Around Taiwan: Railway Journey Part 3 - Changhua and Douliu
Heading south from Taoyuan, I will explore Changhua, famous for its Taiwan Railways fan-shaped roundhouse, and Douliu, known for its beautiful old street.
Tasting Changhua's specialty, Ba-wan
The fan-shaped roundhouse I'm aiming for opens in the afternoon, so I'll spend the time until then exploring the area around Changhua Station. There's a retro bus terminal in front of the station that has a great atmosphere.
Speaking of Changhua specialties, there's Ba-wan (meatball). Ba-wan is made by wrapping pork bun-like fillings in a chewy dough, steaming it, and topping it with a sweet and savory sauce. I knew it existed, but this is my first time eating it.
While walking around, I found a shop with a line; this is the popular shop A-Zhang Ba-wan. It's a common occurrence in Chinese-speaking regions that shops with lines are delicious, but due to time constraints, I went to the Zheng Ba-wan across the street. This is also a long-established shop for Ba-wan. I ordered a regular Ba-wan (55 NTD). The texture of the chewy skin is unique, and the filling and sauce inside are very delicious. Ba-wan is often seen in Taiwan, so I'll try it again.
To the Changhua fan-shaped roundhouse
I returned to the station once and headed to the fan-shaped roundhouse. I crossed the pedestrian bridge over the Taiwan Railways tracks and walked along the tracks. It's a promenade, so I arrived at the roundhouse without getting lost.
The fan-shaped roundhouse was already open, and many tourists were taking commemorative photos. Some people were even taking pre-wedding photos inside... Are they railway fans?
Various vehicles, from electric locomotives to steam locomotives, are parked there. There are many empty spaces, and it must be spectacular when they are all filled. There is also an observation area where you can overlook the whole thing, which is also popular. You can see the turntable perfectly.
What kind of place is Douliu?
I took the Taiwan Railways from Changhua to Douliu again. Many people might wonder, where is Douliu? I didn't know either, and I got off to take a bus to Huwei, but it was a fun town to walk around in. By the way, Douliu City is the largest town in Yunlin County and the county seat, with a population of about 110,000. It is a sister city of Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture.
I walked around Douliu until the bus time to go to Huwei. The first place I visited was Taiping Old Street. Baroque-style buildings remain and are still in use today. Lunar New Year decorations remain and fill the street. It must have been beautiful if I had come at night.
To a cafe using a building from the Japanese colonial era
I walked around the old street, so I took a break. I decided to try Changxing Yuanzai Ice, which I found on Google Maps. I ordered shaved ice, and there were plenty of beans and rice cakes buried under the ice. It was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. The kinako mochi that other customers were eating also looked delicious.
I walked further to an area where Japanese-style houses from the colonial era remain. I stopped by the Dogo Coffee House, which is a renovated Japanese house.
I like coffee, but because of the heat, I was craving something sweet, so I ordered a banana juice. A cat was also taking a nap, creating a relaxed atmosphere. I spent a leisurely time there until it was time for my bus.
Douliu was much more enjoyable than I had expected. I took a bus from in front of the station toward Huwei. To conclude, Huwei was also a very nice town.