Ride horses and bikes — Taichung’s Two Horses Tourism Season kicks off

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Taichung has two kinds of “horses”: “fine steeds” and “iron horses”! Entering its 10th year, the Taichung Two Horses Tourism Season kicks off on November 2 at Houli Horse Ranch. In addition to cycling through the mountainous city and exploring the Houfeng Bicycle Greenway, visitors can enjoy equestrian performances and receive guidance from equestrian experts for horseback riding. For those who prefer not to ride, they can also experience the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage ride. Admission is free during the “Two Horses” event period.

▲ Houli Horse Ranch is an important institution for breeding fine horses in Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by Taichung City Government, file photo)

The Two Horses Tourism Season takes place over two consecutive weekends: November 2–3 and November 9–10. The first weekend kicks off with a thousand-person bike ride and a cycling stunt show, where visitors can explore the Houfeng and Dongfeng Bicycle Greenways. On the opening day, there will also be a horse racing champion prediction and lucky draw event. The second weekend features “The Galloping Steeds Leisure Tour,” including equestrian show jumping performances and horse-drawn carriage riding experiences.

The Taichung Tourism Bureau stated that the entrance fee for Houli Horse Ranch is normally NT$100, but it will be waived for all four days of the event. Visitors who wish to ride horses or take a carriage ride will need to pay additional fees. A 20-minute horseback tour around the ranch costs NT$400, and currently, 35 horses are available for passenger rides. The bureau also noted that tomorrow marks the “Year of the Horse,” and they are planning to offer free admission for the entire year to individuals with the surname Ma (马) or those born in the Year of the Horse.