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Voykit pocket guide · Taiwan
Tuku
土庫鎮
Spend a half‑day in Tuku to sample its garlic market and temples; stay overnight in nearby Douliu if you need a bed.
Tuku is a small agricultural township in Yunlin County, famous for garlic, peanuts, rice and honey. Its main attractions are the Shuntian Mazu Temple, Nantian Temple and the historic Tuku Story House. The town centre is compact and easily explored by bike, but footpaths are limited, so cyclists share the road. One half‑day covers the sights; add a night in Douliu for accommodation.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Local name
- 土庫鎮
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (cooler, less rain)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoon season)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TWD
- Money
- Night markets, breakfast shops and many small restaurants take cash only; carry NT$1,000–2,000 in small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget NT$300–500 excl. bed · Mid NT$500–800 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at TPE and KHH arrivals; a passport plus a second photo ID is required (check).
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Tourism helpline 0800-011-765
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110 V · 60 Hz · US and Japanese plugs fit; European, UK and Australian plugs need an adapter, and 220 V-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; a 10% service charge appears in many sit-down places and hotels.; Taxis: No tip; round up if you like.; Hotel porter: Not expected; NT$100 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not required; NT$200–500 a day or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Treated at source, but locals boil or filter it. Filtered hot-and-cold dispensers are in stations, hotels and many public buildings; bottles cost NT$20–30.
- Toilets
- Free, clean toilets in every MRT station, convenience stores and department stores; paper goes in the toilet in most new buildings — follow the sign.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Garlic (per kg) | NT$150–250 |
| Street snack (e.g., fried tofu) | NT$30–60 |
| Bike rental (half‑day) | NT$150–250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RMQ · Taichung Airport
- about 80 km (50 mi) north, shuttle bus or taxi (check schedules)about 50 mi (80 km) north, shuttle bus or taxi (check schedules)
Typical fares
- Bus Douliu → Tuku
- about NT$30, 15 min (check schedule)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bicycle is the easiest way around the compact centre; public buses run infrequently, so plan rides in advance.
See and do
Known for
- garlic production
- peanut farming
- rice fields
- honey industry
- Shuntian Mazu Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Douliu | Local bus from Tuku to Douliu, about 15 min; walk to town centre | ≈30 min total |
| Beigang | Bus via Yunlin County routes, about 35 min; walk to Beigang Chaotian Temple | ≈1 h |
| Yunlin County Agricultural Museum (Yuanlin) | Bus to Yuanlin, then local shuttle, total ≈1 h 15 min | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Douliu
- Nearest town with hotels and hostels; 15 min by bus
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 不好意思bù hǎo yì si |
| Thank you | 謝謝xiè xiè |
| How much is this? | 這個多少錢？zhè ge duō shǎo qián? |
| Where is the market? | 市場在哪裡？shì chǎng zài nǎ lǐ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A nod or light handshake; 'nǐ hǎo'; avoid: Hugs with new acquaintances
- Handing things: Two hands for cards, gifts and money; avoid: Tossing money on the counter
- Gifts: Fruit or a boxed sweet for hosts; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, pears and anything in fours — they sound like death or parting
- MRT: Queue at the markings, give up priority seats; avoid: Eating, drinking or chewing gum past the gates
- Temples: Enter right, exit left; one or three sticks of incense; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; pointing at deities
- Home visit: Shoes off; slippers provided; avoid: Writing names in red ink
- Sensitive topics: Follow your host's lead; many people hold a range of views on identity and cross-strait ties; avoid: Assuming everyone thinks the same about China or the ROC's status
Scams and watch-outs
- Few dedicated footpaths; cyclists often ride on the road.
- Market stalls can block sidewalks in the mornings.
Tuku is generally safe; traffic can be busy around market hours – stay alert when cycling.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tuku yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- garlic production
- peanut farming
- rice fields
- honey industry
- Shuntian Mazu Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tuku official website: tuku.yunlin.gov.tw/
- Wikidata – Tuku: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101895011
- Wikivoyage: Tuku, revision 5269586 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5269586
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tuku土庫鎮
請到這個地址
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline0800-011-765
US consulate in Kaohsiung; other embassies in Taipei (check details).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tuku). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.