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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Visiting Hushan Dam

Hushan Dam (湖山水庫管理中心)

Built in 2015, Hushan Reservoir is Taiwan's newest reservoir. The serene trails within the reservoir area create the impression of an ecological green corridor, offering insights into local culture, water conservancy history, and the reservoir's construction process. On days with clear weather, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Douliu Plain and even the distant coastline from both Qianshan Park and the observation deck.

Hushan Reservoir holds the distinction of being the first reservoir in Yunlin County and the initial off-trough reservoir in Taiwan. It is situated in Douliu City and Gukeng Township, Yunlin County, boasting a substantial water storage capacity of 52.18 million metric tons, ranking it tenth among reservoirs in Taiwan. Originally, appointments were required to visit the reservoir. However, in response to the leisure needs of Yunlin residents, it was opened to the public in February 2018. Stretching approximately three kilometers in length, it provides an opportunity to revel in the tranquility of nature.

The Hushan Reservoir Management Center is strategically located at the southwest entrance of Hunanba, the mountainous area where Douliu City and Gukeng Township meet in Yunlin County. The reservoir draws water from the Meilin Creek, Beigang Creek in Yunlin County, and the Qingshui Creek in Nantou County.

The Lake Management Center comprises an exhibition hall on the first floor and a multimedia room on the second floor, equipped to showcase promotional videos pertaining to the Hushan Reservoir construction project, the ecological conservation measures in the surrounding area, and the preservation and utilization of water resources.

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Yunlin Travel: Tung Flowers Festival 2020

After visiting the jacaranda tunnel in Chiayi, we continued our journey further north to Gukeng, Yunlin to see the tung park. It was fortunate (or perhaps unfortunate due to the coronavirus) that this weekend coincided with the Hakka Festival. As a result, there were many cars parked along the road and a lot of people walking in the park. We had hoped for a quieter atmosphere, but since we had already made the drive, we decided to take a walk anyway.

The park had multiple entrances, but there were signs prohibiting entry except through the main entrance. The police were present to control traffic, and everyone was required to wear a mask. Each person's temperature was checked, and we had to sanitize our hands with alcohol before entering. Additionally, we were asked to provide our basic information by signing a form. Taiwan is truly doing an excellent job in preventing the further spread of the virus.

Hebaoshan, named after its mountain shape resembling a lotus flower, was once used by the Japanese to plant coffee trees during their occupation, earning it the nickname "coffee hill." As coffee trees require partial sunlight, over 100 tung trees with high economic value were planted for shading, transforming the area into a forest. After the orange and coffee flowers bloom in March and April each year, the tung flowers begin to bloom.

The Hebao Mountain hiking trail has multiple entrances and exits, with the most popular one located near the parking lot of Dimu Temple. The elevation of this mountain is not high, but the view is still spectacular, overlooking the Douliu and Gukeng areas, as well as National Highway No. 3 and Gukeng Expressway. After descending a steep section from the mountaintop, you can reach the Cilong Palace mountain climbing entrance at the other end of the trail, and then take the 149 A line to return to the starting point. The entire journey takes about two hours, and you can also visit Tonghua Park and the ground along the way.

The Yunlin County Government and Gukeng Township Office held the 2020 Yunlin Hakka Tung Flower Festival on April 11-12. In accordance with the precautions related to the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic, large-scale performances and group gatherings were canceled this year. All activities were conducted in open-air and well-ventilated environments. The Gukeng Township Office stated that Tonghua Park, which spans approximately 4 hectares, can usually accommodate thousands of people for leisure and flower viewing. However, to comply with epidemic prevention measures, the maximum number of participants for outdoor activities was limited to 500, and strict controls were implemented.

See also: Jacaranda Tunnel

See also: Pink Shower Trees Path

Address:

646雲林縣古坑鄉荷苞山桐花公園

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Visiting Temples in Yunlin

There are plenty of temples scattered throughout Taiwan, but not all of them may be considered interesting or captivating. However, I'd like to introduce two temples in Yunlin that I found beautiful.

Cih Guang Temple (劍湖山慈光寺)

Cih Guang Temple is a Japanese-style temple located in the mountains of Gukeng. In the vicinity, you can also find coffee shops where you can enjoy the beautiful mountain view. The architectural style of this temple differs from the ones I have typically visited. It may not be as colorful, but the presence of the lake and elephant statues guarding the entrance creates a serene and picturesque atmosphere.

While there isn't much information available about this temple, and it may be perceived as just one among the many temples in Taiwan, I still found it to be a peaceful and beautiful place. Perhaps over time, the excitement of visiting temples might fade, similar to how one might not feel inclined to visit numerous churches if they have already seen plenty in the past.

Chifa Matsu Temple (持法媽祖宮)

Chifa Matsu Temple in Huwei is a temple that I find exceptionally beautiful. This is my second visit, as I greatly admire this place. Although I don't possess much knowledge about Buddhism, I appreciate the unique architectural designs of the buildings within the temple.

Surrounding the temple, you can observe various plants, a small fish pond, and stunning water lilies. The plants found in the temple grounds are quite expensive and plentiful.

Additionally, the temple is encompassed by rice fields, which was a novel sight for me. While I felt excited to see the rice fields, my husband found my enthusiasm a bit peculiar, as he perceives rice as a common plant among many others.

During our visit, there was another part of the temple being constructed on the opposite side of the road, although it remained unfinished at the time.

Address: 

1. Chifa Matsu Temple: 632雲林縣虎尾鎮西園46號持法媽祖宮
2. Cih Guang Temple: 646雲林縣古坑鄉劍湖山慈光寺

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