When Hsinchu Turns Pink: Taiwan’s Stunning Cherry Blossom Season

Travel Date: 2025/03/02

Because of my husband's work, we haven’t had time to go out on weekends. Even though it’s been nearly a month since we came back from Poland, this was our first time going out sightseeing. Finally, we decided to take a trip on March 1st, but when we arrived in the mountains of Miaoli, the cherry trees had already lost their blossoms.

A year without cherry blossoms feels like a year wasted, so the next day, we hopped on our scooter and rode up the mountains again—this time to Hsinchu. We passed by Beipu, and the road leading to the cherry farm was beautiful, with mountain views and even some cherry trees along the way.

I would recommend taking a scooter, as the mountain roads are quite narrow, and encountering oncoming cars can be challenging. There was a traffic jam well before the entrance to the farm because the road only allows one-way traffic for cars. If you don’t arrive early, you may struggle to find parking and end up waiting in the car for a long time.

The road is steep, so parking at a distance and climbing up would still be quite far. Once you arrive, you still have to climb several levels to reach the best viewpoints, so unless you’re in great shape, it can be quite tough.

If you're reading this soon after publication, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom just two days ago (March 2), so you still have a chance to see them before the season ends!

The entrance fee to Shan Shang Ren Jia is 200 NT per person and cannot be exchanged for anything. However, we later noticed that the ticket allows you to participate in a lottery. With the number of visitors, though, you’d have to be very lucky to win. And what’s the prize? A stay at their accommodation—only 20 winners in total.

Inside, we enjoyed plenty of beautifully pink cherry trees. The trees are planted on different levels and surrounded by tea bushes. There’s a restaurant and a few resting areas, though the prices seemed quite high—220 NT for tea felt a bit extreme to me.

The area is quite large, so you can easily spend two hours walking around. It’s located high in the mountains, and in one of the gift shop photos, we even saw a picture of the area covered in snow!

Shan Shang Ren Jia sits at an altitude of 1,200 meters and covers 5 hectares. It’s close to the Sanshan National Scenic Area and is surrounded by towering Yoshino cedars. Nearby, farmers grow peaches, plums, persimmons, and cold-resistant organic vegetables. Sometimes, you can even see a rolling sea of clouds in the distance, making the scenery truly breathtaking.

The weather was absolutely beautiful when we arrived, with plenty of sunshine. We got there quite early, around 11 AM, but by noon, the sun started hiding behind the clouds. After a long period of cool weather in Taiwan, it suddenly felt super hot—and when we checked the temperature, it was 28°C!

Most of the trees had bright pink flowers, but there was also a large white cherry tree and some dark pink ones. The darker cherry blossoms seemed to be the first to bloom and the first to finish their season. There were a lot of people, so taking photos with just the trees in the background was quite difficult.

We also saw several birds. Besides ducks and chickens, there were peacocks and parrots as well!

Since there are many stairs and slopes, walking around can be tiring for older visitors. Overall, it was an amazing place to visit. When we left around 1 PM, there were still many cars waiting to enter. I definitely recommend arriving before noon when the sunshine is at its best.

On the way back, we stopped in Beipu to find lunch—crystal dumplings, noodles, and luwei. Beipu was quite packed with people, but it was also filled with Hakka foods, many of which don’t look like the typical street food you’d find outside of Hakka towns. That being said, Hakka food is usually really tasty!

That’s all for this trip! I hope you enjoyed reading about our adventure. See you in the next post!

Address: 311-41新竹縣五峰鄉大隘村23鄰468-5號

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Exploring Nature's Beauty: A Day Trip to Fengxiang Waterfall and Beipu Cold Springs

Travel Date: 2024/02/12

During the Lunar New Year holidays, our family had initially planned to visit Taipei Zoo. However, as often happens, traffic intervened and rerouted our plans. Spontaneously, we opted to head towards the mountains instead, seeking the tranquility of nature.

