Taichung’s “Mushroom Lover’s Paradise!” The Only Mushroom Ice Cream You Can Find in Xinshe

Text & Photos /kuma

Originally planning to hike the trails in Dakeng, but with the weather being a bit hot and everyone feeling a bit lazy, we naturally switched to a no-sweat eating and drinking mode...

After enjoying a big mushroom feast in Xinshe last time, I’ve been looking forward to it ever since. On this non-hiking day, we came back to savor mushroom-flavored meals and experience the fun of sightseeing and mushroom picking. Different from the restaurant-style place last time, this time we chose the snack-style Baiguzhuang, enjoying a simple yet diverse mushroom lunch experience.

Baiguzhuang, with its giant mushroom-shaped design, is located at the end of Xinshe’s Mushroom Street (Xiezhong Street). There’s a parking lot right in front, making it very convenient and easy to find. And at the hole on top of the big mushroom, there’s a bubble machine that occasionally shoots out a stream of bubbles—kind of romantic and cute. Unfortunately, when we took photos this time, there were no bubbles... ^^"

The meals offered at Baiguzhuang are mushroom-flavored snacks. Xiong Chao loves mushrooms and really wants to try every single one.

Seeing the word “limited edition” and knowing it’s mushroom-flavored, this is definitely a must-try.

The seating area by the parking lot features colorful mushroom chairs—you can choose wherever you want to sit.

We ordered a few dishes modestly, planning to share them with our bear friend, except the king oyster mushrooms were still being grilled and hadn’t been plated yet.

Mushroom pork rice—simple flavors but still delicious.

Hundred-Mushroom Soup—just looking at it, you can tell it’s a bowl full of ingredients. Indeed, every spoonful is packed with various kinds of mushrooms, refreshing yet full of mushroom flavor.

Grilled King Oyster Mushrooms—the thick mushroom flesh feels like eating abalone, and the brushed sauce on the outside still preserves the juicy, original taste of the king oyster mushrooms. If you order fried or grilled items, you’ll need to wait a few minutes.

King Oyster Mushroom Sausages—these sausages are delicious, juicy, with a bouncy filling, refreshing and not greasy.

Salt-and-Pepper Mixed Mushrooms—a whole cup full, with crispy coatings and big chunks of mushrooms. With the seasoning of salt and pepper, it’s just one after another, especially the deep-fried coral mushrooms.

Black Fungus Juice, which has many health benefits, is slightly sweet with a granular texture.

After finishing all of the above, we went back to the ordering counter to buy a mushroom popsicle. The texture is quite unique, but Xiong couldn’t really taste the mushroom flavor... ^^"

After enjoying the mushroom-flavored meal, we walked past the merchandise area and headed to the back to visit the mushroom shed.

Once inside the back area, it’s hard not to be charmed by the rows of colorful mushroom chairs. If you’re in a larger group, you can even reserve a seat on the mushroom chairs and enjoy an ecological guided tour about mushrooms.

Behind the guided tour area is the sorting and packaging zone, where you can see staff trimming mushroom stems and sorting them.

The mushrooms waiting to be sorted and packed can also be weighed and purchased directly if you’re interested.

At the entrance to the mushroom-picking experience, there’s a cute mushroom character. “Did you Do Mushroom today?” (playing on the Taiwanese Hokkien word for dozing off), and Baiguzhuang also offers DIY mushroom grow kits.

Before picking mushrooms, be sure to read the precautions carefully. By the way, the heart-shaped baskets provided make the mushroom-picking experience a bit romantic.

Newly grown mushrooms have that post-rain sprouting vibe—so cute.

A mushroom family.

Although there are other types of mushrooms in the shed as well, they are either already picked or still growing, so only one type is available for viewing and photos.

After eating mushrooms and seeing mushrooms, it’s now time for souvenirs.

In addition to snacks made from fresh mushrooms, there are also mushroom-shaped marshmallows—super cute.

The mushroom stress-relief balls are also fun.

The mushroom chairs are even playfully wearing Super Mario hats.

Later I realized: I should have come to Xinshe on the day of the return trip. That way, I could have bought some fresh shiitake mushrooms. A tactical error.

It’s a place where you can see, eat, pick, and buy mushrooms. Xinshe is truly a paradise for mushroom lovers. Next time I get the chance, I’ll come back to be surrounded by mushrooms again.

Related Information
Attractions:Baiguzhuang (Hundred Mushroom Farm)
Phone: 0978-288-390
Address: No. 2-1, Xiezhong Street, Xiecheng Village, Xinshe District, Taichung City
Business Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00–17:00 / Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 09:00–17:30

The everyday life of ordinary days — recorded in words and images.
Bear’s Days, Now and Then