Tung Hai University is in Taichung City 台中市, north of the freeway. It has a reputation as a liberal arts school, and might be the most famous university in Taichung. It is also a tourist attraction, and many visitors flock to Tung Hai's campus for the sake of picnics, photography, or just strolling around.
I studied Chinese at Tung Hai. I thought their Chinese program was great. I also lived next to Tung Hai for three years, so I had plenty of opportunities to investigate the campus.
When I first moved to Taichung, I think Tung Hai was a lot prettier. Back then, the entire southern half of the university was a huge pasture. No one would have imagined picnicing in that pasture, since the grass was waist-high and full of snakes.
Then someone got the idea that the southern half of the school wasn't getting "used," so they cut down all the grass and some of the trees that were there. They also built a couple roads where the pasture had been, and a few small viewing/seating areas around the southern borders of the university.
After that, someone decided that they should have a night market there. That's when it became a place I avoided. Every time I visited the school, I remembered the quiet pasture that once kept the apartment buildings at bay. For all I know this place has been entirely cemented over, probably for the sake of extra parking.
The northern half of the campus is just the same as when I lived and studied in Tung Hai. I know this because I've visited there fairly recently. It's still a nice place to walk around, and opportunities for girl (or guy) watching abound.
North of the university there is a small shopping district and night market. I used to enjoy this part of Taichung a great deal, but it has since lost its luster for me. I can't really say why.
If you are a foreigner wanting to study Chinese in Taiwan, I would highly recommend this school. I had a great time while I was there, the teachers were very professional, and the program was suitably demanding. Of course, having graduated from there way back in 2002, anything I have to say about their Chinese program should be taken with a grain of salt.
Even if you don't want to study Chinese, you might stop by Tung Hai if you are in the neighborhood. If the weather isn't too hot, it's a pleasant place to spend the afternoon.
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