Exploring the Pumpkin Tunnel at Miaoxiang Ranch - Miaoli Travel

Travel Date: 2026/05/16

One of the things I absolutely love about living in Taiwan is how easy it is to discover seasonal surprises just a short trip from home. Usually, spring means chasing cherry blossoms or tung blossoms, but this weekend my husband and I decided to do something a little bit different. We went to Zaoqiao Township in Miaoli County to catch the annual Zaoqiao Pumpkin Festival (造橋南瓜季).

I had seen photos of this place online on Facebook, but experiencing it in person was something completely different. It was colorful, beautiful, and honestly a little bit mind-blowing to see how many types of pumpkins actually exist!

About the Zaoqiao Pumpkin Festival

The festival is an annual tradition held here in Miaoli, running from early May through early June when the pumpkin harvest is at its absolute peak. Zaoqiao’s hilly terrain and well-drained soil make it the perfect place for growing incredibly sweet edible pumpkins, but the festival has turned into a major seasonal attraction because of one special spot: Miaoxiang Ranch (苗翔牧場).

During the festival period, the entire ranch opens its doors to the public completely free of charge. In Taiwan, where so many seasonal flower and farm attractions charge an entry fee, that feels especially generous!

When you arrive at the ranch, the first thing that catches your eye is a huge, bright orange pumpkin display right at the entrance. It's the ultimate photo spot and everyone was queueing up to take pictures with it.

But the real highlight of the festival is walking through the spectacular Pumpkin Tunnel.

It’s a massive arched trellis stretching for over 100 meters, completely covered in lush green vines. Hanging right above your head are hundreds of pumpkins in every shape, size, and color imaginable.

I definitely did not expect to see so much variety!

Aside from the classic bright orange pumpkins, there were white ones, cream-colored ones, green striped ones, and even miniature pumpkins that looked like spinning tops or little pears. Some of the giant pumpkins hanging there looked so heavy that I kept wondering how the vines could support them, but everything is perfectly maintained and totally safe to walk under.

Walking through the shade of the tunnel with the green leaves filtering the bright May sunshine felt so peaceful.  

Since the festival takes place on a real, functioning dairy ranch, there is plenty to do even after you finish walking through the tunnel.

Normally, Miaoxiang Ranch is a popular spot for families because it has a really nice, down-to-earth farm atmosphere. It’s not over-commercialized at all. They have cows, chickens, horse. 

Inside the indoor exhibition area, local farmers set up stalls selling fresh agricultural products, and they even sell freshly harvested pumpkins that you can buy to take home for cooking.

Weekends can get incredibly busy with families and tour groups. If you want to take photos in the tunnel without too many people in the background, I highly recommend arriving early in the morning.

If you are looking for a fun spring weekend escape in Miaoli, this is definitely a place worth visiting!

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Shiyun Temple Trip - Shitan, Miaoli Cherry Blossoms

Travel Date: 2026/02/15

The weather was absolutely beautiful, and with a week-long holiday just beginning, it would have been a pity to stay at home. The sunshine was warm but gentle, the sky was clear, and the air felt fresh — the kind of day that almost invites you to go somewhere.

We decided to visit a temple in Shitan, about an hour’s drive from our home. The journey itself was already a treat. Along the way, we started spotting cherry blossoms here and there — small hints of pink scattered across the hills. But once we arrived, we were amazed. There were so many trees in full bloom, covered in soft pink flowers. It felt like stepping into a spring painting.

The temple, surrounded by mountains and blossoms, looked especially peaceful that day. With the flowers gently swaying in the breeze and the bright blue sky above, it was the perfect way to begin our holiday.

Xieyun Temple (協雲宮)

Xieyun Temple is located on the Bajiaodong mountain range at the border of Shitan and Gongguan. Built along the mountainside at an elevation of over 700 meters, it's a temple that integrates both Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The main deity worshipped here is Guanyin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion).

According to local elders, legend says that water once naturally flowed from a rock wall at this site, gradually forming a pond. One day, an elderly woman passed by. Seeing the clear water, she drank from it to quench her thirst. She was also suffering from painful sores on her feet, so she washed them in the water. That night, Guanyin appeared to her in a dream. When she woke the next morning, her sores had miraculously healed. News of this miracle quickly spread, and believers flocked to the site. People then decided to build a small thatched shrine called “Guanyin Pavilion,” which later became the predecessor of Xieyun Temple. This occurred in the second year of the Guangxu reign (1876).