Exiting the highway near Hsinchu, we embarked on a familiar path towards Fengxiang Waterfall (豐鄉瀑布), a destination we had explored the previous summer. As we approached, the awe-inspiring sight of the cascading water greeted us once more. Surprisingly, we found ourselves among the few visitors, aside from a couple enjoying a serene fishing session. Engaging with the local ecosystem, we discovered fascinating insights into the fish and frogs that call this area home.

Originating from higher elevations in the mountains, the water is cool even in the summer. Unlike our previous visit, when the site bustled with activity, today we savored the solitude of our surroundings. It's no wonder families frequent this spot, considering its safety and natural playground for children. Reflecting on our past experience, I recalled capturing the essence of this place in a video during our previous visit, which you can also explore.

On our journey homeward, we made an impromptu stop at Beipu Cold Springs (北埔冷泉). Despite the chilly waters, a handful of adventurous souls braved the cold for a refreshing dip. Personally, I've never been fond of cold water, even during the warmer months. Yet, observing others revel in the river's embrace during summer made me question my resilience. Growing up in Poland, where cold waters were the norm, I never shied away. However, living in Taiwan has shifted my perspective, fostering a newfound appreciation for warmth.

With the off-season upon us, the usual bustle was absent, and the amenities typically available during summer were nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, basking in the sunlight, we relished the tranquility before bidding farewell to our serene sanctuary and journeying homeward.

Address:

1. Waterfall: 312新竹縣橫山鄉竹35鄉道旁號豐鄉瀑布

2. Cold Springs: 314新竹縣北埔鄉北埔冷泉

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Hsinchu Travel: Japanese style residence in Aboriginal Village in Taiwan

Travel Date: 2023/07/08

Driving here last time, we had to head back home after arriving in Beipu due to rainy weather.

This weekend, we decided to wake up a bit earlier and visit Chang Xueliang's Former Residence in the mountains of Wufeng Township, Hsinchu. We took the road that goes through Beipu Town and continued further into the Hsinchu Mountains, passing Shannping Old Street and several aboriginal villages. Along the road, there are many markings written in their own languages, adding to the cultural richness of the area.

Our destination was the Aboriginal Village - Qingquan Tribe in Wufeng Township. Although it's less than 50km away, it took us about 1.5 hours to drive from our home. The mountain road can be quite narrow at times, making it challenging to navigate when encountering oncoming traffic. While driving a scooter may seem easier, it can also be more dangerous due to the presence of cliffs and frequent warnings about falling stones. However, seeing several other cars driving to and from the Japanese house reassured us that it was possible to reach the destination by car.

Upon arrival, we discovered that, like many other places we visited in Taiwan, access to this spot was free of charge. The car parking area is located on the road before crossing the bridge. It's advisable not to park along the road near Chang Xueliang's Former Residence as it's a red zone, and the police frequently come to check. Adjacent to the building, there is a small public hot spring park, which we didn't have a chance to visit due to the scorching weather. The temperature was around 34 degrees Celsius, but it felt even hotter, like 40 degrees Celsius, especially around noon.

See also: Beipu Old Street

Zhang Xueliang's Former Residence (張學良故居) 

Zhang Xueliang's Former Residence  is a museum dedicated to his life in Wufeng Township, Hsinchu County.

Zhang Xueliang played a significant role in the reunification of China in 1928 following the conclusion of the Northern Expedition led by Chiang Kai-shek's National Revolutionary Army. The expedition aimed to unite the Beiyang Government under the Republic of China. However, Chiang was unwilling to collaborate with the Communist Party of China to defend the country against the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In December 1936, during the Xi'an Incident, Zhang took Chiang hostage and demanded an end to the civil war with the Communist Party and cooperation in the fight against the Japanese.

