Small Trip During the Aowanda Cherry Blossom Season: Experience Violin Making and DIY Wooden Souvenirs

▲ Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area is in full bloom with cherry blossoms. (Photo from Aowanda Information Station’s Facebook page, the same below)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area is located in Ai’ai Village, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, and is known as the “Hometown of Maple Leaves.” In March, the Aowanda Nature Education Center launched three two-day, one-night tour packages that include learning about violin making, DIY wooden souvenirs, and ecological guided tours, allowing participants to experience the beauty of Aowanda firsthand.

The Nantou Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau stated that this trip will be organized in collaboration with the Ai’ai Tribe to hold a “Maple & Violin Getaway – Indigenous Violin & Blossom Journey,” a two-day overnight theme activity.The event will take place on March 14–15, 21–22, and 28–29.Participants will be able to experience violin making, learn about tree species, create DIY wooden souvenirs, and enjoy ecological guided tours within the park. This two-day trip doesn’t require taking extra time off—participants can join at any time.

When people think of Aowanda, they often first associate it with autumn maple leaves, but the sight of cherry blossoms in spring is also incredibly beautiful. The Ai’ai Tribe, located near Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area, has in recent years been dedicated to developing the art of violin craftsmanship. Pine and spruce are commonly used woods for making violins, both valued for being hard yet lightweight, having high resistance to string pressure, and producing clear resonance when struck. Maple, on the other hand, is dense with wood grain often showing bird’s-eye or fiddleback patterns, offering excellent acoustic properties. Both of these key woods for making violins — “Taiwan spruce” and “maple” — are grown within the park.

Participation in this activity requires online registration. The fee is NT$4,300 per person, which includes accommodation, meals, entrance tickets, and material costs. The itinerary includes visits to a violin-making workshop, DIY wooden souvenirs, and ecological guided tours in the park. A group discount is available for four or more participants at NT$4,000 per person. For event details and to download the brochure, please visit the Taiwan Mountain Trails website.http://nc.forest.gov.twFor any questions regarding the event, please call 049-2974499.