The Four Major Experiences of Taoyuan Lotus Season: Magical Floating & Ancient House Tours

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department, compiled and reported

Guanyin in Taoyuan grows many lotuses, which bloom luxuriantly in midsummer, swaying gently in the breeze, creating a famous scenic beauty of Taoyuan and earning the reputation of “South Baihe, North Guanyin.” The season when the lotuses are in full bloom coincides with the start of summer vacation. Visitors might consider planning a lotus appreciation trip during the break. In addition to visiting the 2017 Taoyuan Lotus Season, they can also explore local lotus gardens to admire the flowers up close, taste lotus-themed meals, and enjoy an exclusive interactive glove puppetry performance. The Taoyuan City Government has specially integrated leisure farms, lotus garden-themed restaurants, Baishajiao Lighthouse, and Guanyin Coastal Recreation Area to design a variety of packaged lotus-themed travel experiences, aiming to bring endless fun for family outings.

1. Algal Reef Adventure – First Experience of Floating on King Lotus
 
The “Algal Reef Quest & Surprising Lotus Journey,” a small trip within the Taoyuan Lotus Season, plans a one-day nature-close itinerary. In addition to visiting the Taoyuan Lotus Season venue, travelers can also head to the Lotus Pond to experience the fun of floating on the water like a martial arts master atop the king lotus. There’s also a Pokémon GO-inspired activity where participants learn about various plants in the lotus garden through gaming, allowing kids to gain knowledge while having fun. Moreover, local guides will lead visitors into the Guanxin Algal Reef to uncover secrets and discover Taiwan’s largest thousand-year-old living fossil algal reef group.

2. Ancient House Tour – Lin Family Ancestral Home
 
The “Happy Lotus Pond Tour · Exclusive Mansion Gate Glove Puppetry Face-Changing Show” is a summer-exclusive program running from afternoon to evening. After visiting the Taoyuan Lotus Season venue, participants head to the well-known ancient house in Guanyin — the “Lin Family Ancestral Home” — to admire the classic one-courtyard-four-wing structure of traditional architecture, fields of blooming lotuses, the wine jar path, red brick archways, straw dolls, and more.

3. Folk Performance – Glove Puppetry Face-Changing Show
 
Also part of the “Happy Lotus Pond Tour · Exclusive Mansion Gate Glove Puppetry Face-Changing Show,” besides visiting the ancient house and viewing the lotuses, there is an exclusive arrangement for the renowned Xiujiu Glove Puppet Theater to perform an interactive face-changing show in the courtyard of the ancestral home. Both children and adults may be invited on stage to join in the performance, personally experiencing the wonder of glove puppetry and savoring the new delight of combining lotus pond ancestral homes with face-changing puppet shows.

4. Special Cuisine – Lotus Seed Bamboo Rice Meals & Lotus-Themed Dishes
 
In addition to enjoying the beauty of the lotuses, experiencing magical floating, and taking part in ancient house tours, visitors can also savor special dishes featuring lotus seeds as ingredients, along with the joy of shelling lotus seeds and trying refreshing lotus seed ice cream — all very unique experiences. The “Happy Lotus Pond Tour · Exclusive Mansion Gate Glove Puppetry Face-Changing Show” allows participants to try shelling lotus seeds, enjoy a lotus-themed meal box, and have ice cream. The “Algal Reef Quest & Surprising Lotus Journey” offers a chance to taste the signature lotus seed bamboo rice meal.