Taichung with Kids by Car: 12 Family Attractions from Taichung HSR Station, with Drive Times and 4 Day Plans

Taichung with Kids by Car: 12 Family Attractions from Taichung HSR Station, with Drive Times and 4 Day Plans

Travelling around Taichung (台中) with children is rarely hard because of the sights — it's hard because of the transfers with a stroller, a car seat and a nappy bag. The city's family-friendly spots are spread out: the science museum and fine arts museum are downtown, the 921 Earthquake Museum is in Wufeng, Lihpao Land and the Yuemei Sugar Factory are up in Houli, Dongshi Forest Garden sits in the foothills, and Gaomei Wetlands and Da'an Beach are on the coast — with long gaps between buses. This guide covers 12 family attractions, split into indoor and outdoor, each with the drive time from Taichung HSR Station (checked on Google Maps), opening days and parking tips, plus four ready-made day plans. For general Taichung road trips see 5 Self-Driving Routes in Taichung; for family routes across Taiwan see Family-Friendly Self-Drive Routes.

Gaomei Wetlands and its wind turbines, the most popular family spot on Taichung's coast (Unsplash, location tagged Gaomei Wetlands, Taiwan)

Taichung's family attractions fall into three clusters: downtown (science museum, fine arts museum, Central Park), the inland districts (the 921 Earthquake Museum in Wufeng, Lihpao Land and the Yuemei Sugar Factory in Houli, Shigang, Dongshi Forest Garden) and the coast (Taichung Metropolitan Park, Wuqi Fishing Harbor, Gaomei Wetlands, Da'an Seaside Paradise). The clusters are 20–50 km apart, and public transport usually means changing at Taichung Station or Fengyuan — not fun with a folded stroller.

With a car, the day runs on your child's schedule: nap time happens in the back seat, wet clothes get changed right at the car, and you don't have to queue for a bus after watching the sunset at Gaomei. From Taichung HSR Station it's about 15–40 minutes to the downtown museums, 25–45 minutes to Houli and 35–50 minutes to the coast, so two or three stops a day is a comfortable pace.

Picking Up the Car: Taichung HSR Station First

If you arrive by high-speed rail, pick up at Taichung HSR Station and drive straight off. Staying downtown? Use Taichung Railway Station. Flying into Taichung (RMQ)? Use Taichung Airport. The three locations work differently:

New to self-service pickup? Read Self-Service Pickup and Return. Walking from the HSR concourse to the car park is covered in Taichung HSR Station Car Rental Guide; comparing all three locations is in Taichung Car Rental Guide; airport details are in Taichung Airport (RMQ) Car Rental Guide.

At a Glance: 12 Family Attractions, Drive Times and Closing Days

Drive times are Google Maps estimates for leaving Taichung HSR Station at 9 a.m. on an October weekday (Wednesday), using the fastest route. Actual times depend on traffic and are longer on weekends and holidays. Opening hours come from each attraction's official website or the Taichung Tourism website — please double-check official notices before you go.

Between attractions: science museum → fine arts museum about 5–16 min; Metropolitan Park → Wuqi Fishing Harbor about 22–35 min; Wuqi → Gaomei about 12–14 min; Gaomei → Da'an about 16–20 min; Yuemei Sugar Factory → Shigang Dam about 14–22 min; Shigang Dam → Dongshi Forest Garden about 24–35 min; Taichung Railway Station store → science museum about 7–18 min.

Indoor Attractions for Rainy or Hot Days

National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館)

• Address: No. 1, Guanqian Rd, North District. Open Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:00, tickets until 16:30; closed every Monday, except Mondays that fall on national holidays (see the museum's opening calendar).
• Strollers: the museum's visitor rules allow strollers and wheelchairs inside.
• Tip: the museum has announced that the Life Science Hall basement exhibition area and restroom close from 1 to 6 October. There are too many halls for one visit — pick two or three your kids will love.

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立臺灣美術館)

• Hours: Tuesday–Friday 09:00–17:00, weekends 09:00–18:00, closed Mondays, free admission.
• For kids: children's spaces including the Children's Picture Book Area and the Taiwan Children's Art Base. These spaces sometimes close for maintenance or new exhibits; entry rules (such as removing shoes or capacity limits) follow the museum's notices.
• Pair it: it's only about 5–16 minutes' drive from the science museum, so both fit into one rainy day.

