The Luce Memorial Chapel in Tunghai University, Taichung has a unique shape that has made it the icon of Taichung City. It is the central landmark of Tunghai University, completed in 1962 in honor of Rev. Henry Luce. Now it is one of Taichung City's most popular tourist attractions.
Background: The Luce Memorial Chapel was built in 1962 at Tunghai University (THU), in honor of Rev. Henry W. Luce. Tunghai University was founded with the ideals of Christianity and holistic education. Not long after the university's founding in 1955, the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia decided that because the university was so far away from central Taichung Dadu Mountain, they needed a church to make it more convenient for students and faculty to worship. The chapel does not belong to a particular denomination but is considered a protestant church. The Chapel is dedicated to Reverend Henry W. Luce, who was a Presbyterian missionary in China from roughly 1897-1935, and father of Henry Luce, an American magazine magnate who founded Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated. Mr. Luce was born in China while is father was a missionary, and later moved to the United States as a young boy. He played a role in creating a good public image of Chiang Kai-shek and Song Mei-ling helping mold American foreign policy toward Taiwan. He helped to sponsor the chapel's construction in honor of his father. The chapel is built on a hexagonal base and has a unique curved reinforced concrete roof, known as a conid structure, and is 19.2 meters tall. The building is also said to be influenced by the Yale University Art Gallery. Originally the building was planned to be made from wood but concrete was later chosen as more durable for Taiwan's environment. The architects were I.M. Pei and Chi-kuan Chen. I.M. Pei designed the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. In 2023, the chapel underwent renovations which were expected to be completed on November 2nd, 2023. The chapel is a popular tourist stop, especially on weekends. Hours: Around 4 PM until 2 AM, every day. Tours: You can book a tour of Luce Chapel on KKday here. There are many tours of Taichung available on KKday here or Klook here, such as an Instagram Day Tour, Historic Downtown and Sun Cake DIY Experience, Taichung Railway Station Walking Tour, Local Market Biking Tour, Aboriginal Food Tour, and much more on KKday here or Klook here. Hotels in Taichung: Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you will only visit downtown, you can consider a day trip from Taipei. We have stayed at and recommend the Norway Forest Travel Hotel, a convenient hotel right in front of Taichung Station (you can book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, or compare prices on Kayak here), and Sin Fu Business Hotel which is also a great value for the money and great quality in downtown Taichung (you can book on Agoda here or compare prices on Kayak here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By Car/ Scooter: From Central Taichung. take Taiwan Avenue (Provincial Highway 12) East until you get up the hill to the entrance of Tunghai University. There is limited scooter parking on the side of the road and some paid car parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taichung? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: From Taichung station, you can take bus 324 to Tunghai University. You can also book a Taichung sightseeing bus on KKday here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Market Biking Tour in Taichung on Klook here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: I have been to the Luce Memorial Chapel twice. I didn't go for a church service, just because it is one of the most iconic buildings in Taichung. It is a nice place to take photos, hang out, and enjoy views of Taichung. You can book a tour of Luce Chapel on KKday here.
For an overview of the area, check out our drone footage above.
You can also check out the 360 degree panorama above.
Another drone panorama from a different angle.
Full front view of the chapel. The chapel is surrounded by a large grassy area that many people come to picnic on.
There is no parking in the university for visitors, so you have to park outside in the visitor parking and walk up the hill.
It is kind of a long walk up the sidewalk.
There also appear to be some Japanese era houses on the east side of the campus.
Path through campus toward the chapel.
We walked quite a ways through all the grass and trees on campus.
Flyer near the church.
First view of the chapel.
Side view of the chapel.
More views of the chapel.
Close up on the front door.
View through the front door.
View of the roof.
Verticle image of the front of the chapel.
View of the chapel and Dadu Mountain via drone.
Another view via drone with Taichung in the background.
If you fly a drone here, note the height restriction and that the chapel actually lies on the boundary of a no-fly zone.
More photos in the gallery above.
You can book a tour of Luce Chapel on KKday here. Don't forget that Taichung has lots of indoor and outdoor activities available, such as Scuba Cube Hotel Indoor Diving Experience, Batting Cages, Indoor Skiing and Sledding, Car Race Track, Pilot an Aircraft, Glamping, Archery, Trampoline Center, Off-road ATVing, Hiking, see cherry blossoms, stargazing, Aboriginal Food Tour, cooking class, and much more on KKday here or Klook here. There are many amazing sites and attractions in Taichung, such as Gaomei Wetlands, Rainbow Village, Luce Chapel, Rainbow Village, Wuling Farm, Nantun Old Street, Xinshe Flower Garden, Lihpao Land Theme Park and more. You can also book a Taichung pass for multiple attractions on Klook here or here. Be sure to check out our full guide to Taichung here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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