A Day at Jianhushan Fancy World (劍湖山世界): Exploring Yunlin’s Iconic Theme Park

Travel Date: 2024/11/30

A year ago, we visited Lihpao Land in Taichung, but this year we had a chance to explore a different theme park - Jianhushan Fancy World (劍湖山世界) in Gukeng, Yunlin. 

Our visit to Jianhushan Fancy World wasn’t just a family outing - it was part of a Family Day event organized by the company my husband works for. We were excited to spend the day together, exploring the park and enjoying some time off.

However, compared to last year’s event at Lihpao Land, this year’s gathering felt a bit more modest. The event was on a much smaller scale, and it seemed like many employees chose not to attend. 

One perk of the event was the opportunity to try the food at the hotel within the park. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to our expectations. While it wasn’t terrible, the food was just average - nothing particularly memorable. 

Despite the smaller scale and average food, it was still a fun day for us as a family. We had plenty of time to explore the park, and our son had a blast trying out rides he couldn’t enjoy last year. 

Opened in 1988, it’s one of Taiwan’s older theme parks, known for its unique attractions and scenic views across the Chianan Plain.

The park spans about 60 hectares (150 acres), and a full-day adult ticket costs NT$999. It opens at 9 AM, though some rides don’t start until 9:30 or 10 AM.

One of the park’s standout features is the longest outdoor escalator in Taiwan, making the uphill walk a bit easier - though you’ll still want to wear comfortable shoes! The park is also home to the towering Sky Wheel, an 88-meter (289-foot) Ferris wheel with 50 passenger capsules offering stunning panoramic views, especially at sunset.  

Another major attraction is the park’s collection of thrilling roller coasters:  

- Diving Machine G5 - A B&M dive coaster and a clone of Oblivion from Alton Towers in the UK.  

- Insane Speed – A floor-less roller coaster by B&M, offering an exhilarating ride.  

We visited at the end of November, so the water park section was closed (it only operates from late June to the end of August). However, the upside of visiting in the off-season was the lack of crowds. Unlike Lihpao Land, where long lines can be the norm, we didn’t have to wait for most rides. In fact, it was so empty that we often went on rides multiple times without any wait.  

By the afternoon, some attractions had only a single person riding. The Kiddie Land, which features a merry-go-round, a ball pit, and a small roller coaster, was one of the busier areas, but even there, it wasn’t really that crowded.

Our day started with a bit of a shock. We unknowingly chose a ride that swung high into the sky and swayed side to side. While I found it manageable, our son was terrified and nearly in tears. It took some time to convince him to try other rides.  

We eventually made our way to Kiddie Land, which was much slower-paced - maybe too slow for me, but perfect to help him regain confidence. After some gentle rides, he worked up the courage to try the Pirate Ship. Initially reluctant, he ended up loving it so much that he asked to ride it three more times!  

As the day went on, we tried nearly every ride suitable for kids over 120 cm, which gave us more options than last year when our son was shorter.

The park has plenty of food stalls and restaurants, but they felt deserted during our visit. 

Another thing to note: since the park is built on a hill, there’s a lot of uphill walking. From the parking lot to the entrance alone, we walked for about 15 minutes, taking several escalators. Make sure to plan for some extra walking time and wear comfortable shoes!

Is Jianhushan Fancy World worth visiting? If you’re looking for a quieter, more relaxed theme park experience, it’s a great option. The lack of crowds meant we could enjoy the rides without waiting, and the views from the Sky Wheel were beautiful, especially at sunset.  

However, the park does feel a bit dated, and spending an entire day here might feel repetitive, especially if you’ve already tried all the rides. By 4 PM, the park was nearly empty, and it left us wondering about its future.  

On a brighter note, Jianhushan Fancy World is a popular spot for New Year’s Eve, with a spectacular fireworks display launched from the Ferris wheel cabins. While we haven’t experienced it yet, it might be something we’ll try next year - now that our son is older and might be able to stay up until midnight!