"No Grid" Hengchun Life: 476 Days – Why Live in Hengchun!?

I remember when my husband’s brother, Goat, first moved down south to Kenting for work

My impression of Kenting was just South Bay, White Sand Beach, Main Street, and Lido Hotel
When I asked him where he lived, he said Hengchun
I was totally baffled?? What kind of backwater place is that? It felt so low-tier…
What? You have to bike over ten minutes just to get to Kenting for work??

Yet, two years later, I ended up living in this place I once thought was totally off the map

Let me introduce you to Hengchun city, where I currently live, in the simplest terms

There’s Hengchun Old Street (Zhongshan Road), which isn’t long—you can walk the whole thing in ten minutes
It has stores selling mung bean vermicelli, onion egg rolls, traditional fabric shops, record stores, pork stalls—a place where you’ll find yourself exclaiming, “Whoa… this is so retro!” Walk the whole street, and you’ll see how such a short stretch includes all the essentials for daily life
Oh, and you can see the West Gate from Cape No. 7—the one even big trucks can’t pass through
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Hengchun noodles are delicious, always served with pork slices, and for 40 NT, you feel like you’re getting a great deal
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The busiest area is (Zhongzheng Road), located in front of the bus terminal—my husband’s brother’s bar, Goat Tavern, is right here
Foodies and music lovers are all welcome; the couple who run it are super friendly

Zhongzheng Road is what you’d call the downtown area—haha, with the bus terminal, police station, internet cafes, Watsons, tons of bubble tea spots, convenience stores…
There’s also a traveler’s apartment right across from the bus terminal—I especially recommend it for friends coming to visit me; it’s pretty close to Dotty Dotty
In the off-season, it’s only 800 NT a night, and the next day is half-price—if you just want an affordable and convenient homestay, it’s worth considering
Walking along Zhongzheng Road, you’ll see the South Gate, which is also a great photo spot
Near the South Gate, there’s a Little Shandong Dumpling House—their home-style dishes are also one of my favorites
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Next is (Fude Road), where I actually live
I probably sweated out a liter of sweat just to tie up this canvas. Done yay!! Thanks to Piggy for the help

There are some traditional grocery stores—it’s really cool, instantly bringing back childhood memories of candy-pulling machines
There’s the famous Dr. Li Liwei, who claims to treat everything (okay, I hope you won’t need to use that info when you come)
There’s the Tin Hau Temple and Fude Temple right across from my house—I’ve been visiting a lot since the start of the lunar new year

Heading toward the Pinghe Highway, there’s a Christian hospital and the famous Donggang Dumpling House (seriously, if you plan to go, be ready to wait in line)

Toward Zhongzheng Road, there’s the traditional market—with Countryside Winter Noodles Duck; I personally recommend their duck rice
But for braised snacks, go for the Old Street’s Partner’s Home Winter Noodles
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I don’t even know how to describe my first reaction when I saw Zhengyi
It’s called the department store here—hahaha, it’s like a 99-cent store, basically has everything
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Something I ended up eating quite often here was Vietnamese street food—I’d never had it before in Taichung.
Living here, I’ve participated in many folk activities, like watching the Flying Deity Festival (Zha Han Dan) and the Erecting the Solitary Shed (Shu Gu Peng) during the Ghost Festival (July 15th of the lunar calendar), as well as the Burning of the King’s Boat.

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On the first Saturday of every month, I go to Kwang Market to set up a booth to raise funds for spaying and neutering stray cats and dogs (located opposite the Hengchun Police Station).
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In addition to the asymmetrical north, south, east, and west gates of Hengchun that are great for photos, the town also benefits from the fame brought by the movie Cape No. 7.
There’s a garden greenway right next to my house that leads straight to A-Jia’s House.
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The city center isn’t very big, but you can find everything you need nearby and get it quickly.
Except for movies, which require going to Kaohsiung, and the lack of department stores for shopping, I don’t really mind those things.
The Sunday night market is a favorite among Hengchun locals, located on Fude Road. What surprised me most is that steak here costs just NT$70.
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Also, here are a few of my personal favorite highlights to share.
Making plans to eat with friends doesn’t mean waiting an hour—they show up in five minutes, haha, because everyone lives so close.
The air is great; as long as you look up, everywhere you see is a beautiful view.
It only takes me three minutes to get from my house to the swimming pool and skate park.
And just seven minutes to the beach.

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Wow, so many people at Nanwan Beach (South Bay)!

If you ask about where the good sightseeing spots are, I really don’t know how to introduce them.
Aside from the four city gates, mung bean garlic snacks, some other local eats, and the old street...
This place doesn’t have the stunning feeling of the seaside, nor is it as bustling and loud as Kenting Night Market.
Photos you take here might make people wonder what’s so special about it.
But I just love this place.

When you come here, you don’t need to have high hopes or expect to see something extraordinary—and there’s none of that overwhelming urban crowding or chaos.

Whether it’s downtown Hengchun, the old streets, or Dotty Dotty...
they all convey a certain way of life.

It’s worth savoring slowly—not just a fleeting thrill.
Just come here to stroll around leisurely, slow down your pace.
Before heading to Kenting, don’t forget to set aside time for Hengchun—walk through the old streets and try some snacks.
Your mood will become so much better!!