Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported
The Hutoupi Romantic Golden Rain Golden Shower Tree Flower Festival takes place from May 29 to June 12. The event integrates local characteristics, including cricket fighting contests, DIY sessions for making pickled bamboo shoot strips and pineapple sauce, a green agricultural products market, and eight other special activities. Visitors can take the Green Trunk Line bus of Greater Tainan to Xinhua District, then transfer to the Green 13 Branch Line to reach Hutoupi. Additionally, those presenting the event DM can enjoy half-price admission on weekdays, half-price rides on solar-powered boats, and discounted campsite fees.
The 2016 Hutoupi Romantic Golden Rain Golden Shower Tree Flower Festival runs from May 29 to June 12. (Image source: Tainan City Government)
The Golden Shower Tree Flower Festival offers the chance to experience canoeing. (Image source: Tainan City Government)
The “Golden Shower Tree” is native to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In Taiwan, its flowering season is between May and June. Its distinctive feature is the drooping clusters of bright yellow flowers that hang elegantly. When the breeze blows, petals scatter colorfully, creating a romantic scene reminiscent of a golden rain shower.
The bright yellow flowers of the Golden Shower Tree hang elegantly, and when stirred by the breeze, they create a romantic sight like a golden rain. (Image source: Tainan City Government)
Forty years ago, Hutoupi commissioned National Cheng Kung University to plan its development, importing Golden Shower Trees from India. These were widely planted in front of the Youth Activity Center, near the Hu Yue Suspension Bridge, and along the northern lakeside pathway. Being native species, their characteristic is having many flowers and few leaves, with vivid colors. Since the petals fall easily, during full bloom the trees and ground are densely covered with golden blooms. Visitors often rave about this “trees full of yellow flowers, ground covered in gold,” seeing it as an auspicious symbol that adds attractive floral charm to Tainan City, known as the city of flowers.