Jiji, Taichung

The charm of the banana kingdom

Jiji Township, located in Taichung County, is situated in the central mountainous region of Taiwan. Its warm and humid climate is ideal for banana cultivation. Local farmers rely on banana farming for their livelihood, making Jiji Township one of Taiwan's leading banana-producing areas.

In Jiji Town, you might see banana fields or banana trees where farmers work hard to grow and harvest bananas, supplying fresh fruit to the market. If you're interested in agriculture, consider visiting the local farms or markets to experience the lives of farmers and the banana-growing process. In addition, Jiji Town offers banana-themed activities and products. For example, you can sample locally made banana products such as banana bread and banana cakes—specialties made primarily from local bananas. Furthermore, there are banana-themed handicrafts and souvenirs available for purchase.

National Jiji Museum of Art Painted Train

On the Jiji Branch Line of the Taiwan Railways Administration, there is a uniquely painted train known as the "National Jiji Art Museum." The train's design is mainly based on gold and white, and in different carriages, whether it's the curtains or the floor, you can see patterns of bananas or banana products, creating a cute and charming atmosphere.

In addition, Taichung is also a major habitat for the endangered leopard cat. To raise public awareness of conservation, the county government has specially placed various leopard cat images inside and outside the train, which are very eye-catching. This painted train combines art, culture, and history. Besides the images, it also displays old Taiwanese newspapers and historical information, witnessing the changes in this place. However, the painted train has limited service, with only a few trips per day, departing from different stations. If you want to ride this "banana train," be sure to check the train timetable for the day and wait at stations such as Checheng, Tianzhong, Ershui, and Changhua.

Jiji surrounding attractions

In addition, there is a place called Checheng next to Jiji, which was originally a primary school and has now been converted into a railway primary school. Visitors can sit here and enjoy the scenery along the line, and there is also a vintage miniature train waiting for you to take photos, allowing you to witness the charm of railway history.

The Railway Culture Park, located next to the primary school, showcases many antique trains and old railway tracks, while also offering cultural performances, local snacks, and handicrafts for purchase.

Jiji, Taichung: Transportation Information

For transportation, you can take the train from Ershui Station, take the Jiji Branch Line, and get off at Jiji Station; or you can take the Yuanlin Bus from Ershui Station to Shuili and get off at Jiji. If you are at Taichung Gancheng Station, you can also take the Zongda Bus to Shuili and get off at Jiji. The journey takes about one hour and forty minutes.