Our Weekend Family Activities

This time, we found ourselves back in Yunlin thanks to some free tickets we received for a baking class. Since we had two, my husband and I went together. The class was held in Douliu, so we headed there from Huwei in the morning. 

The baking class we attended focused on making a taro roll and lasted about two hours. After watching the process, we got to sample a slice of the freshly baked cake. I felt like I might have been the only one with baking experience - many participants asked basic questions, which made me wonder if fewer Taiwanese people bake at home since street food is so readily available. Perhaps, like us, some people attended simply because of the free vouchers.

After the class, we decided to explore some local foods we had seen in a YouTube video. One dish was squid mouth soup - not my cup of tea! I just wanted to see it in person, while my husband was brave enough to taste it. On the other hand, the rou zao fan (minced pork rice) was quite good and more to my taste.

Given the chilly weather, we craved something warm for dessert. We ordered a sweet soup filled with red beans, mung beans, barley, jelly noodles, and tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). It was my first time trying this combination, and to my surprise, I liked it! In the past, I couldn’t stand beans in desserts, but I’ve grown to appreciate them. We also enjoyed some boiled mochi, which was delicious.

On our way back, we passed through Douliu Old Street, where hundreds or maybe even thousands of lanterns lit up the night. This year, the lantern designs were different from previous years, giving the street a fresh look. 

After lunch, we returned to pick up our son and drove back for his DIY gingerbread house activity.

The gingerbread house kit included cookies, icing sugar, and decorations - both edible ones like candies and non-edible ones like a little Christmas tree and a Santa Claus figurine. The atmosphere was lively and filled with excited kids. A little girl in front of us seemed more interested in munching on her cookie than decorating it, but she was much younger than our son, so she probably didn’t quite understand the task.

These DIY gingerbread house activities and various baking classes are held every Saturday and Sunday, at least for this year, each time with different designs and courses.

The weather was a chilly 8°C that day, but it was even colder back at home in Toufen, where it dropped to 5°C! Taiwan’s cold can feel much harsher than Poland’s because there are no heaters, making winter feel especially miserable. Although the cold season here is short, I’m sure many people welcome it after enduring the intense summer heat.

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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!

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2024 Christmas in Tainan

Travel Date: 2024/11/09

It just so happened that we found ourselves back in Tainan, and to my delight, Christmas decorations were already set up in front of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Store. I haven't seen any other shopping malls quite ready for Christmas yet, but this one is always the most beautifully decorated, bringing so much joy to my heart. 

Since we were already in the area, we decided to check out Blueprint Creative Park and the Tainan Judicial Museum. The museum visit took longer than expected - it's actually quite spacious inside! The volunteers there are incredibly friendly, and we even met one who, coincidentally, comes from my husband's hometown. Not just the same town, but even the same street! He had moved to Tainan about 20 years ago. Lucky him, I thought - I wish I could (once again) live in Tainan. 

Living up north now, the thing I miss the most is the food and the warm weather. Just recently, Miaoli had strong winds and temperatures dropped to around 13°C, making people break out their winter jackets. But in Tainan, we were greeted with a balmy 30°C, and I happily wore shorts once again. It's amazing how a 200 km distance can make such a huge difference in Taiwan's climate.

Even though we lived in Tainan before and have passed by these attractions many times, we never visited them until now. That’s the thing about Tainan - it’s easy to get swept up in its rich history and vibrant culture, and there’s always something new to discover. Honestly, one day is never enough to truly experience everything this city has to offer.

At the Judicial Museum, I even received a birthday gift! In November, they had a special offer: if you show your ID at the gift shop and your birthday falls within the month, you get a small present. I was delighted to receive some cookies. Somehow, everything in Tainan makes me happy - maybe it’s the warm weather or the friendly people, but it definitely feels like a world apart from living up north.

I introduced the Blueprint Creative Park and Judicial Museum in a separate post LINK

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