Time to make a splash！Tainan’s 170-meter water slide & free giant shaved ice treats

Text & photos bymimi Han

So much fun！Tainan now has a large urban water slide to enjoy～Every summer, Yujing hosts the Tainan International Mango Festival, and this year they’ve added the Ice Water Wonderland event at Zoumaile Farm, combining water play & icy treats. The biggest hits? The urban water slide & the giant shaved ice machine. For just NT$350 with a student discount ticket, you can enjoy the fun all day long—great value！

Covering 120 hectares, Zoumaile Farm is likely the largest leisure destination in Tainan. Unlike most theme parks, it offers nature-oriented recreational facilities such as vast grasslands, a water play area, camping zones, boating, archery fields, grass skiing slopes, an insect museum, and a mango museum. The farm also features a grassland restaurant and Orchid Hall (a hotel), covering food, fun & activities—many school or corporate events are held here.

For more details, check out →[Tainan Attractions] Great Farms to Explore in Tainan: Dakeng Leisure Farm & Yujing Zoumaile Leisure Farm

Recently, a seven-story-tall wooden horse was added to Zoumaile Grassland, complete with stairs that visitors can actually climb. Once at the top, you get a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire grassland！

The Ice Water Wonderland is part of the Tainan International Mango Festival. A student discount ticket for NT$350 includes park admission, the crazy water slide, water play zone, and unlimited access to the giant shaved ice machine. Tickets purchased via 7-11’s ibon system, 17life, or GOMAJI cost NT$380, still much cheaper than the NT$550 gate price. Also, adults not participating in water activities can opt for the NT$200 discounted entry ticket only.

Ding ding dong～This massive 170-meter water slide is located in a green tunnel next to the grassland, shaded by trees—perfect for staying cool on hot days.

And with just a swimming ring, you can ride it from start to finish—it’s super fun. The 170-meter length means walking back to the start isn’t too tiring either. Mimi thinks it’s just the right distance; otherwise, after two rides I’d probably be too lazy to walk back = =”

This time, swimming rings are provided free of charge (no rental fee), including kid-sized ones. Just bring your own change of clothes and you’re all set for a blast.

No ride limits—you can slide over and over until you’re tired of it. And sis recommends coming on weekdays if possible—fewer crowds mean more fun！ＸＤ

Staff are stationed at both ends to maintain order, teach safe sliding techniques, and even help kids form “train” teams or spin circles together～

I thought my niece would be scared, but she turned out to be the wildest of all！We spent three hours on that slide alone, going back and forth dozens of times without getting tired—she had endless energy. Honestly, any kid would probably get hooked XD

Later, some foreign friends joined in the fun. Whoa！There were even bikinis & hunks in the Tainan mountains！(Quick, wipe that drool…)

As for the photo above, I’m pretty sure Colin totally missed focus—he definitely wasn’t aiming for his son = =”

We had an absolutely blast—summer is meant for this！

Hehe, that’s all the photos for now！I’m off to get in the water too～Going on my own made me realize how well-designed this slide is. Whether you're an adult or a child, the swimming ring makes it easy to ride all the way down, and staying under the shade for hours isn’t hot at all—super fun.

The other highlight of Ice Water Wonderland is the giant shaved ice machine！It’s located right next to the water play area at Zoumaile, with big sunshades so you can sit, eat ice, and relax comfortably. This combo ticket also includes access to the water play zone, so the fun never stops.

This massive shaved ice machine is six meters tall and runs every half hour. Just grab an ice bowl at the counter and enjoy as much as you like～

Ha～It really feels like snow！And standing nearby, with some ice flakes drifting onto your skin, it’s super refreshing.

Listening to the machine whirring away as shaved ice keeps coming out—it’s quite a unique and fun experience. Some kids even started eating it on the spot！

With a giant water slide & a giant shaved ice machine, it’s truly the Ice Water Wonderland！Probably the most fun event I’ve been to since the Zoumaile Hot Air Balloon Festival. I was a little worried about boredom before coming, but the water slide alone made the trip worthwhile！

After loading up on shaved ice, head to the counter for unlimited toppings like syrup and condensed milk. But since you’re in Yujing, it’s also worth upgrading to mango shaved ice for an even better treat！ＸＤ

If you want to stay overnight, Orchid Hall inside Zoumaile Farm is probably the best option nearby. Mimi had only visited with a press tour before, but this time I actually stayed there—and it was pretty great overall～

The lobby is bright and impressive, decorated with lots of orchids—it’s quite cozy. (Side note: You must’ve loved the strong AC inside, huh？！（Surprise…）Alright alright！In weather like this, you’re either in the water or hiding in an air-conditioned room XD）

The rooms are quite spacious, with balconies and large glass windows for natural light—all clean and comfy. Overall, it feels like a 4-star level, though the service is a bit passive.

Aside from the water slide, the park also has plenty of other facilities to explore. Though not as colorful or thrilling as a theme park, the natural farm environment lets you spot various small animals from time to time. Letting kids connect with nature once in a while is also a wonderful way to play.

Finally, don't think that Yujing in Tainan isn't worth visiting. Aside from Yuanma Lai Farm, there are quite a few attractions nearby you can include in your itinerary, such as Hidden Fields Mountain Villa, Gabriel’s Ark Church, Yujing Old Street, must-try mango shaved ice (from Ice Island, Ayue, Yumei, and Radiant Kids), Jiang Family Ancestral House, Meiling, Xuankong Temple, Dainei Observatory, Shanshang Water Purification Plant, Caoshan Moon World, all the way to Xinhua Old Street. It's totally feasible to plan a three-day-two-night trip exploring Tainan’s backyard—sharing it here simply for everyone's info~

Tainan’s Ice Water Adventure: The City’s Water Slide
Opening Hours: June 25, 2016 – August 8; Daily from 09:00 to 17:00
Official Website:http://www.farm.com.tw/
Ticket Inquiries: 06-2585959 #9 #11
LINE: smile5412777

Mimi Han
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