by
Douglas Habecker
American
Veterans (AmVets) Club Pool
Address:
224, Wuchuan West Rd. (by Wuchuan West/Chung Ming
South roads corner)
Tel:
2376-3688; Open 5:30 a.m.-9:50 p.m.
Cost:
NT$200/adults; NT$150/children/students; NT$1800/month
pass; NT$6,000/50-swim pass; early-morning swim passes
available
AmVets' large
pool may look familiar to Taichung old-timers, due to the
fact that it used to be part of Taichung's large US military
housing complex. Today, the US flag and American Veterans
(of WWII, Korea and Vietnam) banner still fly over it. There
are sizable indoor and outdoor pools, plus steam room and
a small warm-water pool in this fairly well-kept facility.
The outdoor pool has deck chairs and is quieter, due to
the fact that many locals prefer the indoor one. Swimming
lessons--individual or class--are offered, too. Heading
south on Chung Ming South Road, turn left onto the last
side road just before the Wuchuan West Road intersection
and there is an entrance and parking lot.
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Chung Cheng
Sports & Health Center
Address: 100,
Hsueh Shih Rd. (inside Chung Cheng Park)
Tel:
2231-9582/ 2233-0112; Open: 7-11 a.m., 1:30-5 p.m.,
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost:
NT$ 100/person ;NT$ 60/children/students; membership
(NT$7,500/year) entitles unlimited use 5 a.m.-9:30
p.m.
This center,
not far from Chung Yo Department Store and China Medical
College, features a big, well-kept outdoor Olympic-size
pool with diving well and diving platforms up to 10
meters--the highest in the city. There is also a SPA,
Sauna, Steam room, work-out gym (NT$100/time) are
various sporting activities organized, including triathlons,
canoeing , swimming and diving classes. The center
entrance is located on the back side of Chung Cheng
Park between Chungteh and Hsueh Shih roads, where
there is a parking lot and entrance.
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Fan Hsiang
Indoor Swimming Pool
Address: 702,
Tatun Rd. (on corner with Tatun 11th St., near Kungyi Rd.)
Tel:
2322-3839; Open: 6 a.m.- 9:50 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-5
p.m. Sundays.
Cost:
NT$200; NT$150 half-ticket (under 140 cm tall); 100-swim
NT$10,000 (for only 1 year); NT$1,800 month pass;
NT$13,000 year pass; NT$11,000/month morning pass.
This medium-sized
indoor pool feels quite light at times. It is popular
for its convenient location on Tatun Road within easy
distance of many nearby residential developments.
It features a lap pool, children's pool and whirlpool.
Heading south on Tatun Road from Taichung Harbor Road,
the pool's blue building is on a left corner, before
the Kungyi Road intersection.
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Taichung
City Sanhsing Swimming Pool
Address: 2,
Ninghsia East 7th Street (next to Hankou Rd. parking tower)
Tel:
2312-5477, 312-7520; Hours: 7-10:45 a.m., 1-4:45 p.m.,
7-9:30 p.m. (closes to all but paid members on Aug.
31)
Cost: NT$40
for swimmers over 135 cm tall; NT$30 for 135 cm and shorter
The Sanhsing
public pool is located in a public park with the same name,
just off of Hankou Road, next to the Hankou Parking Tower
and a few meters down the road from the Hankou Wellcome
Supermarket. This medium-sized pool is very popular for
children, perhaps because of its cheap admission rates,
making it a bit crowded and noisy at times. After August
31, the pool is closed to the general public for the season
and is only open to members, whose NT$4,300 fee gives them
exclusive access to the end of March, 2001.
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Yang Lau
Shih (Teacher Yang Pool)
Address: 23-20,
Yung Ho Lane, Sungchu Rd. (connected to golf driving range
behind Morrison Academy)
Tel:
2297-3946; Open: 6-11:45 a.m., 1-4:45 p.m., 6-9:45
p.m.
Cost: NT$100/children,
students; NT$2,400 20-swim pass; NT$5,000 50-swim pass;
NT$9,000/year unlimited morning pass; NT$10,000/year morning
& afternoon pass.
This
large indoor pool has plenty of room for everyone with a
shop for swimming gear and related items. Visitors have
the added benefit of being able to enjoy the golf driving
range next door before or after a swim. Exiting Morrison
Academy, turn left, turn left again at the next traffic
light (Sungchu Rd.) and continue straight until you see
the driving range/pool entrance on the left.
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Morrison
Academy Swimming Pool
Address: 136-1,
Shuinan Rd.
Tel: 2292-1171,
ext. 730; Open 2-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 3-5 Sundays.
Cost:
NT$100 single entry; NT$600 10-ticket booklet; NT$3,300
half-season pass; preschool/kindergarten children free (must
be accompanied by adult).
*NOTE: Admission
limited to families of Morrison Academy system students,
Taiwan Missionary Fellowship members and guests (must be
accompanied by hosts).
This medium-sized
outdoor pool, located on Morrison's campus, includes a diving
well and boards (up to three meters), plus a children's
pool and whirlpool. Swimming classes are also frequently
offered--call for information.
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Tunghai University
Pool
Address: On
the university campus (just off of Taichung Harbor Rd. on
the hill west of the city)
Open:
6-10:45 a.m., 12-4:45 p.m., 6-10 p.m.
Cost: NT$80
per person/per visit (tickets must be purchased at or near
pool site)
This outside
pool, includes a kiddies' pool and is open to the public.
Non-authorized vehicles are usually not allowed on campus,
so most visitors will have to park outside the main gate
and walk in (bicycles are allowed inside).
-Other Swimming
Options: These listings do not include pools at hotels (frequently
open to guests only), community pools at various compounds
and paid-membership clubs, like the well-known Alexander
Health Club.
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