Explore Taoyuan’s natural beauty through 17 scenic mini-tours and art journeys

▲ Taoyuan’s unique melaleuca natural landscape. (Photo provided by Taoyuan Tourism Bureau)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taoyuan’s grandest art exhibition, the “2017 Taoyuan Land Art Festival,” will take place from August 18 to September 3 in Guanyin and Bade, Taoyuan. This year’s event, themed “Discovering Landscapes in Hidden Places,” integrates exquisitely designed artworks by artists into Taoyuan’s unique natural landscapes such as fishponds and melaleuca tree-lined trails, showcasing the beauty of Taoyuan’s scenery. In addition, to allow the public to easily explore both the Land Art Festival and Taoyuan’s distinctive attractions, the Taoyuan City Government has collaborated with 12 district offices to launch 17 guided mini-tours led by local experts, offering participants an in-depth experience of Taoyuan’s diverse culture and rich landscapes.

▲ Bade Fishpond Ecological Park. (Photo provided by Taoyuan Tourism Bureau)

1. Bade Fishpond Cultural Tour (8/20): Take a stroll through Bade’s historic houses to glimpse traces of time, then visit Bade Fishpond Ecological Park and enjoy a performance by U-Theatre to leisurely appreciate the beauty of the fishponds.

2. Algal Reef Secret Realm Mini-Tour (8/19, 8/20, 8/26): Embark on an exploration of the millennia-old national treasure—Guanxin Algal Reef. Stand on the giant lotus leaves and enjoy the fun of “light-footed water walking.”

3. Bade Sky-High Adventure (8/20, 8/26, 8/27, 9/2, 9/3): Step into Zhuxiao Community to hear ancient house stories, try your hand at making tapioca pearls, create sweet memories at Chocolate Republic, wander through Bade Fishpond Ecological Park, and enjoy a carefree tour of Bade.

4. Guanyin Guangfu Community Mini-Tour Package (8/18–9/3, Saturdays & Sundays): Freely explore Guangfu Community, enjoy a farm harvest meal, experience flower drum art, and shop for local agricultural specialties.

5. Guanyin Summer Visit to Green Lotus Land Mini-Tour (8/18–9/3, Saturdays & Sundays): Admire the elegance of lotuses in the lotus garden, try your hand at grass weaving and painting, and visit Jufang Sightseeing Factory to learn about Taiwan’s quality industries.

▲ Riding on a giant lotus leaf in a lotus pond. (Photo provided by netizen lydia31122. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

6. Taoyuan: Follow the Landscapes and Discover Local Fun (8/20, 8/27): Stroll up Tiger Head Mountain to see Taiwan’s best-preserved Japanese shrine, make a practical summer mosquito-repellent pouch, and visit Taiwan’s only exclusive Land God Culture Museum.

7. Dayuan Farm Secrets and Arts Mini-Tour (8/27, 9/2): Visit Linyuanju Farm for farming experiences, step into Hechun Flower Farm to be surrounded by fragrant herbs, and enjoy the slow life at Dayuan Leisure Farm.

8. Zhongli Countryside and Landscapes: Grass Weaving Adventure in Zhiba Li (8/26, 9/2): Enjoy the village charm of Zhongli’s Jianzaili, learn traditional hand-weaving of grass crafts in Zhiba Li, and stroll through Yuanguang Zen Temple to soothe the mind.

9. Lujhu Grass Flower DIY and Land Art Tour (9/2, 9/3): Explore Lujhu’s grass flower kingdom, try your hand at DIY grass flower potted plants, and visit Caasi·Titi Amusement Park to uncover the secrets of delicious cakes.

10. Roam Anpingzhen Village – A Cultural and Ecological Journey (8/19, 8/20, 8/22, 8/30, 8/31): Start a learning journey in Anpingzhen Village by bike-sharing, try handmade art dyeing and refreshing tofu pudding, and leisurely explore Pingzhen.

▲ Taiwan’s only Land God Culture Museum. (Photo provided by Taoyuan Tourism Guide Network)

11. Explore Guishan · Experience Landscapes – Guishan Local Mini-Tour (8/20, 8/26): Visit Formosa Plastics Cultural Hall to learn about a renowned industry, and step into Xian Guang Er Cun to understand military dependents’ village history and taste its signature meals.

12. Daxi – A Light Journey Exploring Farm Life and Interests (8/19, 8/20, 8/26, 8/27, 9/2, 9/3): Discover the cultural history of Yihuo Rural Village, try your hand at making scarecrows and eco-friendly creative water rockets, and learn about the simple rural charm through traditional toys.

13. Xinwu Century Stone Weirs & Holiday Art Avenue (8/27, 8/28, 8/29, 8/30, 9/1): Stroll through the green tunnel and feel the summer breeze, visit century-old stone weirs to learn about the fishing wisdom of ancestors, and taste nostalgic seine-net fishing meals.

14. Xinwu Hakka Village Old Houses, Water Alleys & Holiday Art Avenue (8/20, 8/22, 8/24, 8/30, 8/31): Visit the Rice Story Museum, the Fanjiang Ancient Houses, meet an eco-art expert, and taste the private-dish seine-net fishing meal at the scenic spot Shihji Art Inn to understand Xinwu’s past and present.

15. Xinwu Taoyuan West Coast & Sightseeing Factories – Relaxing Fun in Taoyuan (8/19, 8/20, 8/21, 9/2, 9/3): Delve into Xinwu’s thousand-year-old algal reefs and mangrove ecology to uncover nature’s mysteries, visit Taiwan’s pride—Jufang Sightseeing Factory, and learn all about functional clothing.

16. Longtan Mini-Tour – Mugwort on the Plateau (8/20, 8/26): Enter the mugwort workshop in Gaoyuan Community to try DIY mugwort products, and enjoy guided tours of Dianzi Fishpond ecological landscapes and the Shuhe Xian Organic Farm.

17. Travel Through Peach Blossom Land · Stroll Through Yangmeili (8/19, 8/20, 8/26): Learn about Hakka old houses like Dongtang Hall, gaze up at a 750-year-old camphor tree, visit the Guo Yuan Yi Cake Museum and Qiantan Kiln Art & Creativity, and experience Yangmei’s rich history and culture.