{"id":7947,"date":"2025-11-12T17:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T09:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/?p=7947"},"modified":"2025-09-21T21:59:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T13:59:07","slug":"xianxi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/en\/xianxi\/","title":{"rendered":"Changhua \u25e6 Xianxi | The Once-Passionate Clam Barracks | TAIWAN 368-56"},"content":{"rendered":"

If it weren\u2019t for my determination to visit all 368 towns and townships of Taiwan, I probably would have never made my way to Xianxi along the coastal route. Riding my scooter, I felt the desolation of the journey, yet at certain turns, I would stumble upon cultural scenes rarely found elsewhere. I think it is precisely these fleeting, precious moments that keep me going.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Changhua Travel Guide<\/span><\/h6>\n

01\uff5cTransportation in Changhua<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude84 Taiwan High Speed Rail<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udef5 Scooter Rental in Changhua<\/a>
\n\ud83d\ude97 Cross-city Chartered One-day Tour From Taipei<\/a><\/p>\n

02\uff5cPopular Attractions in Changhua<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfab Gushengwu Park Ticket in Changhua<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Magical Mushrooms Tribe Ticket and DIY Experience in Changhua<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Tickets for Juan Musen Living Museum<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Yunhe Starry Sky View Restaurant Ticket<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Cheng Mei Cultural Park Ticket in Changhua<\/a><\/p>\n

03\uff5cThings To Do in Changhua<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfd5\ufe0f Glamping in Changhua by Ouxiang Manor Hotel<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udf6a DIY Experience at Taiwan You Good School of Cookie<\/a><\/p>\n

\u25e6 The Past of Xianxi<\/span><\/h6>\n

Xianxi Township lies in the northwest of Changhua County. To the north, it borders Shengang Township; to the east, the bustling town of Hemei; to the south, the historically rich Lukang; and to the west, it meets the Taiwan Strait. It is the smallest administrative district in Changhua by area.<\/p>\n

In the 17th year of the Jiaqing Emperor\u2019s reign (1812), the Qing court divided the then \u201cBanxian Bao\u201d (present-day Changhua) into \u201cBanxian East Bao\u201d and \u201cBanxian West Bao,\u201d marking the distinction between the eastern and western halves of Banxian. Later, \u201cBao\u201d was changed to \u201cFort\u201d (\u5821), and in the 13th year of the Guangxu Emperor\u2019s reign (1887), \u201cBanxian West Fort\u201d was shortened to \u201cXianxi Fort.\u201d The name \u201cXianxi\u201d has been passed down ever since.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Attractions in Xianxi<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cYizai Fishing Port<\/h6>\n

Tucked beneath the elevated section of the Xianxi stretch of the West Coast Expressway, Yizai Fishing Port is the only harbor in Changhua that sells \u201cxian-liu\u201d catch\u2014meaning seafood caught that very day, never frozen or thawed, brought straight from the fishing boats to the market. Though modest in size, the harbor is a treasure trove of fresh seafood\u2014fish, shrimp, crabs, oysters, squid, and a wide variety of local fish\u2014making it a hidden gem known mostly to locals.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s even a cooked food section and on-the-spot seafood preparation service. I bought a box of crabs and happily enjoyed them right there on the nearby seawall.<\/p>\n

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Yizai Fishing Port<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0900-2100\nYugang Rd., Xianxi Township, Changhua<\/pre>\n
02\uff5cClam Barracks<\/h6>\n
The uniquely named Clam Barracks was originally a coastal defense camp. In the 1960s, it transformed into a dormitory area for retired soldiers who took up clam farming.<\/p>\n
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In 1962, to help veterans become self-sufficient, the Veterans Affairs Council promoted clam aquaculture here and built small houses of about 15 ping (roughly 500 square feet) each, so these veterans could settle down without worries. This is how the place came to be called \u201cClam Barracks.\u201d<\/p>\n
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However, after 1975, as the coastal area became newly reclaimed land, seawater could no longer flow freely into the aquaculture ponds, making clam farming unsustainable. Veterans and their families were forced to find new livelihoods elsewhere. The once lively Clam Barracks gradually fell into ruin, becoming a shelter for homeless people.\nThe remote, desolate scene and abandoned houses\u2014empty even in broad daylight\u2014made me break out in a cold sweat when I visited.<\/p>\n
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Clam Barracks<\/strong>\r\n\r\nNo. 101, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Xianxi Township, Changhua<\/pre>\n
03\uff5cYong\u2019an Drum Workshop<\/h6>\n
Hidden in an alley in Gounai Village, Yong\u2019an Drum Workshop is easy to miss without guidance from a local. After some effort, I finally arrived\u2014but the owner happened to be out. Luckily, a relative warmly welcomed me inside to take a look around.<\/p>\n
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Stepping into the modest-sized workshop, I was immediately greeted by the distinctive scent of cowhide. Inside, tools for drum making, hemp ropes, partially finished drumheads, and unpainted drum shells were neatly arranged. The photos on the wall reveal just how proud the owner is of his craft.<\/p>\n
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In Taiwan, traditional drum-making is gradually being replaced by machines. Yet, Yong\u2019an Drum Workshop, with over seventy years of history, remains committed to the most time-consuming and meticulous handcrafting methods under its third-generation owner, Huang Cheng-Feng. He does this to preserve a skill that is slowly fading away. This is more than just a craft\u2014it is an important cultural heritage of Taiwan and one of the reasons I keep returning to visit towns and villages across the island.<\/p>\n
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Yong\u2019an Drum Workshop<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0900-1800. Visits by appointment only; same-day appointments are not accepted.\nNo. 48, Gounei Rd., Xianxi Township, Changhua<\/pre>\n
04\uff5cXimai Baking Kingdom<\/h6>\n
The colorful, cake-shaped exterior of Ximai Baking Kingdom looks like something out of a fairy tale. At first, I wondered if it was just a flashy tourist attraction with little substance. But once I stepped inside, I discovered it was filled not only with delightful aromas but also genuine care and dedication.<\/p>\n
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On the second floor, I happened upon a group of students in a DIY baking class making cupcakes. Through the glass windows, I could feel their focus and excitement.\nNearby, the product display area showcased a variety of sweets and ingredients. The vibrant colors were especially captivating for children.<\/p>\n
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After learning about egg rolls, my cravings got the better of me, and I headed to the first-floor shop. The generous samples of Ximai\u2019s egg rolls won me over instantly. My favorites were the rich cocoa hazelnut cream egg rolls and the savory salted egg yolk ones\u2014both perfect companions for tea or coffee!<\/p>\n
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Ximai Baking Kingdom<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0900-1800\nNo. 5, Hexian Rd., Xianxi Township, Changhua<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Restaurants and Snacks in Xianxi<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cXianxi Yizai Meatball<\/h6>\n
This little-known Yizai Meatball shop, easy to miss if you\u2019re just passing by, was recommended to me by the wife of a fisherman at Yizai Fishing Harbor. Having eaten here since childhood, she praised both the meatballs and the meat soup highly, sparking my curiosity to give them a try.<\/p>\n
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The meatball filling uses tender yet chewy shoulder meat, while the meat soup is made from springy hind leg meat. The combination of rich aroma and satisfying texture makes it easy to see why this popular spot attracts many locals buying takeout right from the moment it opens.<\/p>\n
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Xianxi Yizai Meatball<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 1030-1600, closed on Monday.\nNo. 10, Sec. 2, Yanhai Rd., Xianxi Township, Changhua<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Flying Over Taiwan<\/span><\/h6>\n