TaichungPlay Recommendations

Tan-ya-shen Greenway is a bicycle-only path stretching roughly 13.1 to 13.6 kilometers from Tan-zi District to Da-ya Zhong-ke Park, built on the former Shen-gang railway line. The route is flat and well-shaded - perfect for family cycling and leisurely rides. Plantings vary by season, with cherry blossoms in spring, golden-shower trees in summer, and maple leaves in autumn presenting a different look. Along the way, S-curves, wave sections, a sky bridge, and long slides form popular photo spots, with YouBike stations, restrooms, and splash zones completing the family leisure experience.

Carton King Creative Park in Dakeng, Beitun District, is a paper-themed family attraction. The park features a corrugated-cardboard train, carousel, slides, a Mushroom Town, Dada Airport and a paper art gallery, plus paper-sculpture scale models of world landmarks such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower, letting kids and parents immerse themselves in paper craft. The park has its own car park; arriving early on weekends is recommended. After 18:00 admission is free with the doors open, making it an easy all-day outing for families.

Calligraphy Greenway is a 3.6-kilometre green promenade in Taichung's West District that links Jingguo Green Parkway with the Fine Arts Parkway. Shaded by trees, the route is dotted with large installations, the Calligraphy Plaza, Park Lane by CMP, and the Audit Village cultural hub, with easy walks onward to the National Museum of Natural Science and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Ideal for family strolls, cycling or jogging, it often hosts weekend markets and events, surrounded by a wide range of cafés and restaurants, making it a favourite for casual family days out and photography.

Lavender Forest in Xinshe District, Taichung, blends rolling lavender fields with herb gardens into a romantic, healing sea of purple. The grounds include forest trails, a themed café and a wide range of hands-on workshops, perfect for families, couples or solo visitors seeking a slower pace. Different flowers bloom each season, with the best visit window from late spring to early summer when the lavender is in full bloom; other flowers take centre stage in autumn and winter. Quiet and well-maintained, the park is a certified zero-carbon sustainable destination and one of Taiwan's leading green-tourism brands.

Guguan Hot Spring Park sits in the Guguan hot spring area of Taichung's Heping District, covering about 1.3 hectares and themed around mountain greenery and hot spring culture. The park offers a free beauty foot bath with comfortably warm water that suits all ages, plus viewing platforms, a suspension bridge and a small cultural hall so visitors can enjoy the surrounding peaks while learning local hot spring history. Parking is plentiful and the surrounding area has convenience stores and restaurants, so it's easy to rest and recharge. Whether families, strollers or a quick foot soak, the park is an unmissable blend of nature and culture within easy reach of central Taichung.

Barefoot Ecological Farm at No. 500, Sec. 3, Yatan Road in Daya District is a family-friendly outdoor playground spread across a wide site. Highlights include a large lawn, paddling pool, sand pit, two-storey tree-house slide and a range of small animals to feed, letting kids play freely in nature. There's also an indoor play area, DIY workshops, a barbecue area and simple meals so the whole family can spend a full day together. Opening hours are 9:30 to 18:00; weekday tickets are NT$100, weekend full tickets NT$150 (with a NT$50 voucher included), and children and visitors with disabilities enter free. About a 10-minute drive from the Daya interchange with free parking, it's a convenient choice for a family trip.