Today the name Taichung [ Táizhōng ] tends, among locals anyway, to conjure up visions of great weather. Taipei and Taichung may have similar average temperatures but Taichung is much drier, receiving around 1700mm of rain a year compared with Taipei’s 2170mm.

Taichung is a transport hub of western Taiwan and you are likely to stop over or even spend a night or two here, especially if you plan to head inland. The city centre has several attractions and it’s a good base to make side trips to the outer area, which has a lot more to offer.