This year, we also visited the Meiling Scenic Area to see the plum blossoms. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day, not ideal for taking pictures. Instead of riding scooters, we drove a car this time since it was a long distance and the weather felt colder compared to last year. It seems like we came a little too early this year as the plum trees hadn't fully bloomed yet. Only a few trees had half-opened flowers, while others had only a few single flowers. Before we went, I checked the news and saw only one picture showing the most blooming tree (remember not to trust everything you see). Even though it was a Monday, there were quite a lot of people, mostly elderly individuals.
Meiling Scenic Area (梅嶺風景區)
Meiling Scenic Area (梅嶺風景區) is situated in the bay hills of Nanxi District, ranging from 500 to 1100 meters above sea level. It is an open mountain area with various trails at different levels. Each season brings its own beauty to this area. In winter, you can witness the mountains covered in plum blossoms. The blooming period usually starts in mid-December and continues until January of the following year. Summer is the season of fireflies, and the Wulong Trail is particularly lively during this time. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons in Meiling, as the hiking trails are adorned with flowers, and the favorable climate attracts many hikers. This place is also famous for its plum dishes, such as plum chicken soup, vegetables in plum sauce, and steamed fish with plums.
The plum trees in Meiling were introduced and planted by the Japanese. The trees were carefully selected to suit the area. After World War II, the Japanese couldn't uproot and take away the plum trees that occupied a large hillside. The plum trees were left for the Taiwanese people to continue cultivating. Taiwanese farmers not only took care of the plum trees but also successfully developed new varieties, some of which were even imported back to Japan.
Initially, I wanted to visit a park in Guanziling to see the maple trees. However, since it was an hour's drive and my husband was hungry, we decided to go into town to find some food. On our way back, we took a smaller mountainous road that we had never driven before. Occasionally, we spotted some maple trees, although the colors weren't very vibrant. Before heading home, we checked out the bald pines once again. Thankfully, the colors had become more diverse, displaying shades of orange and red. We also met an elderly man who spoke English, which is quite rare when living in the countryside in the south. He was a Taiwanese man who had studied and lived in America before. He loved traveling and taking pictures of popular places. He even took some photos of us and added us on Facebook. I am always amazed at how tech-savvy some people in their 60s or older are, using smartphones and Facebook with ease. My father is only 50 years old and still needs my brother's help to video call me. He doesn't even use a smartphone. I guess he is still relatively young to learn it (?????).
