Beautiful scenery &
fun times in Tanzi
Words and photos by Sharon Chang
Translated by S. Ying
During the lunar new year holiday, the usually quiet roads of Taichung's Tanzi district fill up as folks return home to visit their families and enjoy themselves. However, you don't have to be a local to discover Tanzi's scenic beauty and popular activities.
Tanshui Pavilion may sound like another lakeside pavilion but is actually a very popular Buddhist temple in Tanzi. Its history dates back to the Qing dynasty's Qianlong Emperor period and, since then, it has undergone many renovations and expansions. The front temple area is dedicated to the worship of Bodhisattva and the "Water Guanyin" while the back area houses the Sakyamuni Buddha, "Medicine Buddha" and Bodhisattva Manjushri--deities worshiped by families seeking blessings of good health, longevity, safety, peace and prosperity.
 
Left: Tanshui Pavilion is a place to pray and seek the blessings of the gods in Tanzi district.
Rigth: Tanshui Pavilion's architecture still maintains its grandeur following several
renovations and expansions.
On the lunar new year eve, the temple will close at 10:30 p.m. sharp to ensure that all old incense is removed and old ashes are thrown away. Then it reopens at 11 p.m., allowing the public to enter and ask for new year's blessings. This popular tradition is known as "grab the first incense", as everyone tries to arrive early and races to be the first in the temple and place the first incense in the incense worship brazier.
In the non-spiritual realm, Okuma Museum was established by famous Taiwanese brand Okuma and was one of the first centers in Asia to sell fishing supplies and merchandise. It also serves a museum role, illustrating the history and origins of fishing in various countries, as well as an excellent learning center for fishing novices by explaining the four elements of fishing rods. Children can visit to enjoy the 3D ocean theater, DIY classrooms, fishing simulation games and 4D power jets. During business hours, you can even watch the actual production of fishing rods and equipment through a glass window.
Occupying a large area and only 15 minutes outside of downtown Taichung, Big Wood Farm is a great destination for tour groups and school field trips. Here, visitors can book times to participate in DIY classes and experience the joys of farm life, including fruit picking, outdoor barbecues and nature walks. Winter is the season for potato picking and there are a variety of potato-themed activities over the lunar new year period.
 
Left: Guides teach visitors about potato
plants and show what their roots look
like.
Right:
Would you be able to tell that this is a potato field?
Another tourist attraction worth mentioning is Chai-Hsing Villa, which was established during the Qing dynastry during the reign of the Tongzhi Emperor around the 1870s. In keeping with its central theme, its gatehouse, courtyard, lobby and atrium are all decorated with dragons. At the entrance is the Chai-Hsing Villa plaque, which provides a great photo spot for visitors. To preserve original decorative features, wooden replicas have been used throughout the villa. Unfortunately, this place will be closed during the lunar new year for renovations and visitors will need to wait until a reopening in June to once again enjoy the art collections housed here.  
Left: This is one of Chai-Hsing Villa's most beautiful
architectural features.
Right:
Chai-Hsing Villa's original plaque has been removed for
preservation, but a replica hangs in its place.
Tanzi district also offers a wide variety of delicacies and dining. Among these is a Shin-Tsan Hakka Restaurant menu item that has become the pride of the the district. The Pearl Bamboo Bun first gained fame after making its way to the table of a national banquet hosted by Taiwan's president. Its bun is made with sago and rice milk, giving it a translucent, dumpling-like shell while the filling incorporates local Tanzi bamboo, pork-leg meat and dried green onions. These treats can be enjoyed while warm, but are just as tasty when served cold.  
The delectable Shin-Tsan Pearl Bamboo Pork Bun uses local Tanzi ingredients.
Next to Dong Bao Elementary School is Joy Garden. Inside it truly resembles a park with plenty of green space for children to run around and play in. There are also shaded benches and a nice pond where visitors can feed the fish. Meals served here are prepared with great attention and there are popular chicken dishes, hot-pot items and various Chinese appetizers. Joy Garden is not far from Tanzih Tourist Orchid Garden, also a great place to visit. During the lunar new year period, customers can enjoy a series of special raffle drawings for prizes, not to mention the usual scenery and relaxing surroundings.   
Left: Joy Garden serves Roasted Spring Chicken (NT$300), a
chicken entree roasted to perfection and served with a set
meal that includes a tea drink of your choice.
Medium: Visitors can enjoy a nice stroll around Joy Garden's scenic grounds or feed the fish at
the pond.
Right: Tanzih Tourist Orchid Garden.
Chai-Hsing Villa
(04) 2229-0280, ext. 511
88, TanFu Rd, Sec 2, Tanzi Dist
Hours：9 am-12 pm, 1-5 pm (週一休/closed Mon.)
Closed for renovations 1/26-6/19, 2015(call for more details)
Tanshui Pavillion
(04) 2536-2336
89, FuXing Rd, Sec 2, Tanzi Dist
Opens year-round
Okuma Museum
(04) 3501-3338
11, ZhongShan Rd, Sec 3, Tanzi Dist
Cosed Feb. 18-19, 2015
Admission：NT$150
Big Wood Farm
(04) 2535-0572
104, DaFu Rd, Sec 1, Tanzi Dist
Closed Feb. 19-20, 2015
Admission：
Free admission, Group tours by appointment only
Shan-Tsan Hakka Restaurant
(04) 2534-5178
219, XingHua 1st Rd, Tanzi Dist
Closed Feb. 19, 2015
Joy Garden
(04) 2531-4368
9, DongBao Alley, YaTan Rd, Sec 3, Tanzi Dist
Closed Feb. 18, 2015
Tanzih Tourist Orchid Garden
(04) 2532-8116
8, Lane 89, DaFeng 1st Rd, Tanzi Dist
Hours：9 am-6 pm
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February 2015
