March 27, 2019

Visiting Yunlin and Tainan - Kapok and Bald Pines


While staying in Yunlin, we accidentally discovered a few places worth visiting. We came across spots with Kapok trees, and one of the nice places to take pictures is the road from Huwei to Xiluo. The road is quite long, and both sides are covered with red Kapok trees. Most of them were already in bloom, so I took the opportunity to capture some photos.

kapok trees, taiwan, yunlin
   
kapok trees, taiwan, yunlin 

We also visited the country road in Beihe, Tainan, which became a beautiful sight with blooming Red Kapok Trees. These trees are also known as Red Cotton Trees because their seeds, when ripe, contain white fibers similar to cotton. The wood of this tree is very soft and not particularly useful.

Kapok trees are widely planted in Southeast Asian countries, and their blooming season is very short, lasting only two weeks. County Highway No. 90 in Tainan is the main spot for viewing these flowers. In 2015, this road was listed as one of the top 15 most magical streets shaded by flowers and trees in the world, attracting many tourists each year. Tainan is also well known for its Lotus Farms, and two years ago we visited Beihe Lotus Park and the nearby lotus fields.

kapok tree, tainan, beihe, taiwan   

kapok tree, tainan, beihe, taiwan

kapok tree, tainan, beihe, taiwan

kapok tree, tainan, beihe, taiwan

kapok tree, tainan, beihe, taiwan

Another place we discovered while driving to Beigang was in the vicinity of Anbei village (安北) in Yuanchang Township. We noticed a few places with bald pine trees. There are several small forests, which are easy to spot during this season due to their changing colors.

Yuanchang is a small township in Yunlin County, and its origins date back to the Ming Dynasty when ancestors came to Taiwan to establish local settlements. The most important surnames in the area are Fu, Huang, Wu, and Su. Yuanchang got its name from a person named Fu Yuan-chang from Fujian, who was honored for his contributions to the community. Agriculture is the main industry here, with peanuts being the primary agricultural product, accounting for 28% of the peanut production on the island. Garlic and rice are also popular crops.


bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

Lastly, we stopped by Gongzhuang 1st Street near Chanjiazhuang (陳家莊), where we also spotted bald pine trees. There are more places to see bald pines in the surrounding countryside, although providing the exact addresses is difficult. I will do my best to explain their locations. Most of these places don't offer many attractions, but they are still worth visiting for the natural beauty they offer.

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

bald pines, taiwan, yunlin

Address:

1. Yunlin Kapok trees: 633雲林縣虎尾鎮145縣道虎尾木棉花道
2. Tainan Kapok Trees: 732台南市白河區玉豐里林初埤白河林初埤木棉花道

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