COMPASS MAGAZINE, MARCH 2000. VOL. 7 ISSUE 3

COVER STORY:
NIGHTLIFE ALONG TAICHUNG'S CANAL DISTRICT
By Douglas Habecker

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Night after the night, they can be seen walking in one direction or another, up and down Taichung Harbor Road. Foreigners, Chinese, residents and visitors, all strolling among the swanky hotels, garish neon signs, department stores, shops, restaurants and pubs of the city's busiest stretch of commercial activity, Taichung's emerging version of Hong Kong's well-known "Golden Mile."

Although Taichung Harbor Road is still a long ways from the former British colony's Nathan Road tourist district, the road has become the undisputed hub of the city's "new" downtown (the old downtown centering on the train station and Chungcheng Rd.) over the past five to 10 years. An international variety of fine restaurants, most of the city's main hotels and biggest department stores, plus interesting clusters of pubs, cafes, teahouses and other shops have all made Taichung Harbor Road the place to go for some action.

While detailed coverage of the entire district is beyond the scope of one story, a good place to start is the two-square block area adjacent to the major intersection of Taichung Harbor and Chung Ming roads. Many foreigners in particular find that the landmarks of Swensen's and Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants at the crossroads make for good reference points when scouting the area.

Just on the other side of this intersection, heading downtown, is the Hua Mei Street canal, lined with some popular night-time hang-outs. A little further down Taichung Harbor Road is the Chienhsing/Meitsun Road intersection where the monolithic, brightly-lit Sogo Department Store stares across at its new high-rise competitor, Daimaru, topped by the Grand Formosa Hotel.

This relatively-small area alone is good for a night or two of exploring and offers plenty of choices for dining, drinking and shopping. Check out the following establishments (for addresses/telephone numbers, refer to the COMPASS listings):

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