Conquer Liushitou and Chike Mountain with Your Dog – Golden Retriever Mirrors the Golden Flower Sea!

Text & Photos / Mom and Dad of Rocky Oudi
"Traveling with Your Dog"

Every August and September is the peak season for daylilies in the Hualien-Taitung area. Verdant mountains contrast with golden fields of daylilies, weaving together a vast yellow carpet that sways in the wind — truly a sight so beautiful it lifts the spirit. Chike Mountain and Liushitou are located in Yuli and Fuli districts of Hualien, not far from each other. Though both are famed for their daylily seas, their landscapes are completely different. It’s recommended to plan a trip to see both daylily mountains in Hualien to fully enjoy their brilliant golden blooms.

Starting in 2011, after coordination and subsidies by the Hualien County Government and local communities, 60 hectares of daylily fields across the two mountains will no longer be harvested, allowing the daylilies to bloom freely across the hills and valleys. The spectacle of the flower sea is expected to be even more spectacular than in previous years, and the blooming period will last much longer.

%jiqiehuangkuang.... If the chemo goes well, I’ll take you to see your favorite daylilies!

● Seven Pavilions Named After Daylilies
Liushitou has seven pavilions, named Wuyou (Forget Worry), Huanghua (Daylily), Luchun (Deer Onion), Lujian (Deer Sword), Danji (Red Thorn), Liaochou (Heal Sorrow), and Xuancao (Daylily Herb). All seven names are aliases for the daylily. Among them, Huanghua Pavilion is about two stories high and offers excellent views. From Huanghua Pavilion, the sweeping daylily sea looks like a gorgeous floral carpet spread across the hillside, forming a beautiful landscape painting with the distant green mountains.

For a panoramic view of the Huatung Valley, Jian’ge Pavilion is the best choice. Luchun Pavilion is less crowded, and its daylily fields are planted in concentric circles like tea terraces, which is quite unique. Walking along the path to Luchun Pavilion, the surrounding verdant mountains and the picturesque hills covered with golden daylilies are truly stunning. Wuyou Pavilion is the highest among the seven and offers a wide view, allowing you to take in the entire beauty of Liushitou, including the classic valley terrain and the magnificent daylily-covered mountains.

Additionally, Wuyou Pavilion is one of the most popular spots for photographers. Besides catching the sunrise, you can also witness the sunlight piercing through the clouds in the evening, casting beams onto the earth — a phenomenon photographers call "God rays," which makes you marvel at the wonders of nature.

● Don’t Miss Chike Mountain
After admiring the beautiful daylilies at Liushitou, you should head straight to Chike Mountain’s daylily sea. About 13 kilometers down the winding mountain road from Highway 9, roughly half an hour later, a sudden breathtaking sight awaits. Neatly arranged daylily fields cover the gentle slopes, and the visual impact is absolutely astonishing.

It’s hard to imagine that steep mountain paths lead to such a beautiful valley. Chike Mountain has a uniquely beautiful hilly landscape, with daylilies in semi-bloom. A few farmers are out early picking flower buds, creating a harmonious scene between humans and nature. Here, you can enjoy the delightful sight of butterflies dancing among the golden flower sea, and the vast golden field in front of the Xuancao Garden is truly breathtaking.

The daylily sea at Chike Mountain is slightly different from that at Liushitou — the blooms here are bigger and taller. As Rocky Oudi walked along the small paths through the flower sea, he was almost engulfed by the sea of golden flowers. Of course, we also visited Chike Mountain’s most famous Three-Life Stone, beside which this year also bloomed a thick blanket of daylilies. Rocky Oudi, being well-trained, knew it was time to strike a pose again and immediately struck a professional, full-smile pose. The lively and noisy beauty of Chike Mountain’s daylilies has a unique charm, and the distinct mountain shape highlights the beauty of the golden flower sea — definitely not to be missed!

● The Flower Sea and the Most Wonderful Memories with Your Beloved Dog
In September 2011, when “Oudi” was undergoing chemotherapy, I knew he loved taking photos with flowers the most, so I promised him that if his health allowed, we’d go to Hualien together to see the daylilies. After consulting with the doctor and thanks to Oudi’s own resilience, we made the trip to Hualien to enjoy the flowers.

Despite the melanin deposits on his face and hair loss from the chemo, Oudi still smiled brightly at daddy’s camera, in great spirits and happy throughout the whole journey. Looking back at these photos, I’m truly moved by Oudi’s strength and bravery, and I’m also grateful to Oudi for joining me on one wonderful journey after another.

The beauty of the daylilies at Liushitou and Chike Mountain, along with Rocky Oudi’s radiant smiles in the flower sea, are the most precious travel memories in my heart. Taking the time to bring your furry friend on a daylily adventure and personally experiencing the breathtaking scenery is absolutely worth it.

Friendly Reminder:When bringing your pet to Liushitou and Chike Mountain, please note that there are small paths next to the flower fields. Don’t let your pet run around and trample the beautiful daylilies — preserve the scenery for the next group of visitors.

※ This article is authorized by Morning Star Publishing House for publication on ETtoday and Eastern News Cloud, excerpted from the book "Traveling with Your Dog." Unauthorized reproduction or copying is prohibited.

※ Authors Peng Zijuan and Wu LaoDa (Mom and Dad of Rocky Oudi), because of Rocky and Oudi, went from knowing nothing about pet travel to falling in love with the joy of traveling with pets, and from a homebody who only watched TV, slept, and surfed the internet to becoming a driver and photographer. Together with Rocky and Oudi, they faced one challenge after another, played hard and documented their journeys, writing illustrated blogs to share with everyone, hoping all can feel the joy of traveling with pets.
Blog: “Golden Retriever Rocky Wu Luoji vs. Oudi Wu Oudi”