Taichung Christmas 2022

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!

See also: Tainan Christmas 2022

Check out my YouTube video

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)

Read More

Yunlin Travel: Chasing the sugar cane train!

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

Read More

Tainan Christmas 2022

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.

See also: Taichung Christmas 2022

Check out my YouTube video

TS Mall (南紡購物中心)

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Ximen Store (新光三越台南新天地)

Chimei Museum (奇美博物館)

Far Eastern (台南遠東香格里拉)

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhongshan Store (新光三越台南中山店)

Focus (時尚流行館)

Tainan Public Library (臺南市立圖書館 新總館)

Mitsui Outlet Park (台南三井)

Justwin Grand Hotel (致穩人文商旅飯店)

Hsinhua Japanese Dormitory (日式宿舍群)

Read More

[Recipe] Making Mapo Tofu - Try it, if you love spicy food

I love spicy food, so I also make my own Mapo Tofu. I add more chilies if I make it for myself, but this version is milder in spice so that my husband can also enjoy it. Making it is very simple! Check out my video for full instructions.

Ingredients:

0.5 tbsp Sichuan pepper

300g tofu

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

Sesame oil for frying

120g ground pork meat

2 tbsp chili bean paste

Chilies, to taste

200ml water

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp rice wine

1 tbsp light soy sauce

Instructions:

1. Heat up a frying pan, add half a tablespoon of Sichuan peppercorns, and fry until fragrant.

2. Cut the tofu into cubes (avoid using silken tofu, opt for a firmer variety). Simmer in salted water for 2-3 minutes, then leave it in the water until ready to use.

3. Heat up some light sesame oil. Add 120g of minced pork meat and fry for a couple of minutes over medium heat.

4. Add chili bean paste and stir it in. Add minced garlic and continue frying. Add ground (roughly chopped) Sichuan peppercorns and some chilies to taste.

5. Pour in water or broth and let it boil. Add the tofu and season to taste with brown sugar, rice wine, and soy sauce.

6. Boil for a few minutes until the sauce reduces.

7. Make a slurry from 1 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water, add it to the pot, and bring it to a boil.

8. Serve with rice.

Read More

Hsinchu Christmas 2022

Christmas is approaching, and I wanted to share the current Christmas decorations in Big City and Sogo in Hsinchu. Compared to Tainan, where I have seen decorations every year, Hsinchu's decorations are quite minimal. However, it's still better than Miaoli, where I couldn't find any Christmas decorations except for RT-Mart in Toufen.

Once again, I will be staying in Taiwan during this holiday season, which is a bit sad for me.

Read More