Taichung

Taiwan’s second-largest city is situated on the western side of central Taiwan. Although Taichung doesn’t have the same scale of cosmopolitan amenities as Taipei, it does have a well-organized museum row and an array of night markets in close proximity to mountain getaways. A corridor of greenery, known as the Parkway, connects the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Natural Science. A wonderful botanical garden, where locals practice tai chi in the early morning, lies behind the latter. (It’s free to join.) Top night markets include the Chung Hwa and Feng-Chia. East Asia is hardly associated with wine, but Taichung is home to the Taichung Winery, which has been operating since Japanese rule. Once you’ve explored Taichung’s parks, museums, and tasty eateries, consider taking a day trip to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest body of water. A favorite getaway for the Taiwanese, the beautiful, placid lake is only enhanced by encircling mountains.