Yingge

By train

Take a south bound train from Taipei Main Station, a journey of about 35 minutes. Trains run approx every 20 minutes (most are local trains). The high-speed rail line does not serve Yingge. Tickets can easily be purchased the day of travel from the automated machines at Taipei main station.

• Yingge station

  phone: +886 2 2679 2004
  address: No. 68-1, Wenhua Road

By car

From Formosa Highway (Highway #3), take the exit to "ShanHsia/Yingge". Yingge is the other side of Shanying Bridge and the Ceramic Museum is located on the left.

Almost all attractions are located within a 10-minute walk of the train station. It is an easy walk, though there is also the option of a bus as the Taoyuan buses make a stop at the Yingge Ceramic Museum.

History & culture

• Old StreetOld Street is a continuous row of pottery and craft shops interspersed with tea houses and cafes. Prices on the ceramics vary widely (US$3 for a set of 5 dinner plates to US$30 a teacup) and is strongly dependent on whether they are for the fine arts or mass markets. When buying mass market ceramics, its advisable to check their surfaces for glazing imperfections.

• Wangyang HouseAn old, and not particularly well-maintained, house nearby the train station. The building was constructed in 1916.

• Chengfa Residence

  phone: +886 2 2670 0565
  address: No. 235, Wenhua Road
  The remains of an old building built in 1921, during the Japanese colonial period. It is a popular spot to take photos.

Museums

• Yingge Ceramics Museum

  phone: +886 2 8677 2727
  address: No. 200, Wenhua Road
  Ten minutes from Yingge Railway Station is the excellent Yingge Ceramics Museum. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of ceramics in Taiwan, which it does through very imaginative and beautiful displays. The museum has a good gift shop and cafe. Address: 200 Wen-hwa Road. Tel:8677 2727. Open: Tu-F 09:30-17:00, Sa-Su 09:30-18:00. The museum is closed on Mondays and national holidays. Admission is free.

Parks & nature

• Yingge Rock

  phone: +886 917 117 087
  address: Zhongzheng 1st Road
  Yingge Rock (Parrot rock) trail is a short trail (~20 minutes). The trail is located about 10 minutes away from train station by walking. The trail has three entrances. The main trail lifts up to the level of Yingge Stone, from which people can overlook the centre of Yingge area, Dahan creek and parts of Sansia.

• Sanying Arts Village

  address: No. 300, Guanqian Road
  A park filled with different sculptures, covered walkways, and other forms of artwork.

Temples

• Turtle Temple

  phone: +886 2 2679 5842
  A temple at the foot of the Bilong mountain, it is named after the 'Green Turtle Stone' which is contained within the temple complex.

• Hongde Temple

  phone: +886 2 2679 4029
  address: No. 1, Lane 303, Zhongzhengyi Road
  A temple to the Spring-Autumn Warring States period general Sun Bin.

• Sanhu Temple

  phone: +886 2 2670 8299
  A somewhat unusual temple in Taiwan dedicated to three Emperors which were worshipped to bring prosperity in the early days of Han Chinese migration to the island.

• Experience the DIY (do it yourself) pottery making. Go to the Old Street and find some shops who offer the pottery making class/experience. Make and then design your own pottery. Most of them have the service of shipping the finished product. You can not get the finished product right away since it requires few days of drying and firings.

• Ceramics of all kind are available for sale. Tea pots, tea sets, dinner plates, bowls, pots for plants etc. Prices vary with quality.

• Grandma's Sushi

  phone: +886 2 2670 9345
  address: No. 63, Zhongzheng 1st Road
  a famous sushi booth in the centre of Yingge. It is located in front of the OK Mart, 10 minutes away from train station on foot. Although it looks like just a small booth, there is a big basement seating area. Usually, people order to go, although some dine in the basement. A box of sushi costs NT$25. Other than sushi, they also have miso soup (NT$10), steamed egg (NT$10) and some other typical Taiwanese dishes.

• The Yingge station is fairly straightforward. Trains heading back to Taipei all leave from the same platform (platform 2) and depart every 25 min or so.