Fulfill both spring outings and great photo ops in one go—Top 10 Free Popular Attractions in Chiayi

Xiongda Village Forest-Themed Leisure Park

Located in Minxiong Township, Chiayi County, Xiongda Village is a newly established tourist factory that opened in 2015. The entire park is themed around cute bears, forests, and castles, with picturesque photo spots everywhere, making it feel like stepping into a fairy tale world.

In addition to various fairy-tale-style photo spots, the park also features a café, a tourist factory (retail area), and a glass house restaurant. This dreamy and adorable place currently has no entrance fee, making it a very popular free tourist attraction in Chiayi.

Address: No. 17, Gongye 2nd Rd., Touqiao Industrial Zone, Minxiong Township, Chiayi County

▲ The Japanese-style architecture of Cedar Forest Life Village offers a unique charm. (Photo / IG@jpnekovicprovided)

Cedar Forest Life Village

Built with an investment of 400 million NTD, Cedar Forest Life Village is Taiwan’s first forest-themed cultural and creative park. It has renovated 28 historical buildings to create a new space that blends history and creativity. It’s perfect for spring outings, photography, and shopping. Around July each year, you can also see lotus flowers in full bloom here. The Japanese-style buildings paired with the lotus ponds create a poetic scene, making you feel as if you’ve come to Japan.

Address: No. 1, Lin Sen E. Rd., Chiayi City

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Jingpu Cat World Colorful Village

Located in the Jingpu community of Minxiong, Chiayi, this colorful village takes inspiration from Minxiong’s former name “Damao” (literally meaning “Beating Cats”) to create the “Jingpu Community Cat World.” On the simple walls of the rural village, there are many lifelike cat murals—kittens snuggling up to each other, cats lazily lying in bowls, and even kittens hiding under a frog umbrella on rainy days. The innocent expressions of the cats melt everyone’s hearts.

Although the amount of cat-themed murals in the Cat World of Jingpu Community, Minxiong, Chiayi, is not huge, more are still being added gradually. Cat lovers shouldn’t miss this great spot. Come by when you have time to take some photos and spend a wonderful time with the adorable cats.

Address: No. 138, Jingpu, Minxiong Township, Chiayi County (Jingpu Police Station)

Xingang Township Pizitou Elephant Mural Village

It is said that the village chose elephants as its mural theme because the pronunciation of “埤” (pi) is similar to that of “鼻” (bi, meaning nose), adding colorful and adorable elephant paintings to brighten up the area. In addition to a variety of super cute elephant murals, common cartoon-themed artworks are also spread throughout the village, making it an extremely charming spot that attracts many visitors to come and take photos.

Address: No. 88, Pizicun, Xingang Township, Chiayi County

▲%I took this photo myself!! Please feel free to use it. (Photo provided by G@iyu.06_12)

Dongshi Port Fisherman’s Wharf

Dongshi Port Fisherman’s Wharf, known for its fresh seafood and beautiful sunsets, also features many “romantic-themed” installations that keep visitors snapping photos non-stop. Most visitors will choose a favorite restaurant here to enjoy a seafood feast, then stroll along the seaside after their meal, taking cute photos with loved ones or friends in front of the LOVE installation while waiting for the stunning sunset. Before they know it, the whole afternoon has flown by.

Every summer during July and August, the whale pool water play area here opens to the public, providing endless fun for both kids and adults. Parking, water play, and sand play are all “free of charge.”

Address: Dongshi Village, Dongshi Township, Chiayi County

▲%I took this photo myself at the university’s botanical garden!! (Photo provided by G@happyannali)

Chiayi University Botanical Garden (Lantan Campus of National Chiayi University)

The Chiayi University Botanical Garden is a semi-spherical greenhouse. Unlike the Chiayi University Insect Museum, entry to the botanical garden is free. Various cute potted plants are displayed at the entrance, which visitors can purchase if they like. The exhibits in the garden emphasize the imagery of native forest and riverside plant communities. Inside the greenhouse, there are themed areas such as the aquatic ecological pond plant zone, xerophyte zone, Taiwan important tree specimen garden, and the Hengchun & Orchid Island plant zone—lush greenery that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a small forest.

Address: No. 300, Xuefu Road, Luliao Li, Chiayi City

Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park

▪The Chiayi Cultural and Creative Industries Park, transformed from an old sorghum liquor factory, is one of Taiwan’s top five cultural and creative parks. It’s just a 3-minute walk from Chiayi Railway Station, making it very convenient to get to.

Aside from paid entry for various exhibitions that are held irregularly, simply wandering around and taking photos doesn’t require an admission fee. Here, you can also admire historical liquor-making equipment and enjoy the unique charm of the old buildings. The park’s 53-meter-high boiler chimney is also one of the former landmarks of Chiayi City.

Address: No. 616, Zhongshan Road, Chiayi City

▲%The most photogenic corner in the park is right next to the boiler chimney, surrounded by greenery and very suitable for Instagram-worthy shots. (Photos provided by ??x15xwen, littlestar0202)

Song of the Forest

Located in Chiayi, “Song of the Forest” is a large-scale art installation collaboratively created by artist Wang Wen-Zhi and his team, using materials such as railway sleepers, yellow rattan, and driftwood in a creatively repurposed way. It has now become a popular local tourist attraction.

Stepping inside the 14-meter-tall egg-shaped artwork, you’ll find irregularly shaped benches carved from beech wood in the center, providing a place for visitors to rest. Looking up, the egg-shaped opening feels like a connection to the sky—as if jumping up could transport you to another world. The novel visual effect has earned high praise from netizens.

Location: Next to the underpass on Wenhua Road, Chiayi City