A place loved by all the artsy souls – a one-day trip around Taichung’s Audit Village

Text and photos / Excerpted from "A Day of Doing Nothing in Taichung – A Hand-drawn Guide to Leisurely Strolls, Food, Shopping and Exploration" by Lin Jiangwen, published by Haodu Publishing

Audit Village
Walking a little further down Zhongxing Street, where the “Fantasy Green Light Project” is located, you’ll come across another cluster of old houses – this is Audit Village. As the name suggests, it used to be a government site. Nowadays, more and more creative shops have moved in, and they also host various interactive workshops.
Intersection of Zhongxing Street and Minsheng Road, West District, Taichung City

Little Sapling Grocery Store
An old house painted white, with powder-blue window frames – this is a cozy and quaint shop that sells all kinds of daily necessities and tableware.
No. 22, Lane 66, Alley 79, Section 1, Xiangshang Road, West District, Taichung City / (04) 2301-9055

American Soy Milk Ice
The name says it all – their soy milk is super thick. The interior has a very design-forward look, in a “Muji” style, making you want to sit in and enjoy your food in comfort.
No. 380-2, Minsheng Road, West District, Taichung City / 0989-008-801

Little Snail Market
Audit Village was super lively back in 2016, with the “Little Snail Market” popping up on many weekends. I really love strolling through the market – every stall has a story behind it, and the owners’ eyes shine with passion.

Xiangshang Market
Located quite close to the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and not far from the SOGO shopping district, this traditional market is tucked away within a bustling area, selling vegetables, daily goods, and more. There are also plenty of food stalls here – hot and cold dishes, staples and snacks, you name it.
Intersection of Xiangshang Road and Zhongmei Street, West District, Taichung City

Xiangshang Market’s Nameless Egg Cake Stall
This egg cake stall doesn’t have a name, but when it’s time, everyone just knows to come buy.
Intersection of Xiangshang Road and Zhongmei Street, West District, Taichung City (right across from the arcade)

Zhan Kongjian Artqpie
A small independent bookstore tucked away in a residential area, stocking lots of Japanese magazines with carefully curated selections, full of artsy and intellectual vibes.
No. 135, Zhongmei Street, West District, Taichung City / 0982-723-359