About
In a land where Daoism and Buddhism temples are many, Luce Chapel is a rare and odd find. A modern church located in the middle of a university campus, it boasts a unique architecture, one that i'd say is worth taking the trip for. Complemented by intresting side attractions scattered around the university campus, Luce Chapel is a great place to visit and spend half your day during a trip to Taichung.
Key Info
*Learn more about my Key Information methadology here.
Cost
Free to enter! Do check the visitation hours online beforehand for the chapel if you wish to go inside.
Accessibility
The most direct way is to take a bus bound for Tunghai University (東海大學). The chapel is located inside the campus, about a 10–15 minute walk from the main gate.
Uniqueness
While Luce Chapel is a celebrated destination for architecture enthusiasts, its striking design also makes it a favorite photo spot for all visitors.
My Experience
Nestled within the campus of Tunghai University, Luce Chapel stands as a masterpiece of art and architecture. I visited Luce Chapel while traveling in Taichung, after friends told me it was worth seeing. At first, I questioned my decision as Taichung has many other great places to visit, but in the end I don't regret in making my visit to Luce Chapel.
The chapel is located on the campus of Tunghai University, which was a bit of a trip by bus from the city center, but still fairly accessible. Before heading to the chapel, I wandered around the university campus. They have a small cow farm and a popular night market, which are places that i’d recommend you check out as side quests during your visit to the chapel.
Nevertheless, Luce Chapel was the main attraction for the day. In awe of how big it actually looks in comparison to the pictures i had seen, I couldn’t help but google to learn more about how the chapel came to be. I quickly learned that the chapel itself was designed by the architect I. M. Pei (a famous architect) and built between the 1950s and 60s.
Despite it's age, the church has been preserved very well, and I could understand why it had become such a big tourist attraction over the past few years. For anyone intrested in architecture, you could clearly see that the shape of the building is no easy feat to create. It's curved exterior is a marvelous work of art, and I was constantly reminded that the chapel was created in the 60's!
Moreover, I was lucky enough to go inside the chapel as out of coincidence I had visited during visitation hours. The interior is as majestic as the outside. Complemented by the nice weather on that day, the interior reminded me of the atmosphere you might find in an old European church.
Even if you’re not especially into architecture, it’s a peaceful and interesting place to visit. If you’re in Taichung with some time to spare, I’d definitely recommend stopping by.