921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan (921地震教育園區, Wufeng)

• What it is: a branch of the science museum that preserves traces of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake — fault displacement, a collapsed school and an uplifted riverbed — with five halls: Chelungpu Fault Preservation Hall, Earthquake Engineering Hall, Image Hall, Disaster Prevention Education Hall and Reconstruction Records Hall (Taiwan Tourism Administration). Best for primary-school-age children and older.
• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–17:00, closed Mondays. Address: No. 192, Xinsheng Rd, Wufeng District.
• Parking: cars and coaches use the park's external car park; wheelchairs, strollers and cars for visitors with limited mobility can use the accessible car park (per the museum).
• Closest to the HSR: about 16–30 minutes from Taichung HSR Station — ideal for your arrival afternoon or the morning before your train home.

Outdoor Attractions: Houli and Dongshi

Yuemei Sugar Factory (月眉觀光糖廠, Houli)

Run by Taiwan Sugar Corporation, the factory has free entry at No. 350, Sec. 2, Jiahou Rd, Houli. According to the official site it is open all year (closed on Lunar New Year's Eve): 08:30–17:00 from November to February; from March to October 08:30–17:00 on weekdays and until 17:30 on weekends; the ice shop runs 09:00–17:00. Kids can see old sugar-making machinery and a rare tunnel under the chimney, watch the koi pond, ride the little park train and try Taisugar ice pops — one to two hours is plenty.

Lihpao Land (麗寶樂園, Houli)

Lihpao Land is at No. 8, Furong Rd, Houli, just off the Houli exit of National Freeway 1 — about 26–45 minutes from Taichung HSR Station. It includes the Discovery World theme park, the Mala Bay water park and the Sky Dream Ferris wheel; the official site says children under 3 or under 100 cm enter free, and Discovery World has an area aimed at younger kids. Opening hours change day by day and Mala Bay has a seasonal opening period, so check the official schedule before you go; rides pause for lightning, thunder or maintenance. It's a full-day outing, so don't plan another big attraction the same day.

The Sky Dream Ferris wheel at Lihpao Land (Unsplash, location tagged 麗寶樂園, Houli District)

Shigang Dam and the Dongfeng Bikeway (石岡壩・東豐自行車綠廊)

The Dongfeng Bikeway follows the old Dongshi branch railway through Fengyuan, Shigang and Dongshi, past Hakka villages and farmland, and is lit at night along its whole length (Taiwan Tourism Administration). The easiest way to do it with kids: park near Shigang Dam, rent a tandem or a bike with a child seat, ride a short stretch to see the dam and come back. There's a visitor centre on the Shigang section and YouBike stations along the route; bike types and prices depend on each shop.

Dongshi Forest Garden (東勢林場遊樂區)

At No. 6-1, Shilin St, Dongshi District, the forest garden is open daily 06:30–22:00 (Taichung Tourism website and official site). At 500–700 m above sea level it's cooler than the city. There are forest trails, a play and fitness area, DIY activities and a hot-spring foot bath, plus fireflies and beetles to spot in spring and summer. It's about 45–75 minutes from Taichung HSR Station with a hill road at the end, so go in the morning; tickets and discounts for young children follow the official notices.

Outdoor Attractions: The Coast and City Parks

Taichung Metropolitan Park (臺中都會公園)

An 88-hectare urban forest park on the Dadu Plateau at No. 140, Lane 1215, Duhuiyuan Rd, Xitun District. It's open daily 06:00–21:00, free, with car parks and a visitor centre. Huge lawns are made for picnics, kites and bikes; to the east you look over the Taichung basin, to the west toward Taichung Port. About 20–40 minutes from Taichung HSR Station, and a natural first stop on the way to the coast.

Open lawns are perfect for letting kids run (Unsplash, photographer based in Taiwan, exact location not tagged; for illustration)

Taichung Central Park (臺中中央公園)

A large park in Shuinan, open daily 06:00–22:00 (closed during typhoons), with a themed playground and wide lawns. Parking is easy: the north (Huanzhong Rd), south (Henan Rd) and underground (Jingmao Rd) car parks all have family parking spaces and accessible spaces, according to the park's official site. It's about 14–26 minutes from Taichung HSR Station — a good half-day right after pickup or before returning the car.

