The stunning rice field scenery hidden within the urban landscape is especially captivating. (Photo / Taipei Public Works Department, the same below)
This rice field can be harvested twice a year. The first crop is usually transplanted from mid-February to mid-March and harvested around July, while the second crop skips transplanting and is cultivated using the “stubble rice” method, harvested between November and December.
Rice belongs to the grass family, thrives in warm and humid conditions, and has slender leaves about 50 to 100 cm long and 2 to 2.5 cm wide. Rice flowers are very small; when blooming, the main flower stems arch downward, with small flowers blooming between 30 to 50 cm along the stem. Most are self-pollinating and form seeds, known as rice spikes. A typical rice spike is about 5 to 12 mm long and 2 to 3 mm thick.
The vast Guandu Plain offers many great photo spots for photography enthusiasts. For example, those looking to capture rural road scenery can enter from Lane 401, Section 7, Chengde Road, or Lane 257, Section 2, Zhongyang North Road (near Fuxinggang MRT Station).
To photograph rice fields against a sunset backdrop, head to Lane 161, Alley 527, Daye Road (near Zhongyi MRT Station) in the evening. In addition to other scenic spots like the Rice Path in Dongshan, Yilan, and Beilang Boulevard in Taitung, you can also visit the Guandu Plain around late July to early August before harvest to enjoy the golden sea of swaying rice and the fragrant rural landscape.