By
Douglas Habecker
Art Street isn't the only attractive destination worth
checking out for shopping and dining on the other side of
the freeway.
On the opposite side of Taichung Harbor Road from Kuochi
Street is Tunghai University's well-known college town community,
known better as Tunghai Piehshu. Turning left at the
pedestrian overpass at the top of the hill takes one into
the cramped, crowded street and alleyways of this mini-boomtown,
full of music shops, small eateries, Internet cafes and
other stores. For some time, this area has been a
popular place to buy reasonably-priced Cds, not to mention
other items.
Much newer and less-known is Sun Mall, located
roughly behind Cheng Ching Hospital (the big blue one on
the right side of Taichung Harbor Rd.), at the intersection
of Chinghai Road, section 3 and Yung Fu Road. This
attractive commercial development has become a popular shopping
spot for many foreign and local residents living on the
hill and centers around a Yuan Pai Hypermarket and adjacent
cobblestone street which appears to be modeled on Chingming
1rst Street.
The complex includes a McDonald's, KFC, Blockbuster video
shop, Senseio book store, Theme clothing store and several
other shops, cafes and restaurants such as Pumpkin House,
Dante Cafe, Ba Fen Baau Chinese restaurant and--for better
or worse--a Hello Kitty outlet. There is plenty of
parking and, across the street, a Sinon supermarket.
The easiest way to get there is take Taichung Harbor Road
and turn right onto Yung Fu Road at the fourth traffic light
after the freeway, at the Hi-Life convenience store.
