Chinya House

The North Coast Hotel looks excellent from the outside, though the interior is less impressive. People may think the first-floor rooms are better for older guests, but these rooms are small and Japanese-style. You still have to use narrow stairs, take your shoes on and off, and struggle to sit down and stand up, so they're completely unsuitable for seniors. The location is very convenient, right on the busy main street of Tangqi Village in Beigan, with shops and attractions nearby. Zhongzheng Road is in front, and a few steps to the left bring you to Beigan Airport and the bus terminal on Zhongshan Road. Fuxing Road and Zhongshan Road nearby have lots of places serving local foods, including guangbing (a type of flatbread), fish noodles, fish dumplings, fish balls, yellow croaker, mussels, squid, Buddha's hand citron, clams, oysters, razor clams, red-braised pork, red-braised eel, rice noodles with rice wine, and golden dumpling shaved ice. Across from the hotel is the grand Yufeng Xiao Wangfu (Jade-Sealed Xiao Prince's Mansion), dedicated to Xiao Wangzhi, a Han Dynasty figure known as the Lotus City Buddha. To the right are the comprehensive sports stadium, Bishan Trail, Yizhu Qingtian (One Pillar Supporting the Sky), and Zhongzheng Park. To the left, Tanghou Road leads to Mabiwan Coastal Park, scenic paths, the sea, boats, beaches, and land art. Near the airport, there are two Taoist temples: Guangxuan Palace, dedicated to Xuanwu (the Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven), and Shuibu Shangshu Gongfu (Minister of Water Affairs Mansion), dedicated to Chen Wenlong, a late Song Dynasty national hero who was appointed Minister of Water Affairs by the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor and worshipped as a sea god. The whole complex is quite grand. Morning or dusk is the best time to visit these sights. Breakfast is served on the first floor of the nearby Fuxingguan Hotel. Each person gets a lunchbox with side dishes, porridge, steamed buns, coffee, and barley tea. The contents and portions are quite good. Two details on the table caught my eye: a Matsu Daily newspaper and a toilet paper box shaped like a firebreak wall. Very local and distinctive.