Calligraphy Greenway: An Art Museum, Dinosaurs and Shen Ji New Village — A One-Day Stamp Route in Taichung
Taichung · 6 places Walk the shady greenway past the art museum and dinosaurs, shop the little stores of Shen Ji New Village and end on Yizhong Street.
Some cities are best seen from a car. This part of Taichung is best seen on foot.
The Calligraphy Greenway is a 3.6-kilometer ribbon of park, with the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts at one end and the National Museum of Natural Science at the other. Between the two museums are shade trees, lawns, a shopping mall and little shops in old dormitories.
This route follows the greenway. Six places and six stamps take you from an art museum to the dinosaurs in a single day.
The route at a glance
| Place | Category | Area |
|---|---|---|
| National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts | Art museum | West |
| Calligraphy Greenway | Landmark | West |
| Parklane by CMP | Shopping | West |
| Shen Ji New Village | Historic district | West |
| National Museum of Natural Science | Museum | North |
| Yizhong Street Shopping District | Night market | North |
The six places line up along the greenway from south to north. Walk from the art museum to the science museum, then head east to Yizhong Street in the evening. One day is just right.
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts: a national art museum with free entry
The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is Taiwan's only national-level art museum, and entry is free. The exhibitions change often, and the lawns outside hold quite a few large sculptures.
Start here and walk north along the greenway. That's today's route.
Calligraphy Greenway: a 3.6-kilometer green corridor
The Calligraphy Greenway runs green all the way from the science museum to the art museum, about 3.6 kilometers in all. Walk in the shade with lawns, paths and street-side shops on either side.
When you reach Civic Square, collect this stop's stamp. On weekends the square is full of picnics and kites, and there's often a market.
Parklane by CMP: a mall covered in plants
Parklane by CMP sits right on the greenway, its outer walls covered in greenery so that from a distance it looks like a green building. Inside are a bookstore, select shops and restaurants.
Walk out the door and the park is right there. It's a good place to find lunch.
Shen Ji New Village: little shops in old dormitories
Shen Ji New Village was once a group of dormitories for the provincial audit office. Since its restoration, the old houses have filled with design shops, dessert shops and cafés, and there's a market on weekends.
Wander the lanes slowly. Every shopfront is a little different, and it's the most photogenic place on the route.
National Museum of Natural Science: looking up at the dinosaurs
The National Museum of Natural Science is the greenway's northern end. Inside, start by looking up at the huge dinosaur skeletons, then watch the stars in the Space Theater, and finally duck into the tropical rainforest greenhouse.
Adults and kids both love it. Leave at least two or three hours for this stop.
Yizhong Street Shopping District: fried chicken and Fengren ice
Next to Taichung First Senior High School, Yizhong Street is Taichung's famous student shopping district. After dark the fried chicken, Fengren ice and snack stalls open up, alongside cheap clothing shops.
Grab a fried chicken cutlet and a bowl of Fengren ice, eat as you browse, and finish the day with your sixth stamp.
One-day plan
- Start in the morning at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
- Walk north along the greenway and have lunch at Parklane by CMP
- Explore Shen Ji New Village in the afternoon
- Reach the National Museum of Natural Science in the late afternoon
- Have dinner on Yizhong Street in the evening
If you want more time at the science museum, flip the order: visit it in the morning, then walk from the art museum to Shen Ji New Village in the late afternoon.
Before you go
- Opening hours, closing days and ticket prices can change, so check each place's official website before you set off. Both the art museum and the science museum have regular closing days, so check before you go.
- The whole route is walkable. On hot days, bring water and stick to the shade.
- Shen Ji New Village's weekend market draws big crowds. Come on a weekday if you want to browse the shops slowly.
Collecting this route with ExploreStamp
Open ExploreStamp, find "Calligraphy Greenway: Art Museum to Shenji Village" among the themed routes and tap "Check in" at each place you reach. The app confirms you're within range, adds the place's stamp to your stamp book and records the date of your first visit. Collect all six, and a green walking path, two museums and a fried chicken cutlet will all live in your stamp book.
See the other routes under Explore.
Cover photo: Yu Hong Lee / Unsplash