We did not wake up early today because our main day trip only starts in the afternoon. Just across our hotel, there is a renowned ice cream shop with a legendary reputation worldwide called Miyahara. It was originally an ophthalmology clinic established during the Japanese colonial period and has now been transformed into a popular ice cream destination.
In addition to indulging in ice cream, Miyahara's main building is also worth exploring. The first floor sells pineapple cakes, cheesecakes, and other souvenirs, each with unique and thoughtful designs. The second floor houses the ""Moon Pavilion,"" serving Taiwanese cuisine in a splendidly decorated setting. The third floor is an exhibition center, occasionally open to visitors.
Miyahara offers a Harry Potter-like world with its high ceilings, glossy floors, and large wooden furniture. Despite its history as an ophthalmology clinic and later as a public health bureau, the building was abandoned for a long time after being partially destroyed by the 921 earthquake and a strong typhoon. Dawn Cake, a pastry business in Taichung, has beautifully restored the building, preserving its history and creating a place of wonder.
As the queue to purchase the ice cream was extremely long, we decided to try it tomorrow and be one of the first customers since we stayed just across the road. From Miyahara, we saw an abandoned building at the opposite side of the road, called Qianyue Building. It stood in stark contrast to the surrounding modern cityscape. Its cracked walls, broken windows, and fading paint created a powerful visual which showed a structure left behind by rapid urban change.
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