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COMPASS MAGAZINE > June 2008

Taichung Harbor

Taichung Harbor

Taichung Harbor

Taichung Harbor

Taichung Harbor

A day of fun & seafood at Taichung Harbor

By Lishea Zheng & Niang Chen
Translated by Ann Lee

Taichung Harbor was first established 25 years ago. Apart from operating as a port for commercial and fishing purposes, this place opened up catch-of-the-day sales in 1990, and is constantly creating new business opportunities. The harbor, which makes direct sales to restaurants and consumers alike, is becoming a fun place to spend an afternoon looking for fresh fish.

As early as 6 or 7 a.m., delivery trucks leave the port, busing the sea's bounty to drop-off points around the island. About a third of the critters are delivered directly to businesses and restaurants, leaving a lot behind for people who frequent the market. Though early birds pick the market over in the wee hours of the morning, the real big catch comes in around 3 p.m., when the fishing boats return. By then, the market is bursting with vendors and customers, haggling over prices and enjoying a fresh cornucopia from the sea.

Fresh selection at the harbor
There's practically no limit to the variety of seafood to be found at the port. Apart from the seasonal and monthly catches, plus tuna, you can also find the freshest grouper, live eel, puffer fish, abalone, crabs, shrimp and scallops--anything you can think of, live or on ice. There are 126 direct sales outlets on site, and 88 of them sell fish--the others sell souvenirs and other edible goods. There are 30 outlets that sell live seafood and eight that sell dried seafood and snacks.

Browsing through the Taichung Harbor Market is the ultimate in fish hunting; though most places are already quite inexpensive, don't forget to shop around for a better deal. If you are a fan of sashimi, then you'll be looking to spend about NT$100 or NT$200 for a fresh, quality cut. And here's a tip if you're looking to buy shrimp: Mr. Chen of the Fishing Association explains that shrimp quickly dehydrate and lose their body weight, so the best way to keep them moist and fresh is to lay them down flat when you get home and spray them with salt water. It also helps to freeze them before cooking.

And how about making a meal from the goods you just bought? All you have to do is take a walk to the busy dining area at the harbor and all of the restaurants there are willing to cook your fresh purchases for you--right on the spot. Though you have to pay extra for this service, you can rest assured your fish is in knowledgeable hands. Of course, each of these restaurants tries to sell something different from the others, something they can call a special feature dish, so there is a lot of selection when choosing a place. Also, most of them have an on-site aquarium, so you can choose something from the tank if you haven't purchased an item somewhere else in the market.

In typical friendly-market competition, innocent shoppers are bombarded by restaurant staff members trying to sell their wares from the moment they step into the restaurant area to the moment they leave. Sometimes you will see several restaurant owners showing off their wares to a single customer--but it's all part of the fun.

One of these restaurants, Lugang Seafood Restaurant (www.666a.com.tw), is run by a charming woman named Ms. Hong. Try her selection of tasty dishes here, like the crispy Grilled Abalone (NT$100), which is served in very thin slices. Grilled Oyster Omelet (NT$50), Fresh Fish Soup (NT$70), Garlic Crab (0.05 kg for NT$40), Salted Bamboo Clams (NT$200), and Japanese-style Squid (NT$280) are other nice choices. Like anywhere else in the market, you can expect to pay a lot less for seafood than in the city, but receive even better quality.

The path from the parking lot to the market proper is lined with snack and souvenir carts. Lines of customers await treats like Dried Squid Slices, Charcoal-Grilled Squid-on-a-Stick, Snails with Rice Wine, Fried Crab's Feet, and Crispy Fish Biscuits. If you like cold beverages, try the freshly-squeezed Brazilian Sugar Cane Juice; mixed with a bit of lemon juice, this is certainly something you won't get elsewhere.

Taichung Harbor Taichung Harbor

Exploring the harbor by boat
Apart from the cornucopia of sea offerings, Taichung Port is also a place to take a little boat ride and see Taiwan from sea. Regular boat and yacht excursions take passengers to see whales and dolphins as well as provide breathtaking sunset views. For reservations and information, contact the Taichung District Fishing Association at (04) 2657-4351, or the Hong-Xing Corporation at (04) 2657-8282.

Apart from the fishing port and the market, a boardwalk and observation deck on the left-hand side of information center leads people to an elevator that they can ride to the top of the building for a panoramic view of the harbor. You can peacefully watch the fishing boats push off and return from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Taichung Harbor Taichung Harbor

 

Gaomei Wetland

Gaomei Wetland makes a comeback
The Gaomei Wetland Preservation Area was first established on September 29, 2005. The entire area takes up 700 acres of land and is home to a host of animals and plants. A biking trail, windmill and a small dam contribute to the feeling and accessibility of the place. The area from the coastal bridge to the roadside lampposts is full of crabs scuttling along the trail and the fauna makes the area feel like a full-grown forest. With vibrant birds swooping around the sky, the drive to Gaomei Wetland is definitely scenic. According to Harbor Affairs Bureau, there will soon be a biking path that will connect cyclists right to the fishing port and to the popular biking trail in Houli.

Gaomei Wetland Gaomei Wetland

All in all, Taichung Harbor has a lot to offer as a tourism locale. Not only can you taste wonderful seafood, take a yacht ride and bike along the nearby paths, but you can also just simply enjoy the sound of the waves as you walk along the observation deck. In the future, the Fishing Association also hopes to add even more attractions to round out the port's appeal.

 

 

Some tips for visiting Taichung Harbor:

* A lot of the vendors along the path to the fish market offer free samples of their wares, so take advantage of this opportunity and try a bunch of things before you decide what to buy.

* If you go right when the afternoon market is about the close, you can snatch some pretty outrageous deals--sometimes you'll even hear someone offering, "A whole bucket for 100!" There are so many bargains that you can even tell the vendor "Make that two buckets for 100!" and most likely get him to agree. But, remember, this is only just before the market closes.