Hydrangeas are in bloom! A lazy guide to eight hydrangea spots across Taiwan

By Funtime Editor Yu Qin-Guzong

Finally, it’s hydrangea season again. Was there anyone else who, like me, didn’t get to photograph the hydrangeas last year and had to wait an entire year? This time, really—make sure you carve out the time to go see the hydrangeas.

This year’s blooming season is a bit later than last year’s, but right now is the perfect time when the hydrangeas are in full, glorious bloom. This time, we’ve compiled a list of hydrangea viewing spots all over Taiwan for you. Go with your friends or partner and take so many photos you max out your phone’s memory—flood social media and make everyone else jealous.

Breathtaking seas of flowers await

Yangmingshan always gets crowded on weekends, and now with the hydrangeas, it’s even more packed. But no matter how crowded it gets, it can’t dim your desire to see the hydrangeas. From late May to July every year, Yangmingshan earns the reputation of a “hydrangea sea.”

Yangmingshan really is Taipei’s backyard garden—easy to access with convenient transportation, well-maintained hiking trails, and hydrangeas in every color imaginable. No wonder so many people flock here.

(Photo via flickr by Yu-Ching Chu, CC License)

Once you get off the bus, you’ll first arrive at the Shuiche Liao Trail’s Gao Family Hydrangea Fields. The area around here is already covered in hydrangeas, and if you walk a bit further in, you’ll reach Zhuzihu, which feels like stepping into a fairytale-like hidden paradise. In the past, hydrangeas were just flowers grown by farmers for sale, but it’s only recently that they’ve been planted in large quantities. With the influx of tourists, there are now so many hydrangeas for everyone to enjoy.

Quick reminder:Picking flowers is not allowed in the park. If you bring a pet, you must carry it—otherwise, it counts as an extra person’s entry fee.

■ Blooming season: 2018/05/01–07/15
■ Address: No. 30, Zhuzihu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, 112
■ Ticket price: NT$100
■ Opening hours: 8:00–18:00
■ Transportation: Take the MRT to Shibaishi Station, then transfer to bus Xiao 8 and get off at Zhuzihu Station.

See all hydrangea color varieties in one trip

Also located in Yangmingshan, aside from the above spot, is the Datitian Flower Eco-Farm where you can admire hydrangeas. Compared to Zhuzihu and the Shuiche Liao Trail, this place is more thoughtfully planned. Thanks to its terraced fields layout, the hydrangeas are more spaced out, and the paths are wider, reducing the chance of accidentally stepping on them.

Because of the terrain, when you’re taking photos, it feels like layers upon layers of hydrangeas are surrounding you, making it nearly impossible to stop snapping pictures.

■ Blooming season: 2018/05/01–07/15
■ Address: No. 33-7, Zhuzihu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
■ Admission: NT$100 per person (can be used as store credit)
■ Business hours: 09:00–18:00 (open every day during blooming season)
■ Transportation: Take the MRT to Shibaishi Station, then transfer to bus Xiao 8 and get off at Zhuzihu Station.Walk 5 minutes.

Immerse yourself in a sea of hydrangeas

Aside from Yangmingshan, there’s another great spot in Taipei to see hydrangeas—the Dashangyuan Hydrangea Fields. The views here are wide open, and you can capture the vast hydrangea sea in your photos. Many women come here to take pictures, and even brides come to shoot their wedding photos here.

Also, before the hydrangea blooming season, this place is covered with a sea of calla lilies, which netizens highly recommend for flower-picking.

■ Flower season: May 1, 2018 – July 15
■ Address: No. 67-7, Zhuzihhu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
■ Admission: NT$100 per person (can be used toward flower purchases)
■ Operating hours: 07:00 – 18:00
■ Transportation: Drive yourself.

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A temperate garden paradise

Located in Guanxi, Hsinchu, Taiwan Bird Garden is arguably Taiwan’s first flatland greenhouse garden. The garden plants different flowers according to the seasons, allowing you to enjoy such beautiful blossoms all year round.

It’s currently hydrangea season, with tens of thousands of hydrangeas in the garden, making you feel as if you’ve stepped into a castle-like garden. The garden also offers dining services — enjoying afternoon tea while admiring the flowers is definitely the best choice !

