Taiwan Day 1: Lugang Old Street & Red Maple Boutique Hotel

Day 1: Lugang Old Street

Lugang one of the oldest cities in Taiwan. Now laid-back, sleepy town, it used to be an important commercial center until the end of the 19th century. In mandarin, it is written as 鹿港, or deer harbour, as it was the main harbor for exporting deerskin during the Dutch Colonial Period.

The city is quite small, so you can easily visit by foot in one day. If you do not want to walk, you can take a shuttle bus from the Visitor's Center (see footnote below) that will also provide free maps in English and a list of eating places and handicraft workshops where you can engage in DIY activities.

 

Take a stroll along the red-tiled winding streets lined with red brick houses, a reminder of Lugang's old glory days.

Visit the Matsu Temple, a Toaist temple where Taiwanese go to seek protection when traveling by air or sea. It is based on a folk story where a fisherman's daughter called Matsu would wear a red dress, and stand on the rocks during sea storms to guide the ships away from danger. Even after her death, seamen continued to have sightings of Matsu patiently guiding their ships, and the folk diety Matsu arose. The Matsu statue in the temple is more than 300 years old.

The old streets of Lugang: during the bustling days, rice, sugar, pottery, granite & camphor wood travelled these streets to China.



Bask in the laid-back atmosphere in one of these unpretentious old-style cafes

 

 Taiwanese people are animal lovers, so you will see lots of cafes featuring the owner's own pet dogs and cats.

 A delicacy in Taiwan, mullet roe is curing and drying in the sun.

Lugang was a major trading port during the Qing Dynasty and it was where many businessmen ate. Over the years, delicious seafood delicacies such as oysters, crabs, eels, clams, mullet roe and mud shrimps have developed. You can try many of these snacks of the past which are still being served in Lugang today.

clockwise from left: radish cake, oyster and chive fritters, fried beancurd, mud shrimps & crabs

 an assortment of mouth-watering seafood sprinkled with salt & pepper

 

Vendors shucking oysters

 Tasty oyster & chive fritters are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside

Ox tongue biscuits (so called because they resemble ox tongues) are a popular traditional Lugang snack. They are made on the spot and are best eaten hot off the griddle.  Flaky and light, they come in various flavors such as black sugar, curry and plain.

Directions to Lugang:

From Taipei
1. Hop on the United Highway Bus which goes directly to Lugang fromTaipei Bus Station. This is at Chengteh Road just north of the Taipei Railway Station. Buses depart every hour.

2. By railways take train to Changhua station, catch taxi to Lukang (Lugang). Alternatively, you can catch a bus behind the Changhua Railway Station and alight at the last stop.The trip takes 35 minutes and costs NT$35 (US$1.30).

From Taichung
1. From 179 Fushing Rd. Sec.4, Taichung City, take a direct bus to Lugang

Lugang Visitor Information Centers: 

Lugang North District Visitor Information Center
No.488, Fuxing Rd, Lugang Township, Changhua County
Tel: +886-4-784-1263 

Lugang South District Visitor Information Center
No.110, Sec. 8, Zhanglu Rd, Lugang Township, Changhua County
Tel: +886-4-776-1739

We then proceed to the Red Maple Boutique Hotel in Nantou. You can take a taxi which will take about 1 hr 15 min (total distance of 76km) from Lugang. Also known as Tai Yi Ecological Leisure Farm, the Red Maple Boutique Hotel uses environmentally qualified green building materials in its architecture. It is located in a park that covers 13 hectares with a beautiful mountain scenery. 

Entrance to the Red Maple Boutique Hotel

The Treasure Suite Room: It is not cheap at NT$9,900 (USD 316) per night. But it sleeps 4 and is extremely luxurious with its own private hot spring and a large viewing window. You can also go check out the other rooms which start from NT$6800