Maple Leaf Appreciation Trip in Xiulan: Beautiful Campsite Scenery & a Fairytale-like Shilei Tribe

Text & Photos /A-Kuai’s Home

Holiday morning in Neiwan, rain drizzles gently. I can’t help but wonder—hadn’t the weather forecast said it would clear up? Even if it stayed cloudy, I’d still be grateful. The journey wasn’t exactly close by, but it was all for the sake of meeting the maple trees… Passing through Jianshi, Yulao, and Xiulan, we were getting farther and farther from civilization. That distant Black Tribe had been on my wishlist, but now it’s collecting dust due to the rain.

This time, I’m honored to be with Steven’s family—Lantian, Wild Horse, and Xiaoguai—enjoying the joy of camping under the maple trees. The beautiful “Meishu Campsite” is not only clean and pretty, but all the trees in the campsite are maples (both fragrant and blue maples), especially during peak foliage season. Surrounded by the crimson hues, the moment feels even more romantic and beautiful.


Three aunties rarely camp together. After yesterday’s wind and rain, we feel refreshed this morning. Let’s have a cup of rich coffee!


Although Christmas is still a few days away, the festive vibe created by this beautiful maple forest has drawn many photography enthusiasts.

Meishu Campsite is located at No. 20, Lane 6, Yufeng Village, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County. Whether you approach from Jianshi or Fuxing Township, it’s a long drive through remote mountain roads—but Taiwan’s most stunning scenery is often found in the least crowded places.


After days of relentless wind and rain, the maple forest floor is now covered with fallen leaves. These layers of leaves will turn into winter fertilizer, nourishing hopes for an even more beautiful sight next year.


Yesterday was overcast with a fine, steady rain and a cold front moving in. I thought, with weather this bad, I might as well sleep in. But this morning, sunlight had already pierced through the treetops, feeling wonderfully comforting, with a faint scent of maple leaves carried by the breeze.

I’ve always wanted to witness the red maples at Meishu Campsite, but for us folks from Tainan, it’s quite… far. When such mesmerizing red maples appear, longing is best cured by heading up the mountain. When the fragrant maples in the campsite began to change color, it was truly a delightful surprise? Early in the morning, many photography enthusiasts had already arrived, drawn by the fame. Every corner and scene here is a perfect place to capture the beauty of maple leaves. This period is also the golden season for photographers.


Falling leaves sway my peaceful heart as I walk past one maple tree after another, intoxicated by the shadows of gold and deep red.

They resemble thin golden lockets, each piece glowing with golden light.


This is the most beautiful time for maple foliage in Jianshi Township. If you visit Jianshi, you must come to Xiulan to appreciate the maples. Though it’s drizzling now, we’re determined to go no matter the weather. (This is the viewing platform on the way to Xiulan.)


From the road, you can spot a group of maple leaf admirers down in the valley, while the nearby hills are also dotted with maple trees in various colors—it’s truly beautiful.

At the stream confluence in the valley, after two days of heavy rain, the clear water on the left is the Sakayalian River, while the murky water on the right is the Takian River.


When we reached the Kongxi Suspension Bridge, we realized we had come too late. Coupled with days of harsh weather, the peak foliage season had already passed.


Just a few days ago, we saw online that the entire mountain range was ablaze with red maples. But just a few days later, after a winter rain, the ground is now covered with fallen leaves.

Time waits for no one? In the rain, the colors of the maple leaves seem to lack the radiant brilliance of sunshine.




Leaving Meishu Campsite, we headed to Shilei Tribe, which a local travel expert told us about the day before. It’s just 4 km away and has a beautiful church, so we drove there.


Shilei Church (To get to Shilei Tribe from Neiwan area in Hsinchu, it’s another 2-hour drive—it’s a remote tribe in the backcountry of Jianshi Township. In my memory, Shilei Tribe only has an elementary school, a church, a homestay, and a few households.)


In such a remote and simple tribe, we didn’t actually want to do anything special or search for anything particular—we just wanted to experience the rich tribal culture. It’s surprisingly hard to find a landmark here for a photo, but it’s the quiet appreciation that truly allows you to take something meaningful away.

It turns out this is another spiritual stronghold of Shilei Tribe—the Catholic Church (a five-minute walk from the path beside Shilei Church).


On the way from Shilei Tribe down to Baling, the stunning scenery along the route made it hard for us to resist stopping frequently to admire the views.


Along the winding mountain road, a roadside waterfall caught everyone’s attention. (A small waterfall along the road from Shilei Tribe toward Baling)

The clear mountain spring flows ceaselessly. Thinking about how time flies, when will we be able to visit again?


On the way from Shilei Tribe down to Baling—breathtaking mountain scenery.


When the mountain doesn’t turn, the road does. Just around the bend, an unexpected beautiful view suddenly comes into sight.

[Meishu Campsite]

Campsite address:No. 20, Lane 6, Yufeng Village, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County
Contact number:03-584-7231　 Mobile: 0937-141993 Lin Chin-wu (Atayal name: Lou-hsin)
Fees:Entrance fee $50, $600 per tent, two bathrooms with wood-fired boiler / two bathrooms with gas available all day, three squat toilets,
Reminder:During maple leaf season, access is only allowed after noon
(Quoted from: Steven's Home - Blue Sky)

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