Changhua City (彰化市) is the next city south of Taichung, a short train ride away, and it has two sights worth the trip: the great seated Buddha on Bagua Mountain, and a working railway roundhouse where locomotives are turned on a turntable. Pair it with Lukang on the same bus for a full day.
- Train TRA Taiwan Railway from Taichung Station to Changhua
- Bus 6936 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Line from HSR Taichung Station: 27 minutes to Changhua Station, 33 minutes to the Great Buddha area, on the timetable
- Best for The Great Buddha, trains
- Time A half day, or a full day with Lukang
What to see
Bagua Mountain Great Buddha (八卦山大佛)
A 22-meter seated Sakyamuni Buddha on Bagua Mountain (八卦山), above the city, completed in 1961; Changhua County says it was once the largest in Asia. The scenic area is open all day. The 6936 bus stops at the Cultural Affairs Bureau (文化局) stop for the Great Buddha area.
Changhua Roundhouse (彰化扇形車庫)
Taiwan Railway's Changhua depot roundhouse, built in 1922 and the only one of its kind left in Taiwan: a fan of engine sheds around a turntable that swings electric and steam locomotives in and out. Visitors register at the entrance, on the left.
- Where: No. 1, Section 1, Zhangmei Road, Changhua City; a short taxi ride from Changhua Station.
- Hours: Changhua County lists Tuesday to Saturday, 13:00 to 16:00.
- Entry: free. Guided tours need booking ahead (04-7624438).
Good to know: the roundhouse is open only a few afternoon hours and it is a working depot, so call 04-7624438 to check before you go. Do the Great Buddha in the morning, the roundhouse after lunch, and Lukang on another day, or ride the 6936 on to Lukang in the morning and stop in Changhua on the way back.
How to get there
From Taichung Station, any southbound Taiwan Railway train to Changhua. From HSR Taichung Station, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Line (6936) calls at Changhua Station and at the Great Buddha area on its way to Lukang: on weekdays it leaves the HSR station at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00, with extra runs at 11:00 and 15:00 on weekends. Tap an EasyCard or iPASS. → EasyCard and iPASS
→ Lukang · Taichung as a base for central Taiwan · All day trips
Sources
The Great Buddha and the roundhouse (history, hours, address, entry) from Changhua County's tourism site: Mt. Bagua Buddha Scenic Area and Changhua Railway Roundhouse. The 6936 bus stops, times and payment from the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Lukang Line page and timetable. Checked October 2026.