The mango green tunnel in Douliu, Yunlin County, is currently in bloom, while the aroma of Gukeng coffee and Huashan tea gardens fills the air. Such beautiful scenery and delicious treats make it worthwhile to exit the freeway when passing by National Freeway No. 2, embarking on a fresh spring adventure.
Regular travelers on National Freeway No. 2 will notice, as they approach the Douliu and Gukeng interchanges, a smiling Maitreya Buddha seated atop the mountain in the distance, giving drivers an instinctive sense of being watched over and safe. Take advantage of your weekend break to explore the traffic-free Douliu, enjoy its natural beauty, and treat your taste buds.
The Maitreya Buddha is located at Hushan Rock, a solemn and bustling place of worship. The Hushan Temple beneath it was built in the 3rd year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign during the Qing Dynasty. The temple features a two-story palatial structure, exuding grandeur. The main hall downstairs enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva, while the upper floor’s Mahavira Hall houses a Thai jade Buddha, solemn and majestic. It usually attracts many worshippers who come to pray for peace and good fortune throughout the year.
When exiting the freeway and heading toward Hushan Rock, you’ll first pass the mango tree green tunnel located along Provincial Highway 3 and County Road 158A. These mango-lined road trees, which have provided shade for 50 years, stretch approximately 2 kilometers and serve as a key leisure and cultural spot for nearby Yunlin residents. Parked along the roadside is a small Taiwan Sugar train, complete with tracks, a station, and carriages. It’s a great idea to stop here, take a stroll, and breathe in the fresh spring air. In March and April, the tender yellow mango blossoms shine brilliantly under the sunlight—perfect for photos that are sure to get plenty of likes on Facebook.
Next to the green tunnel lies the spacious and lush “Bee Story House,” where you can relax and enjoy the fragrant “Honeymoon Honey Ice Cream.” Families can visit the exhibit to learn about bee ecology, try DIY honey-based soaps, and purchase local specialties such as honey-flavored egg rolls, crackers, pork jerky, and throat lozenges.
Gukeng Coffee Aroma and Huashan Night Views
After exiting the Gukeng interchange, you simply must have a cup of coffee?! Gukeng coffee was introduced from Brazil during the Japanese colonial period. After trial plantings across Taiwan, Gukeng’s beans were found to be of the highest quality and were even offered as tribute to the Japanese emperor, earning it the nickname “Imperial Coffee.” After Japan’s defeat in the war, most Gukeng coffee farms were abandoned. In 2003, Yunlin County Government held the first “Taiwan Coffee Festival,” reviving memories of Taiwan’s “coffee homeland.”
With the resurgence of coffee culture, over a hundred cafes of all sizes have opened in the Huashan area over the past decade. At night, climbing Huashan and looking out over the tens of thousands of twinkling lights across the vast Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan plains creates a romantic and spectacular scene. The foothills of Huashan thus boast a million-star night view that rivals Hokkaido’s.
Huashan and the nearby Dajianshan Mountain—the highest peak in Yunlin at its back—stand side by side amid undulating ridges ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters in elevation. The area is dotted with tea plantations, bamboo forests, pineapples, citrus orchards, and passion fruit farms, offering pleasant scenery. As a result, Huashan is bustling with early morning hikers enjoying forest walks and workouts, boosting its reputation. The county government has also invested in public facilities, developing 13 trails with over 20 routes under the name “Literary Trails,” making Huashan a symbol of health and vitality.
Low-Key Architecture with High-End Leisure Standards
Nestled within the lush greenery of the Guizitou Hiking Trail, a new spot called “Huashan Guzhi” has been built with a minimalist concrete and glass design, embracing a low-key luxury aesthetic. Through varied architectural perspectives and the interplay of light and shadow, visitors can vividly sense the passage of time. Hidden transitions between people, scenery, and environment can be found around the pond, seating areas, rooftops, rooms, and corridors—offering visually transparent spaces with a grounded, horizontal feel.
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