Romantic picnics under the tung blossom trees, listening to the song of the wind – Miaoli Tung Blossom House

Text & Photography by Chen Shuping   Partial images provided by Tung Blossom House

The winding mountain road is narrow and passing is not easy, but upon arriving at the “Tung Blossom House,” you’ll find it was all worth it. A breeze sweeps through the tranquil mountains, swaying palm-like leaves as tung blossoms drift gently down. Such a place, where blossoms cover every branch, with the entire courtyard—trees and ground alike—blanketed in pristine “white snow,” presents a spectacular sight in early summer that exudes a serene and heartwarming charm. With mountains to gaze at and blossoms to admire, the endless blue sky and verdant forests make time here seem to slow down especially…

In the Miaoli area, tung blossom trees can be spotted almost anywhere there are hills, but in Dalukeng, Gongguan Township, there stands a “celebrity tree king” among tung blossoms. It’s said that during the blooming season, the volume of fallen petals from this single tree can rival an entire tung blossom forest. This is a renowned spot for tung blossom viewing and also the location of the scenic al-fresco dining restaurant “Tung Blossom House.”

Over a decade ago, Mr. Lee, who worked in leisure development, purchased this land and built a wooden cabin next to a 40-plus-year-old tung blossom tree as his private holiday retreat. Unexpectedly, due to the stunning scenery—especially when the tung blossoms scatter in profusion during the blooming season—the word spread among friends, drawing more and more visitors. Eventually, the owner decided to open up the space, turning it into a restaurant open to the public so more people could share in this beautiful view.

The biggest highlight of Tung Blossom House is that all seating areas are designed along the contours of the mountain, blending seamlessly with the natural landscape. The space centers around the tung blossom tree and wooden cabin, extending outward into gardens and outdoor seating areas. During the tung blossom season, the open-air café in the yard is the most sought-after spot—sitting beneath the tung blossoms with a coffee in hand, accompanied by mountain breezes, occasionally having a blossom flutter down onto your plate, even adds a touch of poetic romance. In addition, the wooden terrace seating facing the mountain hollow, with its staggered levels, offers unobstructed views of the mountain scenery, making it equally popular.

Tung blossom trees are quite tall, and most of the time you can only admire the blossoms from afar at the treetops. But at Tung Blossom House, you can go up to the loft of the wooden cabin and admire them much closer from the balcony. The tung blossom season at Tung Blossom House usually runs from mid-April to around Mother’s Day in May each year. This year, the shop estimates the bloom period to be from April 16 to May 16, so flower enthusiasts are advised to visit early.