Wuqi Fishing Harbor (梧棲觀光漁港)

At No. 30, Beidi Rd, Qingshui District (Taiwan Tourism Administration). The harbour has a fish market and food stalls, plus kite-flying and sea-view areas. Come for a seafood lunch and boat-watching, then drive about 12–14 minutes north to Gaomei.

Gaomei Wetlands (高美濕地)

South of the Dajia River mouth, Gaomei is a wildlife protection area where more than 120 bird species have been recorded; the mudflats are full of crabs, and the row of wind turbines makes it Taichung's most famous sunset spot (Taichung Tourism website, Taiwan Tourism Administration). Entry is free, but the boardwalk opens according to the tide and closes around high tide. The Taichung Tourism website publishes boardwalk hours and a tide forecast — check it before you set off. There's a car park, toilets and a visitor centre.

Sunset at Gaomei: reflections on the mudflats at low tide (Unsplash, location tagged Gaomei Wetlands, Taiwan)

With kids: the mud gets on feet and trousers, so keep towels, a change of clothes and a bag for dirty clothes in the car. There can be currents offshore — keep children away from deeper water.

Da'an Seaside Paradise (大安濱海樂園)

At No. 1, Lane 86, Beishan Rd, Da'an District; the Taichung Tourism website lists 08:00–17:00, closed Tuesdays. The beach is flat and wide with fine sand — great for sand play. The big "Haiweng" swimming pool opens only in summer (June–August), closes on Tuesdays and in bad weather, requires swimwear and a swim cap, and children 110 cm or under go free with a paying parent. Taichung City has designated the Da'an coast an "open water" area; follow on-site safety signs and check sea conditions before going in.

Four Family Day Plans

Plan A | Rainy-day museums: science museum + fine arts museum (Tue–Sun)

• 09:00 Pick up at Taichung HSR Station; about 15–40 minutes to the science museum.
• Morning: 2–3 hours at the science museum, choosing the halls your kids care about.
• Lunch near the museum, with a nap in the car if needed.
• Afternoon: fine arts museum (about 5–16 minutes) — picture book area and the lawn outside.
• Back: about 12–30 minutes to Taichung HSR Station. Alternatively, the 921 Earthquake Museum is the closest to the HSR (about 16–30 minutes) and suits your arrival afternoon.

Plan B | Coast day: Metropolitan Park + Wuqi Harbor + Gaomei sunset

• 09:30 Pick up at Taichung HSR Station → Taichung Metropolitan Park (about 20–40 minutes) for a picnic and kites.
• Lunch: Metropolitan Park → Wuqi Fishing Harbor (about 22–35 minutes) for seafood.
• Afternoon: in summer, add sand play at Da'an Seaside Paradise (Gaomei → Da'an about 16–20 minutes; closed Tuesdays).
• Sunset: Wuqi → Gaomei Wetlands (about 12–14 minutes); check the boardwalk hours first.
• Back: Gaomei → Taichung HSR Station, about 35–50 minutes on a weekend evening.

Plan C | Hill day: Yuemei Sugar Factory + Shigang bike ride + Dongshi Forest Garden

• 08:30 Pick up at Taichung HSR Station → Yuemei Sugar Factory (about 25–45 minutes) for ice pops and the chimney tunnel.
• Late morning: Yuemei → Shigang Dam (about 14–22 minutes) and a short ride on the Dongfeng Bikeway.
• Afternoon: Shigang Dam → Dongshi Forest Garden (about 24–35 minutes) for forest trails and play equipment.
• Back: Dongshi Forest Garden → Taichung HSR Station, about 45–75 minutes on a weekend afternoon.
• Swap: if the kids only want rides, spend the whole day at Lihpao Land (about 26–45 minutes from the HSR) and stop at Yuemei for ice pops.

Plan D | Arrival or departure half-day: Central Park

• With a few hours after pickup or before your train, drive about 14–26 minutes to Taichung Central Park, use a family parking space, spend two hours at the playground and head back to the HSR.

Extending into Nantou? See Nantou Road Trip: Xitou, Sun Link Sea and Jiji and the Sun Moon Lake Self-Drive Guide.

