- Work on a DIY pottery at Yingge
For all you ceramic enthusiasts out there, Yingge is the place to be! It is a town not too far out of Taipei and is very well known for its famed pottery: the high-quality clay deposits found in the region have made Yingge a center of ceramics production, since the 19th century. The word means “parrot song” in Chinese, supposedly getting it from the parrot-shaped rock in the north of the town.
There are plenty of activities to do in Yingge for the day, there is a Ceramics Museum, an old street filled with countless ceramic pottery and craft shops, and even some DIY pot-making workshops!
Yingge Ceramics Museum
Seeing how popular the ceramic culture in Yingge has become, the government established this museum to show people the history of the ceramics industry in Taiwan. It is very well organized and beautifully displayed, with audio guides available in both Chinese and English.
Yingge Old Street
Ready for some crazy pottery shopping? The old street offers ceramics of all kinds, from basic teapots and dinner plates to finer luxury flower vases; prices vary depending on the quality. Warning: the street might be full of tourists and shoppers on weekends, so try to come here during weekdays.
DIY pot-making
If you still haven’t had enough of pottery, go on and make one yourself! A lot of the shops provide DIY classes on the side (although for the more popular ones you might need a reservation in advance), the Ceramics Museum itself as well. You get to learn the whole process of pottery making while designing and making your own one. You won’t be able to get the finished product right away, as it takes a few days to dry and fire, but most shops provide delivery service afterward.
How to get there:
There are TRA trains that go directly from Taipei Main Train Station to Yingge Train Station, it only takes about 30 minutes.