Travel Date: 2018/11/04
We went out in search of the first signs of autumn, but it seems we were a little too early. The trees are still fully green, with only a few having orange/red leaves.
The weather isn't as hot anymore, and I had the crazy idea to drive a scooter from Hsinchu to Taoyuan. So, we packed what we needed and took our baby, and started our trip.
Shimen Reservoir (石門水庫風景區)
First, we arrived at Shimen Reservoir. The entrance fee for a car is unknown to me, but for a scooter, it only cost 30 TWD. Shimen Reservoir looks beautiful, with many maple trees, although they were still green. I hope to go back there in a few weeks to see the true beauty of autumn in Taiwan.
Before, we had been to this reservoir twice. The first time, we visited an abandoned theme park known as Buddha's World. The second time, we admired the beauty of Sanmin's Bat Cave, which has a nice waterfall and isn't as crowded with tourists.
Shihmen has many attractions to see around. The area is quite busy, and before the entrance, we came across a small street market. On the reservoir grounds, you can find some restaurants and coffee shops. You can also try aboriginal food such as sticky rice in a bamboo tube.
Shihmen offers many maple trees, which unfortunately are still green at this time. You can also check the map for places to see around this reservoir.
See also: Daxi Old Street
Bald Pine Avenue (落羽松大道)
From Shihmen, we drove to Daxi to see the Bald Pine Avenue. The trees have already started changing colors, but the best time to visit is in the beginning of winter.
On the way home, we noticed a lake in Longtan District. Since we were already there, we decided to stop by and walk around the place. The lake is known for the Buddhist Temple located on a small island in the center. It is also a venue for dragon boat races.
The Nantian Temple (龍潭南天宮) was built in 1972 to promote prosperity and tourism in the village. Now, the temple is one of the best places for pilgrimage and relaxation. The main hall is for worshipping the Taoist Deity - Guansheng, who is a symbol of loyalty and honor.
On the way from Daxi to Longtan Lake, you can also see many bald pines and maple trees growing near the road. Additionally, on the way to Xinpu, I saw a small forest with bald pines. It's a pity that it's still too early for the trees to change color; it could have been a really beautiful view everywhere.
The last stop on our 7-hour-long trip was Xinpu. I wanted to see the drying persimmons one more time. This time, there were many more people, including a Vietnamese woman wearing traditional clothing and posing among the fruits.
I wrote about Drying Persimmons in Taiwan before, welcome to visit my other post for more informations.
