Stargazing in Lishan and hot spring bathing in Guguan — Enjoy the beauty of the mountains and forests at the Lishan-Guguan Tourism Season

▲ Guguan Hot Springs. (Photo / Courtesy of the Shan Shan National Scenic Area official website)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Jointly organized by the Taichung City Tourism Bureau and the Shan Shan National Scenic Area Administration, the annual "2014 Lishan-Guguan Tourism Season" is back this year. The Taichung City Tourism Bureau has specially invited international ultra-marathon runner Kevin Lin to be the spokesperson, inviting the public to take a sightseeing bus and “head up to Lishan and over to Guguan” to enjoy the beauty of the mountain wilderness, experience flower and fruit picking, and admire the starry night sky.

This year’s "2014 Lishan-Guguan Tourism Season" features two themed tour routes. From June 13 to August 29, the "Starry Nights and Fruit Picking Fun in Lishan" series launches a customized two-day sightseeing bus tour called “Journey into Lishan”: The “Taichung–Lishan Line” departs every Tuesday and Friday from the Taichung HSR Wuri Station, with pick-up and drop-off available at locations such as Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung and Taichung Railway Station. The “Taipei–Lishan Line” runs daily, picking up passengers from Exit 3 of Taipei Railway Station’s East Gate. For just NT$3,000–4,000, visitors can spend a vacation in 22°C Lishan, stay at Lishan Hotel, and enjoy guided eco-tours and stargazing.

In conjunction with the two-day sightseeing bus tour,on June 13 and August 29, a “First Departure Meet-and-Greet Bonfire Party” and a “Mountain Fruit Flavor, Delicious Delights” fruit tasting event will be held in front of Lishan Hotel Plaza. Local bands and indigenous performances will be featured, along with roast suckling pig tastings, indigenous specialty food samplings, and seasonal local fruits for visitors to enjoy.%i.e. Yongpin Award Yu Cui? %i.e. Ping Jiang’s Jiaodou Ping Cai Ao Zhao Si Yao (Photo / Courtesy of Lishan Hotel Facebook fan page)

%i.e. Yongpin Award Yu Cui? %i.e. Ping Jiang’s Jiaodou Ping Cai Ao Zhao Si Yao (Photo / Courtesy of Lishan Hotel Facebook fan page)

The “Blooming Moon over Guguan” series takes place during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. From September 6 to 7, passengers who take Bus 153 will receive a limited daily free hot spring voucher. On September 6, the “Forest Love Bath in Baxian Mountain” hiking event will start from the Guguan Hot Spring Cultural Hall, following Provincial Highway 8 into the Baxian Mountain Forest Road. The full round-trip route is 12 kilometers and is suitable for general hikers. The activity is free and has a limit of 300 participants. Simply sign up to receive one free hot spring voucher.

On the morning of September 7, a free “Blooming Moon, Delicious Flavors” creative cooking competition will be held. Teams of two are required, with a limit of 15 teams. Couples, lovers, or friends may form a team. Participants will have ninety minutes to prepare a three-dish, one-soup meal, with each dish required to include rainbow trout and local fruits or vegetables. Judging criteria are appearance (25%), creativity (30%), taste (25%), and cooking method (20%). The top three and three honorable mentions will be awarded certificates and free hot spring hotel stay vouchers.