Driving with Kids: Seats, Car Size and What to Pack

• Child seats: add them when you book; prices are shown on the booking page or by the store. Which seat for which age is explained in Taiwan Child Car Seat Regulations Explained. Seats are limited, so book early in peak season.
• 5-seater or 7-seater? Two adults with one or two kids and light luggage fit a 5-seater (the website lists New Vios, New Yaris, Yaris Cross and New Colt Plus). Two families, a stroller and two or more child seats call for a 7–9 seater (Wish, M7 Turbo ECO Hyper, Staria, Starex). Actual models at each location are shown on the booking page; see 7-Seater and 9-Seater Rentals.
• Pack in the car: towels, spare clothes, wet wipes and rubbish bags (essential after Gaomei or Da'an). A phone holder is normally already in the car.
• Parking: Central Park has family spaces; elsewhere, use marked car parks rather than stopping at the side of the road to let kids out. General rules: Parking in Taiwan.
• Getting out: Taiwan drives on the right, so let children out on the kerb side and check for traffic before opening doors. Foreign drivers should also read Taiwan Driving Rules for Foreign Drivers.

What It Costs: Rental + Mileage Fee + Fuel Card

• Rental: depends on model, date and pickup location; economy models from NT$1,199 on weekdays and NT$1,399 on weekends — check the online quote. The more days you rent, the lower the daily average.
• Mileage fee: charged by the actual kilometres you drive, with no distance limit.
• Fuel card: every car comes with a dedicated fuel card. Fuel is included in the mileage fee, so you don't pay for fuel yourself and don't need to refill before returning. Ask the attendant to fill up and pay with the fuel card (self-service pumps may not accept it); if you forget and pay yourself, keep the receipt and it will be deducted from your mileage fee.
• ETC tolls: every car has ETC; freeway tolls are settled when you return the car, and the store can give you a breakdown on request.
• GO Worry-Free Protection Plan: for extra peace of mind on unfamiliar roads, add it when booking to reduce the amount you would owe if the car is damaged; details and exclusions are on the official website.

How the mileage fee works: Mileage fee explained and Mileage Charges Guide.

FAQ

Q1. Can I drive in Taiwan on my own licence?

If your country has a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan, bring a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) together with your original home licence and passport; you can drive for up to 30 days after entry, and beyond 30 days you need a visa endorsement for your IDP from a motor vehicle office. Japanese visitors instead need a Japanese licence plus an official Chinese translation (a Japan-issued IDP isn't accepted in Taiwan). Holders of a valid Hong Kong or Macau licence can rent with Goodcars; for Hong Kong visitors an IDP is recommended. Details: Taiwan IDP Guide.

Q2. Which family attractions are closed on Mondays?

The science museum, the fine arts museum and the 921 Earthquake Museum close on Mondays (except public holidays); Da'an Seaside Paradise closes on Tuesdays. On a Monday, go for Metropolitan Park, Central Park, Yuemei Sugar Factory, Dongshi Forest Garden or Gaomei.

Q3. Where can we go with kids on a rainy day?

Plan A: the science museum and the fine arts museum, only about 5–16 minutes apart; or the 921 Earthquake Museum, about 16–30 minutes from Taichung HSR Station. Lihpao Land says its rides keep running in rain but pause for lightning and thunder.

Q4. When is the best time to visit Gaomei Wetlands?

Most people go for sunset, but the boardwalk opens according to the tide and closes around high tide. Check the boardwalk hours and tide forecast on the Taichung Tourism website before you set off.

Q5. Can I pick up at Taichung HSR Station and return at Taichung Railway Station?

Yes, one-way rentals are possible; the fee is shown in the online quote and differs by location. Taichung HSR Station is a self-service car park bookable 00:00–23:55; Taichung Railway Station is bookable 09:00–21:00 — outside those hours, call the store first (04-2201-0077). See 10 One-Way Rental Routes.

Q6. How far ahead should I book, and how do I pay?

Online bookings need to be completed 12–24 hours before pickup depending on the location; for last-minute rentals, call the store or message us on WhatsApp. International visitors need a credit card in the name of the person booking. Book child seats and 7-seaters early in school holidays.

Q7. Do I have to pay for fuel or top up the tank?

No. Goodcars cars come with a dedicated fuel card and fuel is included in the mileage fee, so there's nothing to top up when you bring the car back.