Expert-guided tours / Hands-on crafts & fairy-tale chats — have fun exploring New Taipei City

Photos & text / Mom & Baby Magazine

To celebrate the arrival of 2013, this time Qingqing will take readers to the expansive New Taipei City. Visit sightseeing factories for hands-on crafts, chat about fairy tales at Tonghua Garden Restaurant, and enjoy quality family time together!

Scenic views along the Banqiao Line of the Taipei Metro
Traveling along the Banqiao Line of the Taipei Metro toward Yongning, you’ll find numerous scenic spots along the way. If you can’t take a long holiday to Japan, why not visit the nearby Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum in Tucheng District? It’s one of the sightseeing factories heavily promoted by New Taipei City Government in recent years, allowing visitors to understand the spirit of industrial culture and experience the joy of hands-on crafts — perfect for family activities.

The Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum, infused with Japanese elements, feels like stepping into a small Japanese market.

Recommended itinerary signboard
Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum → Tonghua → Lin Family Garden

▲ Recommended Attraction 1: Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum

Little story about the attraction
One of the must-buy souvenirs when visiting Japan is definitely mochi. Years ago, Shixin Fang’s founder, Chen Shiyang, touched a renowned Japanese mochi master, Katsuta Yasushi, with his sincerity, learned the craft, and established Shixin Fang, helping to promote mochi culture in Taiwan. The Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum not only offers visitors a chance to deeply understand mochi culture but also lets them try their hand at making mochi themselves. However, both museum visits and DIY activities require advance reservations, which need to be made at least two weeks before your visit.

Qingqing says~
Even before reaching the entrance, you can see cute yellow mochi dolls along the way — super kawaii. Upon arriving at the museum’s gate, I was overjoyed, feeling as if I had traveled back in time to a small Japanese market. Two maneki-neko (lucky cats) by the gate, a large torii gate, and Japanese-style architecture create a strong Japanese atmosphere. Although the market area outside Shixin Fang isn’t large, no detail is overlooked — pink cherry blossoms everywhere and fabric drapes that give off a very “Japanese” vibe. Vendors outside sell yakitori skewers, perfectly fitting the scene.

Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum isn’t just a shop but also incorporates Japanese architectural elements.
The surroundings of the museum exude a distinct Japanese-style feel.
Walking through the large torii gate and pink cherry blossom path feels like stepping into a Japanese market.

Profile
Shixin Fang Creative Mochi Culture Museum
Address: 3F, No. 55, Guoji Road, Tucheng District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02) 8262-0506
Website: http://www.3ssf.com.tw/factory/03.html

▲ Recommended Attraction 2: Tonghua

Little story about the attraction
Tonghua, meaning “fairy tale.” This garden landscape restaurant with a dreamy name is located in Tucheng. Tonghua officially opened at the end of April 2011. Its white corridor entrance leads people into the restaurant, where the interior is luxuriously decorated. The ceiling features layers of pink domes with crystal chandeliers hanging from them, creating a magical ambiance — definitely a style many modern moms will love.

Qingqing says~
The spacious dining area feels very comfortable. It’s great for large groups of friends and you can even reserve private rooms. The private dining areas have a rustic style with soft blue and yellow tones, plus independent spaces that are very popular with customers. There’s also a small area at the back of the restaurant where visitors can stroll and relax, or let kids run freely on the lawn. Moms can take beautiful photos under the arched corridors and enjoy a leisurely time.

The white corridor leads people into the restaurant, as if entering a fairy-tale kingdom.
The dining area features large pink domes with crystal chandeliers, creating a dreamy and very appealing ambiance.
The private room area has a rustic style, perfect for family gatherings.

Profile
Tonghua Garden Restaurant
Venue: No. 103, Chengtian Road, Tucheng District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2269-2125
Price: Afternoon tea from NT$160 per item, premium set menu from NT$180 per item

Compiled by Wu Bifang; photos and text provided by Qingqing Little Bear (Qingqing Little Bear* Travel Notes Blog)　

※ Originally published in the January 2013 issue of “Mom & Baby Magazine,” included with the “bobo Little Genius” supplement
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