■ Address: No. 7, Lane 76, Neighbourhood 3, Shiguang Village, Guanxi Township, Hsinchu County
■ Admission: General admission NT$300
■ Operating hours: 10:00 – 17:00
■ Transportation: Exit at Guanxi Interchange (KM 79) on National Freeway 3, head straight toward Xinpian for about eight minutes, then turn right when you see the Taiwan Flower & Bird Garden sign.

A new choice for flower viewing and coffee

Located in Nanzhuang, Miaoli, Shan Fu Rong Coffee — just hearing the name sparks endless expectations and imagination. The garden is filled with countless flowers. During hydrangea season, walking into the Shan Fu Rong Coffee grounds feels like entering a forest maze, where you can also enjoy the fragrance of plants and flowers. It’s actually a scenic café that also sells exquisite gifts and cultural and creative items. Weekends are perfect for visiting with family and friends to stroll among the hydrangeas and create beautiful memories.

Friendly reminder:Shan Fu Rong Coffee does not have dedicated parking, so those driving may need to park nearby and walk over.

■ Address: No. 8, Neighbourhood 9, Penglai Village, Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County
■ Admission: NT$200 per person (can be used toward food purchases)
■ Operating hours: Saturdays and Sundays only; 10:00 – 18:00 (weekday visits require advance reservation)
■ Transportation: Drive yourself

Tens of thousands of hydrangeas in full bloom

Upon arriving at Shei-Pa Leisure Farm, you’ll first see the hydrangeas in front of the Yunhai Café. During the blooming period, every hydrangea is in full, rich blossom. Walking along the path surrounded by hydrangeas on both sides is truly exhilarating. In addition, the farm also offers accommodation and a café. If you want to avoid the crowds, visiting Shei-Pa Leisure Farm for flower viewing is a great new option.

■ Flower season: Mid-May – Late June
■ Address: No. 380, Toushi, Taoshan Village, Wufeng Township, Hsinchu County 311
■ Admission: Free
■ Transportation: Drive yourself. Take the Dalulin Forest Road from Qingquan toward Guanwu. The farm entrance is located at the 21.5 km mark. Follow the road through dense virgin forest for about 460 meters to arrive.

A relaxing getaway with beautiful blooms to enjoy

Although the Shanlinxi Forest Ecological Resort is a bit off the beaten path, its mountain location means longer flowering seasons. If you want to admire flowers away from the crowds, come here for a weekend trip. The resort features a wide variety of hydrangea species—perfect for a full floral experience—and is one of the largest flower-viewing spots in central Taiwan.

■ Flower Season: Mid-May to Early August
■ Address: No. 6, Xishan Road, Zhushan Township, Nantou County
■ Operating Hours: 07:00–21:00
■ Transportation: Take a train to Taichung Railway Station, walk about 10 minutes to Gancheng Station → transfer to Yuanlin Bus (Route 6871) to Shanlinxi Forest Ecological Resort.

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Eastern Taiwan Hydrangea Viewing Spots

Friends in eastern Taiwan can also enjoy hydrangeas at the Qingshan Farm in Taimali, Taitung. The farm boasts a private garden filled with various flowers, lovingly maintained by the owner. Each spring brings cherry blossoms, April offers lilies, May and June showcase hydrangeas, while August and September feature golden needle flowers—a truly rich floral experience all year round.

Compared to the hydrangeas on Yangmingshan in the north, those at Qingshan Farm are shorter in stature, but they bloom just as vibrantly. Plan a summer getaway to eastern Taiwan and admire these stunning blooms.

■ Flower Season: Mid-May to Late June
■ Address: No. 196, Lane 17, Jia Area, Dawang Village, Taimali Township, Taitung County
■ Operating Hours: Open year-round
■ Transportation: Travel along the South-Link Highway (Provincial Highway 9), find the CPC gas station in Taimali Township, then follow Jinxuan Road uphill to reach the destination.

After introducing hydrangea viewing spots across Taiwan, even our editors are tempted to head out right away. Don’t hesitate any longer—miss this chance, and you’ll have to wait another whole year.

[Authorized Repost from FunTime Travel Recommendations | Original Article: “All of Taiwan’s Hydrangea Spots Revealed—Three Are in Taipei!”]