Chiayi plum blooming - Meishan Park

Meishan Park (梅山公園)

We returned to Meishan, Chiayi to see the plum blossoms, and the park was crowded with people. The car parks were full, and many people had to park along the road even quite far away. Seeing such a large crowd on a Tuesday, I can't imagine how crowded it would be on the weekend. Unfortunately, the air quality was still poor, and only a small part of the sky was actually blue for a few minutes. However, the trees were adorned with beautiful white flowers that emitted a delightful fragrance.

Initially, we had planned to visit another location to see plums and cherry blossoms today. However, that place was a one-hour drive deeper into the mountains, and by the time we left Meishan park, it was already 2 PM. It wasn't the best timing to venture into the higher mountains. We then decided to visit a place with animals in Minxiong, but unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived. It felt a little disappointing to have driven all the way there for nothing. This could have been avoided if my husband had checked the opening hours earlier.

Address:

603嘉義縣梅山鄉梅仔山9-1號梅山公園

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Countryside views in Taiwan: Bald cypress in Tainan

Lately, it's starting to feel more like Polish autumn outside. Some trees are turning yellow, orange, and even red. While living in Hsinchu, it was quite normal to see plenty of cypress, maples, plums, and cherry blossoms during this season. However, it's rare to see that living in the south of Taiwan. The weather in Tainan, even during winter, doesn't get cold enough for the trees to change color.

A few days ago, we went to Meiling to see the plum blossoms and Baihe to see the maple trees. This time, we're back in Liujia to see the cypress trees. We've been here a couple of times in the past two months. It's nice to see the trees in different seasons and observe how the leaves change colors. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and people under quarantine, we're not venturing out to busy places, especially going north. Even when going out on weekdays and visiting smaller places like Liujia, there were still plenty of people around. Tour buses even come here. Just a month ago, it wasn't as common to see people wearing masks outdoors, except at certain events where it was necessary. But now, nearly everyone has a mask on.

Address:

734台南市六甲區縱貫公路六甲區縱

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Tainan Travel: Maples of Hongye Park

Living in the South, it's difficult to see red maples or cherry blossoms like we used to see in Hsinchu. Sometimes I miss the views we had in the north, but definitely not the weather. Currently, the temperature in Tainan is over 20 degrees, and it feels great (except at night). We haven't had much time to travel far and enjoy the winter scenery, so I've been searching for the nearest possible places. Some time ago, I came across Honge Park in Baihe, although my husband was a bit reluctant to go there. Especially with his constantly changing job and different shifts, it's been challenging. The working culture in Taiwan, especially for engineers, is really tough, and it's even worse the closer you get to TSMC. We're also constantly looking for different apartments to rent or buy, but the prices in Tainan are crazy. Often, we find places that are more expensive and in worse condition than what we saw in Hsinchu.

Staying at home can be boring, but with the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, it doesn't feel safe to travel to busy places. We've seen plum blossoms lately, and even on weekdays, it was still quite crowded. Not knowing what else to do, we finally decided to go to Baihe. It's less than an hour's drive from our place. However, our car navigation system took us on a different road than the actual park entrance. The road was small and very steep, but it was only half a kilometer away, so we parked on the roadside and walked to the park. Unfortunately, it's already the middle of January, and most of the maple leaves have already fallen. There are very few trees left with orange/red leaves. However, at the top of the park, near the actual entrance and car parking area, there is a beautiful big maple tree that is still turning orange.

Hongye Park (紅葉公園) 

As Tainan has a warm climate, it's rare to see mountainsides covered in red maple leaves during winter. However, due to the higher altitude, such scenes can be enjoyed at Hongye Park in Guanziling. The lower temperatures at this elevation cause the leaves to turn from green to red. The sight of Hongye Park filled with yellow and red leaves is usually seen in late December, and the park has become a must-visit place for many winter tourists. In recent years, the park has also created a butterfly-friendly environment by planting various nectar plants, attracting different butterfly species, including purple butterflies.

Address:

732台南市白河區關仔嶺溫泉區紅葉公園

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