Pick mangoes and enjoy flowers and butterflies—Xilaya promotes family travel

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

Summer vacation is here, making it the perfect time for a family outing. The summer series of events “Colorful, Romantic, and Joyful Xilaya: My Rural Tourism,” organized by the Xilaya National Scenic Area, kicks off with the “Summer ! Colorful Mangoes” event on July 9, 10, 16, and 17 at Hutou Mountain in Yujing. With advance reservation, visitors can enter the dedicated Ataulfo mango production area to experience the fun of picking mangoes, listen to local farmers share stories from the past and present, and witness Taiwan’s very first Ataulfo mango tree. From the top of Hutou Mountain in Yujing, you can overlook Yujing city and Greater Tainan, enjoy performances by outstanding bands arranged by the Xilaya Management Office, and savor special mango-themed dishes.

 

Next up is the “Butterfly Amusement Park” in Baihe Guanziling, which will take place on July 23, 24, 30, and 31 at Hongye Park. The event is specially co-organized with the Taiwan Purple Crow Butterfly Conservation Association, featuring a “Butterfly Challenge Game” and guided tours. On-site, there will also be young guides from Yanluo Elementary School and Jinglaozhai Elementary School who will teach participants about butterfly tagging and nectar plants. Additionally, there’s a “Donate Receipts for Safety” activity—bring five receipts from July to exchange them for a bamboo safety charm made by the Xilaya people at the event site, where you can personally write down your own blessings. The Xilaya Management Office has also arranged weekend shuttle buses to make it easier for visitors traveling to Guanziling for hot springs to go butterfly-watching.

 

The grand finale is the “Cricket Happy Park” event, held on August 13, 14, 20, and 21 at the Xinhua National Botanical Garden. In addition to expert-led talks on cricket ecology, visitors can also experience the fun of catching crickets as they did in rural times. The site will also host a wood culture challenge, and at the “Prairie Opera House,” you can enjoy educational and entertaining performances by children’s drama troupes, as well as spectacular shows by Golden Melody Award winner Yan Yongneng and the Dage Luange Band.
 

 

• Related Links

Xilaya National Scenic Area website:

http://www.siraya-nsa.gov.tw