Photo Journal: Jiji集集-Shuili水里-Checheng車埕

Today, we hired the same taxi to bring us on a day tour outside Sun Moon Lake. For NT3000, he brought us around the main sights in 集集，水里 and 車埕.

Jiji 集集:

武昌宮 was preserved in its half-collapsed state after the 9-21 earthquake. The entire ground floor of this temple crumbled under the massive quake but the deity statue surprisingly remained intact.

The Jiji Train Station is a must-see for any visit to Jiji Town 

A very nostalgic station

The original Jiji train station, built during the Japanese colonial period, was destroyed during the 9-21 earthquake.  The current station building is closely modeled after the original one.

Unfortunately, train service was suspended during our visit due to extensive 
maintenance and repair works following the destructive Typhoon Morakot

Shuili 水里:

Nothing much interested us in Shuili until we spotted this stream as we passed through town

Our taxi pulled over and we treaded down the rocks to get closer. It was a pleasantly cool dip for the feet.

It felt so good just sitting on the rocks with the cool breeze and running water, I couldn't bear to leave.

Checheng 車埕:

We spent a good half day exploring the entire Checheng on foot. What used to be a logging town is now a popular destination for tourists. We followed this path to enter the old village in search for lunch.

Saw this cute mural along the way into the village. Coincidentally, the shop name in the picture was the same as the place we had lunch!

車埕小飯店 - the place to get authentic 木桶便當. 

We opted for our food to be served without the traditional wooden buckets. 
The food tasted great nonetheless.

The servings were generous and this was easily the 
best lunch I've had so far in Taiwan 

After lunch, we strolled through the alleys in and around the old village

Turning out from the village, we came to the Checheng Train Station

A coal or water tank for engines to refill perhaps? It only reminded me of scenes from "Thomas and Friends". Wished my nephew (the biggest fan of "T&F") was there to enlighten me.

We visited the lovely logging museum and art gallery with exquisite wood carvings

The logging museum is built at the site of an old logging factory.