Taichung Airport provides easy access to the west and central parts of the island of Taiwan. It’s the third largest airport in the country and operates flights to a variety of destinations across the surrounding region, including Taipei, Hong Kong and places in mainland China. Also known as Taichung Ching Chuan Kang Airport, it’s located in the north-east of Taichung, around 20 kilometres from the heart of the city.
Terminal 1 is used for domestic services, including those to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport, which both service the metropolitan area of Taipei. In recent years the frequency of these flights has been reduced by the development of the high-speed railway line between Taipei and Taichung. Other destinations include Taiwan’s outlying islands of Magong and Kinmen. Terminal 2 is for all international flights, with daily departures to places in Vietnam, South Korea and southern China.
Metered taxis can be found at the arrivals area. Next to Terminal 2 is a large bus station, with services running to destinations across Taichung and the surrounding area. There’s also a dedicated shuttle service running between the airport and the nearest THSR high-speed railway station, which provides the quickest transfer for any passengers visiting Taipei.
The airport originally developed as a US Air Force base during the Vietnam War. At the time it was the largest military airport in the Far East.