Xieyun Temple sits beside Bajiaodong Mountain, which is one of the scenic spots of the “Three-Tiered Green Terraces” (San Tai Die Cui), one of the Eight Scenic Views of Miaoli. Its location is elevated and offers magnificent scenery. Under a clear blue sky, one can gaze far into the distance: layers of green mountains and competing peaks stretch across the horizon. The twelve townships of Miaoli can be seen at a glance. In autumn and winter, clouds and mist swirl around the mountains, creating an atmosphere described as, “Deep in the clouds, one knows not where — only within these mountains.” Poets, scholars, and those concerned with the fate of their country all find special inspiration here.

The temple grounds are planted with azaleas, cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, poinsettias, and other seasonal flowers. In every season — spring, summer, autumn, and winter — visitors can come up the mountain to admire different kinds of blooms, each offering its own beautiful scenery.

A road beside the temple allows both people and vehicles to reach another temple, Dayuanjue Temple. One downhill road toward Gongguan leads to Guanyin Temple, while another road toward Shitan leads into Shitan Township.

It's also said that about a hundred years ago, a woman passing by the present site of Xieyun Temple suddenly suffered severe abdominal pain. In desperation, she drank from a clear spring in a nearby hollow. Unexpectedly, the pain stopped. Later, she returned with offerings to burn incense and give thanks for the healing water. The story spread from one person to another, and eventually local elders suggested building a temple together. It was completed in the eighth year of the Guangxu reign (1882), and Xieyun Temple became a place where people worshipped and collected sacred spring water.

A man named Peng Shengbo later moved the deities worshipped in his home — the Three Benevolent Lords and Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), the Holy King who opened up Taiwan — to this temple. After Taiwan’s retrocession, the temple underwent two renovations and now stands in impressive form.

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Bald Cypress Secret Spot in Sanwan, Miaoli

Travel Date: 2025/11/16

We clearly arrived ahead of peak season this time. Last year, when we visited in early January, the bald cypress trees were already nearly bare. This year we went in mid-November, expecting some autumn colors—but the trees were still completely green. Still, it was a warm, free Sunday, so we decided to take a spontaneous trip.

Honestly, this autumn has felt unusually hot. Wearing shorts in northern Taiwan in November still surprises me. We do get sudden cool days—sometimes a dramatic near 20°C drop—but they usually only last a day or two before the warm weather returns.

If you’re searching for a peaceful place to enjoy late-autumn and winter scenery, the bald cypress forest in Sanwan is a beautiful choice — and it’s completely free to visit.

From November to January, the trees normally shift into warm tones of gold, yellow, and orange-red. When the timing is right, the reflections in the water look like a scene from a painting.

More than 200 bald cypress trees surround the lake, with paths weaving between them. You can also climb up to a few viewing spots on the hills for a higher perspective. Since there wasn’t much color yet this November, we stayed at the lower paths and enjoyed walking among the trees.

The lake is full of ducks—several species, actually. 

The access road is very narrow—only enough space for one car—so take it slow. Most people leave their cars at the entrance of the alley and walk the remaining path. It’s about a 30–40 minute round trip, and there are some slopes, but the trail itself is lovely and relaxing.

There is a small parking area closer to the cypress trees, though reaching it can take longer because passing oncoming vehicles is tricky. Riding a scooter is much more convenient.

If you prefer not to walk, private cars near the alley entrance offer shuttle rides. This is especially helpful for families with young kids or elderly travelers.

Group tours are also available, but buses can only stop by the main road, so there’s still a 1-km walk to the site.

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A Day Trip Through Miaoli: Strawberries, Oil Mines, and Hakka Culture

Travel Date: 2025/11/07

Strawberry season is coming, so we took a short trip to Dahu in Miaoli to check on the fruits. Surprisingly, even though it’s already November, the strawberries weren’t ready yet (though I've recently seen some for sale). However, that didn’t stop us from enjoying the area - there were still plenty of strawberry-infused foods, snacks, drinks, and desserts to try. From strawberry sausages to strawberry wine, the entire town feels dedicated to celebrating the berry even before the fields turn red.

