Taichung is the third largest city in Taiwan with a population of 762,000 (1993). It is located 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the coast and 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Taipei. A two and a half-hour train ride from Taipei; it provides a centralized hopping off point for travelers to conveniently visit other major tourist sites and the surrounding mountains.

Taichung was once a small village established by Chinese settlers in the 17th Century. It has now become an international community with all the ameni-ties of a big city. It has its own international harbor and is centrally located along the North-South Freeway. Cultural centers include the Taiwan Museum of Art, holding 24 galleries, the National Museum of Natural Science and the Guinness World of Records Museum.