Travel Date: 2025/03/01
First things first, don’t be surprised by the cherry blossoms! This trip happened at the beginning of March, even though I’m only writing about it now. It took a while to put everything together, but here it is!
The past few weeks have been crazy. We all got sick, and this time, it wasn’t just a simple cough that lasted a few days. We had high fevers, followed by unusually low temperatures, and the worst part for me? I partially lost my hearing. For a few days, I could barely hear anything... not even my own voice. Luckily, I’m finally getting better. But as if that wasn’t enough, we have other challenges to deal with...
Another reason why this blog post (and video) took so long? I had to switch to a new video editor after using the same one for two years. The new one feels way too advanced, and I’m still getting used to it. On top of that, I had several partially edited videos that I couldn’t finish in my old editor, so I had to start from scratch.
Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Nanzhuang
The cherry blossoms were in Nanzhuang, but despite it being early March, most of the trees in the mountains had already finished blooming. Only a few bright pink ones were still holding on. We also visited an aboriginal village and then made our way to the Valley of the Gods Waterfall.
We’ve been to this waterfall before, but since we were in the area, we decided to stop by again. There’s a parking lot and even some food stalls at the entrance. The trail down is short and easy to walk, so no worries—it only takes a little while to reach the viewing area. While you can’t access the water itself, you get a great view of the waterfall from a suspension bridge.
We also grabbed a meal there, but honestly, the food was pretty plain—except for the sausage, which was by far the best part!
A Scenic Drive to Xiangtian Lake Tribe
After our waterfall stop, we hit the road again, heading toward Xiangtian Lake Tribe, about a 30-minute drive away. The weather was absolutely perfect—sunny and pleasantly warm, which was rare in recent days.
Xiangtian Lake was much busier than our previous stops, with lots of people walking around. Most visitors park and take the trail around the lake, but since we’ve done that before, we decided to follow the road around it instead. The road is narrow but manageable, even for cars, as there was a nearby camping area packed with people.
Speaking of camping—I still don’t really get the appeal. It always seems way louder than just sleeping at home! But I guess a lot of people enjoy it.
After driving around the lake, we returned to the parking lot for a short walk. This area had a lot more going on compared to our earlier stops. There were plenty of food stalls, and the tea eggs were definitely a highlight. The guy selling them was a peeling master—it took him just a second to peel an egg, while I always struggle and end up breaking them. Actually, older eggs are much easier to peel, so if you’re making tea eggs, check out my recipe and don’t use fresh eggs—they’re a nightmare to peel!
We walked around for a bit, and I think if we had come in mid-February, there would have been even more cherry blossoms. Still, the area was beautiful and peaceful, and I definitely recommend visiting if you’re ever in Miaoli.
A Perfect End to the Day
By afternoon, the sun in the mountains was already fading, and we started heading home. On our way back, we spotted several wild monkeys just chilling in the trees, completely unbothered by passing cars and scooters.
When we passed through Nanzhuang, it was really busy, but we didn’t stop since we’ve been there so many times already. Honestly, I’m starting to feel like I’ve seen all of Taiwan!
That’s it for this trip! If you’re into nature, waterfalls, and peaceful walks, Miaoli is definitely worth a visit. Stay tuned for more adventures, and let’s see where the road takes us next!
