{"id":9067,"date":"2026-05-13T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/?p=9067"},"modified":"2026-04-18T15:41:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T07:41:48","slug":"dadu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yuartheworld.com\/en\/dadu\/","title":{"rendered":"Taichung \u25e6 Dadu | Is anyone still \u201cChasing Success\u201d? | TAIWAN 368-73"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember that when I was graduating from high school and preparing for university entrance exams, a close friend made a special trip to Taichung to take a local train\u2014just to collect a commemorative ticket that read \u201cZhuifen\u2013Chenggong\u201d (which sounds like \u201cpursuing success\u201d in Chinese) and wish me good luck.<\/p>\n

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

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

\ud83d\ude84 Taiwan High Speed Rail<\/a>
\n\ud83d\ude97 Cross-city Chartered One-day Tour from Taipei<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udef5 Taichung Scooter Rental - Taichung Station Pickup<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udef5 Taichung Scooter Rental - Taichung High Speed Rail Station Pickup<\/a><\/p>\n

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

\ud83c\udfab Lihpao Land Ticket in Taichung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab National Museum of Natural Science Ticket and Combo Ticket<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Carton King Creative Park Ticket in Taichung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area Ticket<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Lavender Cottage Ticket in Taichung<\/a>
\n\ud83c\udfab Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area Ticket in Taichung<\/a><\/p>\n

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

\ud83d\ude8c Gaomei Wetland, Rainbow Village and Miyahara Day Tour from Taichung<\/a>
\n\ud83d\ude8c Sun Moon Lake & Cingjing Farm Day Tour<\/a>
\n\ud83d\udc86\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f Royal Thai Massage in Taichung<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Speaking of the history of Dadu, one of its most fascinating chapters is undoubtedly the \u201cKingdom of Middag,\u201d which was active during the 16th and 17th centuries.\nFor a long time, the Kingdom of Middag was largely overlooked. It was not until the 1990s, when scholars renewed their research into Taiwan\u2019s Indigenous cultures, that its outline was gradually pieced together. It was not merely a legendary super-tribe, but a large, cross-tribal kingdom in its own right. The Kingdom of Middag was mainly composed of the Papora, Babuza, Pazeh, Hoanya, and Taokas peoples. At the height of its power, its sphere of influence extended south to Lukang and north to areas just south of present-day Taoyuan. In its later period, its core territory centered on the Dadu River basin.<\/p>\n

How powerful was it? Even during the period of Dutch rule in Taiwan, the Kingdom of Middag was able to maintain a semi-independent status. It was not until 1670, when the Ming loyalist general Liu Guoxuan launched a military campaign against the Shalu community\u2014inflicting a devastating blow that nearly wiped them out\u2014that the power of the Kingdom of Middag finally collapsed.<\/p>\n

\u25e6 Attractions in Dadu<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cZhuifen Station<\/h6>\n

Zhuifen Station is the final stop on the Coastal Line. The station building is constructed from hinoki cypress, and as soon as you step inside, you can catch the faint, soothing scent of wood in the air.<\/p>\n

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However, most visitors don\u2019t come for the fragrance of cypress. Instead, they are drawn by the exclusive \u201cZhuifen\u2013Chenggong\u201d commemorative train ticket sold only here and at Chenggong Station. Each year, after the College Entrance Examination Center announces the exam dates for the following year, many parents make a special trip here to purchase a ticket dated on the day of the exam, keeping it as a lucky charm for their children. When I visited that day, I happened to meet two groups of parents who had come specifically to buy the tickets. It seems that the popularity of \u201cZhuifen\u2013Chenggong\u201d has never faded.<\/p>\n

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Zhuifen Station<\/strong>\r\n\r\nNo. 13, Zhuifen St., Dadu Dist., Taichung<\/pre>\n
02\uff5cHuangxi Academy<\/h6>\n
Zhuifen Station and Huangxi Academy together are probably the ultimate combination in Taichung for praying for good exam results. Huangxi Academy was founded during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of more than 130 years. It is the oldest surviving building in Dadu District and the only remaining traditional academy in Taichung City. In the past, local students studied here, and during the imperial examination era, the academy produced several successful scholars, enjoying a period of great academic prosperity.<\/p>\n
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The hall enshrines Wenchang Dijun, the deity of literature, who is said to be especially efficacious. Whenever major exams approach\u2014such as the Comprehensive Assessment Program, the General Scholastic Ability Test, two-year college entrance exams, and civil service examinations\u2014the hall is filled with photocopies of admission tickets, creating a truly spectacular sight.<\/p>\n
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Huangxi Academy<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 0800-1700\nNo. 10, Wenchang 1st St., Dadu Dist., Taichung<\/pre>\n
03\uff5cDadu Great Wall Trail<\/h6>\n
A friend happened to be free that day, so we decided to take a walk along the Dadu Great Wall Trail. The stone-paved path here is very well maintained, and a round trip takes about 1\u20132 hours. The trail is shaded by trees almost the entire way, making it a comfortable and pleasant walk\u2014perfect for visitors of all ages.<\/p>\n
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After climbing up to Xiangshou Pavilion, the view suddenly opens up. From there, you can look out over the Dadu River, the surrounding plains, and the city skyline. My friend mentioned that this is also a wonderful spot to enjoy the sunset and the night view.<\/p>\n
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Dadu Great Wall Trail<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSearch \u201cDadu Great Wall Trail\u201d on Google Maps.<\/pre>\n
04\uff5cMiddle Eastern Date Palm Grove<\/h6>\n
The name \u201cMiddle Eastern date palm\u201d itself carries an exotic charm. Once you step into the grove, you truly understand how beauty lies in grandeur\u2014the vast expanse creates a striking, foreign landscape. Native to West Asia and North Africa, the Middle Eastern date palm is known for its tall, upright form and its resilience to both cold and heat. It is commonly used in landscape design, as a roadside tree, or arranged to create dramatic tunnel-like avenues. In Taiwan, Middle Eastern date palms are relatively rare, and large-scale plantations are even more uncommon. Its appearance\u2014resembling a blend of a coconut tree and a pineapple\u2014has sparked quite a bit of discussion.<\/p>\n
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Middle Eastern Date Palm Grove<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSearch \u201cMiddle Eastern Date Palm Grove\u201d on Google Maps.<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Restaurants and Snacks in Dadu<\/span><\/h6>\n
01\uff5cJinchang Snack Shop<\/h6>\n
Jinchang Snack Shop is quite interesting. At lunchtime, it serves common rice and noodle dishes, but after 3 p.m., it starts offering fried guo (savory fritters) and oyster fritters, which attract long lines of customers. Since I had other plans that afternoon, I chose to dine there at noon. I ordered a small bowl of noodle soup\u2014surprisingly generous in portion\u2014along with sliced pork intestines and blanched vegetables. The total came to less than NT$100. From such affordable prices, you can truly feel the owner\u2019s heartfelt intention to make sure everyone leaves well fed.<\/p>\n
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Jinchang Snack Shop<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOpening Hours: 1100-1400, 1500-2000, closed on Wednesday.\nNo. 19, Sec. 1, Wenchang Rd., Dadu Dist., Taichung<\/pre>\n
\u25e6 Flying Over Taiwan<\/span><\/h6>\n