Half-price accommodation and food discounts as the Dongshan Coffee Season kicks off with aromatic delights

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

As the autumn chill sets in, bright red coffee cherries and green-skinned i* citrus are in full harvest season in Dongshan. The 2012 Dongshan Coffee Season will take place from late October to late January of the following year. During the event, not only will there be five 1–2 day package tours including hiking, fruit picking, and farm stays, but also 22 coffee shops and 4 accommodation providers offering discounts on coffee desserts, meals, and other promotions such as gifts for reaching spending thresholds. Among them, homestay operators are featuring weekday stays at 50% off, and some even offer free green-skinned i* citrus tastings for visitors—letting tourists enjoy delicious food in the flavorful autumn while saving money.

In addition to coffee shops developing coffee-flavored meals, creative coffee dishes, green-skinned i* citrus jam, and handmade cookies, the 1–2 day tour packages launched during the event include five routes: Dongshan Hiking & Fruit Picking, Bee-tastic Experience, Dongshan Coffee Fruit Picking, and one- or two-day Farm Leisure Experiences. These will guide participants in coffee cherry picking, DIY coffee baby crafts, wild vegetable gathering, and local agricultural culture tours, with activity fees ranging from 300yuanto 1,700 yuan.

It is also currently the autumn hiking and sightseeing season for □head Mountain. Visitors can take the stone staircase hiking trail behind Dongshan Xian Gong Temple, ascending to admire the pink-purple blooms of the spotted deadnettle. The stone staircase ends at a rest platform with a pavilion that accommodates 20–30 people. This section climbs from the Xian Gong Temple at 600 meters above sea level to the pavilion at 830 meters, taking about an hour. For the descent, you can choose the gentler southern farm road. This zigzagging cement path is more open and offers different plants and birdlife compared to the temple’s back trail. Around 40 different bird species inhabit the area, making it a worthwhile route to plan.

In addition, in November, the“2012 Tainan Guanziling Hot Spring Music Festival” will also be held, with several travel agencies planning special attraction itineraries such as the Fire and Water Spring and Biyun Temple. These include a 2-day, 1-night package that involves staying overnight in Guanziling, then visiting Nanliao for i* citrus picking and heading to Dongshan for coffee the next day. During holidays, a free full-day sightseeing bus will also be available within Guanziling, providing shuttle service with onboard guides offering commentary. For more information, check the official event website: tour.tainan.gov.tw.The "2012 Guanziling Hot Spring Music Festival" event will collaborate with several travel agencies to plan itineraries featuring special attractions such as Shuihuotongyuan and Biyun Temple. These include a 2-day, 1-night package that involves an overnight stay in Guanziling, followed by a trip the next day to Naliao for i* citrus picking and to Dongshan for coffee tasting. During the holiday period, a full-day free sightseeing bus service will also be provided, shuttling around Guanziling with on-board guides offering commentary. For more information, please visit the event’s official website: tour.tainan.gov.tw.

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