After Taiwan was handed over from Japan in 1945, Chiang imprisoned Chang for his involvement in the Xi'an Incident and placed him under house arrest in Wufeng Township, Hsinchu County from 1946 to 1957. Zhang left Taiwan in 1993 to visit his relatives in the United States. In 1995, he and his wife settled in Hawaii, where he passed away on October 14, 2001, at the age of 100.

The house where Zhang was held under house arrest was damaged by a landslide in 1963. New building was reconstructed in the southwest of the original site. 

In July 2008, the broken building underwent renovation to restore it and was opened to the public on December 12, 2008, during the 72nd anniversary of the Xi'an Inciden. The opening ceremony was attended by President Ma Ying-jeou. The house was later closed for further renovation and reopened on September 20, 2014. 

The house covers an area of approximately 150 m2. It's adorned with Zhang's original furniture and over 500 pictures donated by his two nieces. A bronze statue of Zhang and his wife is displayed in front of the historical house. 

The reconstructed former residence of Zhang Xueliang features a Japanese-style black-tiled farmhouse with a simple design that harmonizes well with the surrounding mountain scenery. The exhibition showcases various historical materials, including videos, old photos, maps, and documents, along with household items, pictures, and wall explanations, providing a vivid depiction of Zhang Xueliang's personal character and the living conditions of that era.

The building on the opposite side of the river serves as an Aboriginal museum.

Fun in the water

After exploring the site, we decided to play in the river. 

If you park in the car parking area, you'll find a large information board and a sign indicating that swimming is not allowed. In the bushes nearby, there is a small path that leads to the river. Some parts of the river can be dangerous with fast-flowing water. Just a few meters away, the water is calmer and small pools are formed with stones. 

When we arrived, we saw aborigines playing in the river. It was noticeable that they often have BBQs there, but unfortunately, they don't clean up after themselves. After a couple of minutes, they left, and we had the river to ourselves for a while. As the afternoon went on, more people arrived at the river, bringing kids to play here. Many people also camp in the car parking area, although it's technically illegal. Nonetheless, it seemed like a smart move as the car parking area is shaded with trees and provides a comfortable place to stay.

Aboriginal Museum of Wufeng Township (五峰鄉原住民族館)

Finding food was not a problem as there were several food stalls in the nearby aboriginal market. We could either walk or drive and park in the car parking area right next to it, which is what we did. Since there weren't many people when we visited, it was easy to find parking space. The market sells fruits, aboriginal ingredients such as millet wine or magao (mountain pepper), and various cooked foods like fried rice, fried noodles, Hakka noodles, and stir-fried vegetables. Considering it's a mountainous area far from the city, the prices seemed reasonable. Our food cost around 160NT.

A few kilometers away, there is also a 7-11 convenience store and a gas station.

The Museum of Aboriginal Peoples in Wufeng Township, formerly known as the Memorial Hall of the Former Residence of Zhang Xueliang, focuses on showcasing the culture of the Saisiyat and Atayal ethnic groups. The museum exhibits traditional costumes and everyday items of the aboriginal peoples, providing visitors with an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the lives and traditions of these two major ethnic groups residing in Wufeng Township.

Qingquan Falls (清泉瀑布)

We still wanted to see the nearby waterfall, which was only 2-3km away on the way back. We parked next to a church and asked a local person if that was the correct place. He assured us that we could follow the trail for a while, but it was impossible to get close to the waterfall anymore. We could only view it from a distance. We went to the trail entrance and found information stating that it had collapsed and was closed. So, unfortunately, we couldn't see the waterfall, but at least we had a great time playing in the river.

As it was already close to 4PM, we started our journey back home, considering it takes about 1.5 hours to drive, and the mountains get dark quickly. We noticed there were more cars on the road heading back compared to when we ventured out in the morning.

There is no need to come here as the trail to the waterfall has collapsed and it's no longer accessible.

Address:

1. Zhang Xueliang Former Residence: 311新竹縣五峰鄉張學良文化園區
2.  Aboriginal Museum: 311新竹縣五峰鄉五峰鄉原住民族館

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