After Dahu, we headed to an old oil refinery preserved as a free museum. We explored the indoor exhibitions, but didn’t wander outdoors for long. As soon as we tried to climb the stairs outside, a killing bee (giant hornet) appeared out of nowhere and successfully scared us back inside. With posted warnings about venomous snakes and aggressive bees all around, we weren’t sure how safe it was to walk deeper into the hills, so we kept our exploration short.

The final stop on our trip was the Taiwan Hakka Culture Museum, conveniently located on the way home. The building is huge and filled with old photographs, cultural displays, and historical information. The best part for us, however, was probably the interactive game called “throwing fireworks on a tower”—a traditional activity that kids and adults can enjoy. It was a lighthearted way to end a long day of sightseeing.

If you’re planning a day trip in central Taiwan, these three spots make a great combination of food, history, and culture.

Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center (大湖草莓文化館)

Dahu is known as the Strawberry Capital of Taiwan, with more than 500 hectares of strawberry fields—around 80% of the country’s total production. Even though the strawberries weren’t ready yet during our visit, the Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center is absolutely still worth a stop.

On the ground floor, you’ll find an impressive range of strawberry-themed products: wine, jams, vinegar, pudding, dried strawberries, strawberry tofu snacks, strawberry sausages, and even silk quilts made by local farmers. It’s the perfect spot to pick up unique souvenirs.

Head up to the second floor for the Screening Room, where short films introduce Dahu’s agricultural history and nearby attractions. Groups can also book a 15-minute introductory video.

The third floor features the Strawberry Ecology Exhibition, where visitors can learn how strawberries are grown, harvested, bred, and managed. Many of the displays are interactive or life-like, making it a fun and educational area for kids.

Finally, the fifth floor opens up to the Sky Garden, filled with colorful flowers and offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Dahu countryside.

Overall, the center is extremely family-friendly, and even without fresh strawberries, you can really immerse yourself in the rich “strawberry culture” that defines Dahu.

Taiwan Oil Mine Exhibition Hall (台灣油礦陳列館)

This site marks the first place in Taiwan where oil was discovered—and it remains one of the oldest still-producing oil fields in the world. The exhibition hall traces the entire journey from early discovery to modern extraction, combining historical artifacts with clear, science-focused displays.

You’ll learn about the Qing Dynasty discovery of oil in Chuhuangkeng, its development during Japanese rule, and later operations under CPC Corporation. Old photographs and documents reveal what a lively, booming oil village the area once was.

One of the highlights is a virtual cable-car ride that takes visitors “into” the oil mine to experience what life was like in the 1960s.

There’s also a cave-themed passage explaining how oil forms underground, featuring real rock cores taken from some of Taiwan’s deepest drilling projects.

Throughout the exhibition, you’ll find large drilling machines from different eras, hands-on games, and animated demonstrations showing how oil is extracted and processed. You can even try pipeline-inspection equipment and learn how modern oil transport is monitored.

Other interactive sections include miniature offshore platforms, VR deep-sea drilling, and an interactive map of CPC’s global operations.

Despite its historical setting, the museum feels surprisingly modern and engaging—perfect even for visitors with no background in geology or mining.

Note that the outdoor area is home to local wildlife, and warning signs for venomous snakes and aggressive bees are posted throughout. 

Taiwan Hakka Culture Museum (臺灣客家文化館)

This museum is one of the largest cultural centers dedicated to Hakka heritage in Taiwan. Its striking architecture is paired with a thoughtfully designed interior that blends history, folk customs, interactive learning, and kid-friendly exhibits.

Inside, you’ll find spacious exhibition halls filled with old photographs, farming tools, traditional clothing, and stories of Hakka migration. Interactive installations help visitors explore the Hakka language, festivals, rituals, and aspects of everyday life.

There are also family-friendly zones where kids can learn through play, along with beautiful outdoor spaces that are perfect for taking photos or enjoying a short walk.

The unexpected highlight of our visit was the firework-throwing tower game, where you aim “firework” bags at a target - a fun and much safer version of the traditional activity.

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