highway Gardens.

Rice Museum (稻米博物館)

Finally, we visited the Rice Museum. Lianmi Enterprise built the "Zhongxing Castle" in Pitou Township, the birthplace of Zhongxing rice, in order to create a rice-themed tourist destination. It is the only rice-themed tourist factory in Taiwan and the fifth museum in the world that introduces rice culture.

Rice is the most fundamental economic crop in Taiwan, which is based on agriculture. The rice produced in Taiwan is currently exported to Asian countries, the United Kingdom, and North America.

In the green Pitou Township, there stands the "Zhongxing Gubao" that resembles a European castle. The baroque architecture is adorned with exotic decorations, creating a contrast with the local rice culture. The first floor houses the lobby and merchandise store, where visitors can discover various exquisite and delicious rice products. The second floor is the tourist factory, divided into eight themed halls. Through the factory windows, you can witness the magnificent sight of 28 rice warehouses operating simultaneously. The museum showcases ancient rice-making utensils and "glutinous rice walls" built using traditional methods, recreating the atmosphere of a traditional family dining room from the 1960s. It evokes warm memories for the elderly and allows the younger generation to experience the life and culture of agricultural Taiwan.

The Zhongxing Gubao Rice Museum has established the "Daoxiang Academy" to host DIY experience activities and provide visitors with interactive experiences. There are various activities such as making homemade popcorn and handcrafted rice balls, allowing tourists to enjoy making delicious rice snacks. The museum also invites professional teachers to explain rice cake cooking techniques and share rice cooking knowledge with the visitors.

Address:

1. A&G La Fusione: 522彰化縣田尾鄉民生路一段14號
2. Rice Museum: 523彰化縣埤頭鄉

Maple Tunnel in Miaoli

By Żaneta Hsu December 24, 2022 // No comments

It's Christmas Eve, although we're not doing anything special today. I surprised Adrian with a gift in the morning, so he has already received it. In the evening, we'll see Santa Claus as our building management has organized some candy for the kids.

We visited a park in the mountains of Miaoli to see the maple trees. The maple trees here aren't the most beautiful, although there were some shades of orange and brown. If you come to this park, don't expect too much. As we walked to the end of the maple tunnel, we also came across a military practice ground for grenade throwing.

It was an extremely cold day. We rode our scooter 6 kilometers from our place, but my hands turned red from the cold. Adrian even wore a hat and gloves haha. The temperature was below 10 degrees, and the wind felt icy cold. Of course, it doesn't compare to winters in Europe or America.

Address:

Toufen Back Garden: 351苗栗縣頭份市

Taichung Christmas 2022

By Żaneta Hsu December 19, 2022 // 1 comment

This time we traveled to Taichung to see the Christmas trees. It's a little over a one-hour drive from our home. The area around Taichung is always congested with traffic, so it wasn't surprising. It took us about 30 minutes to find a parking spot because every place was already full. We finally arrived around 5 PM. We visited several locations and had to take buses to get around the city. If there were no red lights, it would have been much faster, but it took us 20 minutes to cover just 3 kilometers 😂. Our son was really excited because it was his first time taking a bus. He even mentioned the next morning how happy he was to travel on a bus. We usually rely on driving a car or scooter, so it was only my second time taking a bus in Taiwan as well.

In my opinion, the highlight of the trip was the BBQ shop decorated as a gingerbread house! I absolutely loved the Christmas atmosphere there.

If you're interested in learning about more Christmas spots in Taiwan, feel free to check out my post from Tainan where we visited over 5 places last weekend!

Top City (台中大遠百)

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store (新光三越台中中港店)

瓦庫燒肉 WOW COOL

Taichung City Government (臺中市政府)

Liuchuan Riverside Walk (柳川水岸景觀步道)

Taichung Old station (舊台中車站)

Shin Sei Green Waterway (新盛綠川水岸廊道)

Yunlin Travel: Chasing the sugar cane train!

By Żaneta Hsu December 16, 2022 // No comments

It's sugar cane season, and the train from Huwei Sugar Factory has started running! This is a truly unique experience because it is the very last train still in use. Huwei Sugar Factory is also one of the two remaining factories that still produce sugar. If you happen to be nearby or want to visit to see the train, you can expect it to operate between December and March, possibly extending into early April. The train, which was manufactured in the 1970s, continues its route from Baozhong to Huwei, passing through fields and the busy areas of the town.

We have also created a video showcasing the train as it transports sugar cane in various parts of Huwei. We chased it from the fields and waited in town to witness its passage. It has become a yearly tradition for us!

During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan in 1904, after the completion of the railway line from Tainan Station to the southern section of Douliu Station, Huwei rapidly developed into a new town. Historical records indicate that Huwei Station was established in the same year as Huwei Sugar Factory and was named "Wujiancuo Station" because of its location in the Wujiancuo tribe of Huwei.

Huwei Sugar Factory (虎尾糖廠) was built in 1907, and the first workshop officially commenced operations in 1909, processing 3,300 metric tons of sugar cane daily. The second workshop was constructed in 1912, with a daily capacity of 1,600 metric tons. In 1924, the first workshop underwent expansion, increasing the total crushing capacity to 4,900 metric tons, making it the most productive sugar plant in Taiwan. In 1925, the largest alcohol workshop in the region was added, followed by the installation of anhydrous alcohol manufacturing equipment in 1937. The factory ceased operations in 1962.

See more: Huwei Sugar Factory

See more: Inside Sugar Factory Warehouses

Address:

Huwei Sugar Factory: 632雲林縣虎尾鎮中山路2號

Tainan Christmas 2022

By Żaneta Hsu December 11, 2022 // No comments

It has become a tradition for us to explore Tainan City in search of Christmas trees. Even though we have moved away, we still come back for the weekends to visit a few places, especially shopping malls, to enjoy the festive decorations. Unfortunately, in Miaoli, there are hardly any Christmas decorations, and Hsinchu has very few as well, to the point of being almost non-existent. The weather in the northern part of Taiwan also discourages outdoor activities, as it tends to be windy, cold, and often rainy. In contrast, Tainan experiences a completely different weather pattern. It was so warm there that we could even wear shorts. However, when we returned to Toufen, where we currently live, it's quite the opposite. Despite the weather showing a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, it feels much colder, and we find ourselves wearing winter jackets.