Fall Foliage in Taiwan: A Lazy Guide to the Best Maple Leaf Viewing Spots

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

As the weather cools and autumn draws near, maple leaves are about to turn into fiery reds to welcome visitors. Below is a curated list of the most beautiful maple leaf viewing spots across Taiwan, helping you prepare for the season in advance.

◎ Taipei Aowanda
Nestled within the Jing Mountain community in Yangmingshan, “Taipei Aowanda,” renowned for its European-style garden landscaping in northern Taiwan, showcases stunning red foliage in both spring and autumn. Unlike typical maple viewing spots, Taipei Aowanda’s foliage season is concentrated between October and December. Due to the grafting of Japanese maple varieties, beautiful red leaves can also be seen here from March to April.
 
◎ Xizhi Gongbei Temple

Located on Sanxiu Mountain in Xizhi, Gongbei Temple has a history of nearly a hundred years. Around December each year, the surrounding maple and maple-like trees turn red. The ancient temple paired with the beautiful woods and mountain scenery makes it a favorite among photography enthusiasts.

◎ Xiongkong Tea Garden
Nestled amid the mountains of New Taipei City's Sanxia District, visit the cool and comfortable Xiongkong Tea Garden. The lush tea valley beneath the ridgeline comes into view, along with the azure sky and fresh air. It's like Taipei’s hidden backyard—secluded and beautiful, and truly captivating.
 
◎ Shimen Reservoir

Shimen Reservoir hosts the “Shimen Reservoir Maple Viewing Month” event every year at the end of the year and early the next. Aside from enjoying the fall foliage, visitors can learn about water resources in an educational and entertaining way. Families can spend a wonderful holiday at the reservoir and even sample delicious live fish dishes at nearby restaurants, making a trip to Shimen Reservoir in Taoyuan both fun and tasty.

◎ Taoyuan Fairy Valley
Covering over 200 hectares, Taoyuan Fairy Valley is home to tens of thousands of golden maple trees that turn golden yellow from mid-October to mid-November each year. There’s also a beautiful field of lilies, allowing visitors to enjoy flower viewing while admiring the fall colors.

◎ Smangus

The Smangus tribe is located high in the mountains of Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, at an altitude of 1,500 meters. Long ago, a group led by Marcus settled near Dongtai Yehan Mountain on the eastern ridge of Snow Mountain and established the village. To honor him, later generations named the settlement “Smangus,” which is how the tribe got its name.

◎ Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area
The Guanwu Forest Recreation Area is shrouded in mist, offering a mysterious and romantic atmosphere. The scenery of clouds, sunrises, and sunsets is a must-see climate spectacle. In autumn, vast maple forests along the Dalu Forest Road and the Hinshan Trail blend with the mist, resembling a maiden adorned with enchanting makeup but veiled with gauze—this has attracted many visitors and made it one of the best maple viewing spots in recent years.

◎ Fushoushan Farm
Fushoushan Farm spans a large area with distinct seasons, offering different landscapes periodically, leading to the saying, “January: snowflakes fly, February: admire peach blossoms, March: dance with cherry blossoms, April: laugh with pears, May: enjoy tea fragrance, June: gaze at yellow chrysanthemums, July: search for peach scents, August: taste sweet pears, September: harvest joy, October: bountiful autumn, November: brilliant red maples, December: frost glistens.” This ever-changing seasonal beauty has made Fushoushan a very popular destination.