Mom Coca-Cola
In 2015, on Guoguo’s first birthday, our family first visited Hualien’s ‘Forest with Bears Villa’ and were deeply impressed, thinking about returning again. A year later, we found an excuse for our wedding anniversary and visited ‘Forest with Bears Villa’ for the second time. The familiar scenery, the familiar butlers, and that comforting, at-home ease.
This time, we deliberately arranged to stay for three days and two nights at ‘Forest with Bears Villa.’ Aside from enjoying delicious bear-shaped chocolates and crystal-clear mizu shingen mochi every afternoon, our favorite activity was soaking in the outdoor hot tub. We just wanted to laze around here, admiring the beautiful lake view, feeding the ducks, and enjoying the outdoor soak—relaxing and leisurely taking in the beauty of the clouds, mountains, and water.
Which hotel or homestay would make you want to visit a second time?! Travel lovers definitely care about decor, facilities, service, and the overall experience.
As the Coca-Cola family has traveled across Taiwan, ‘Hualien Forest with Bears Villa’ has become a beloved and wonderful homestay.
Back in 2015, when we first came to ‘Yunshan Water’ in Hualien, we fell in love with the scenery—the dreamy forest and emerald lake, along with the reflections of blue skies and white clouds, was simply picturesque. Hidden behind the buildings, the mountain forests and lake waters—if not for the signs, who would know this paradise on earth, like a hidden utopia?
‘Forest with Bears Villa’ is located on the small path leading to Yunshan Water. There's a vast blue sky above and a wide expanse of green below, paired with a Japanese-style villa with a courtyard, giving off an elegant charm that’s hard to ignore.
So, after the first stay at ‘Hualien Forest with Bears Villa,’ it immediately became part of the Coca-Cola family’s list of perfect homestays.
Outside the gate, there's a shuttle bus available to pick up and drop off guests. (However, this time we still chose to drive from Kaohsiung to Hualien.)
Following the friendly Bear Butler, we entered this space full of elegance and warmth. The use of transparent ceiling lighting fills the entire interior with brightness. Wooden tables and chairs create a relaxed and comfortable dining and resting space.
This lobby also serves as the check-in area and dining restaurant.
Inside, there are many big and small bears roaming around—there’s a bear playing the piano, a postman bear delivering mail, and bears hiding in corners. Interested guests can try counting how many bears are in the ‘Forest with Bears’?!
Upon arrival in the afternoon at ‘Forest with Bears,’ the butlers will serve a little afternoon tea to help travelers recover from their journey. This time, the afternoon tea had a new twist—aside from the usual afternoon tea and a plate of fruit, there was also a bar counter offering coffee, tea bags, and drinks for guests to help themselves.
This chocolate bear is an absolute favorite among the children. The kids said the lying bear, adorned with colorful patterns, looks super cute. They even used their imagination to say it looked like a teddy bear wearing a colorful outfit. Then they imagined the bear putting on sunglasses and a hat.
Mom Coca-Cola prefers the crystal-clear mizu shingen mochi in the middle. Trying it for the first time, she found the texture wasn’t as firm as agar or as bouncy as jelly—it had a soft, tender elasticity.
It felt as if it might fall apart with the slightest shake, with a crystal-clear delicacy that seemed almost more watery than a woman made of water. Paired with brown sugar and soybean powder, the unique taste makes you fall in love at first bite.
Because the kids loved this afternoon tea so much, we rushed back for two days in a row just to enjoy the chocolate bear and mizu shingen mochi—haha~
While enjoying snacks and coffee in the lobby, listening to the soft music played through the “Happy Bear Speakers” set up by the bear owner, the Coca-Cola family wasn’t in any rush to go to their room. The kids even started reading books, treating ‘Forest with Bears’ as if it were their own home.
Actually, in such a comfortable space, with the familiarity of a second visit, it really didn’t make us eager to go into the room. Instead, we wanted to first check out the large outdoor lawn, the beautiful lake, and even say hello to the little geese in the lake. We’re here to see you. Have you grown bigger?!
During the second visit to ‘Forest with Bears,’ we discovered that they had set up a small space in a corner of the property to display paintings. Many adorable artworks were exhibited, adding a touch of artistic flair to the ‘Forest with Bears.’
‘Forest with Bears’ truly has many plants, and the villa guest rooms are surrounded by greenery, making it feel like living in a forest.
Following the winding path, we arrived at our room for the night—the Xiaomi Sui – Bear Big Single Bedroom for four people.
The charming villa cottage is tucked away among the trees, with its own independent entrance, a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and outdoor terrace. Each space is separate, making it feel like returning to your own home.
As soon as you enter the room, you’re greeted by a spacious and comfortable living room, with durable and simple sofas, a Japanese-style wooden TV cabinet that hides closets and storage spaces.
On both sides of the TV cabinet, there are storage cabinets with mineral water, tea bags, small snacks, a refrigerator, and an electric kettle. On the other side, there’s a wardrobe, flashlight, safe, shoe brush, mosquito swatter, and flashlight.
During this second visit, ‘Forest with Bears’ added more TV channels, and the kids could finally watch some cartoons. The Coca-Cola family doesn’t have cable TV for cartoons, so whenever the kids get the chance to watch TV, they find it hard to leave the sofa—haha!
Going further inside, the left side of the hallway is the open-air balcony and also the location of the Japanese-style hot tub, while the right side is the bathroom. Large floor-to-ceiling windows and wooden doors provide bright lighting and a warm wooden ambiance.
The outdoor Japanese-style hot tub on the balcony is surrounded by walls, so there’s no worry about privacy. This large bath can accommodate the whole family for a soak together. ‘Forest with Bears’ also provides wooden ladles and lemongrass to enhance the fragrance. The Coca-Cola family spent their days playing in the water and their evenings soaking in the tub, fully immersed in relaxation.
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The bathroom also has floor-to-ceiling windows, which can be covered with curtains. It features a double vanity, an extendable makeup mirror, a separated wet and dry shower area, a TOTO Washlet toilet, and L'Occitane toiletries—all high-quality products. The best part is the bathroom is equipped with a heating and cooling air conditioning system, keeping the space dry and comfortable at all times.
At the very back are two large double rooms, each with full-length floor-to-ceiling windows, which we love for the abundant natural light. Outside the windows are nothing but green trees and lawns, giving the feeling of living in a “forest with bears”—a concept where you’re surrounded by greenery wherever you go.
Moreover, on the bed there’s not only an oversized teddy bear holding a fresh rose, but also a romantic arrangement of rose petals spelling out “11th Anniversary.” It was simply so romantic. Thank you to the hosts at “The Forest with Bears” for going the extra mile to arrange this. (If you’re visiting to celebrate your wedding anniversary, birthday, or Valentine’s Day, please let the hosts know when booking!)
Thick curtains block out light, and there’s a spacious 6x7 KING SIZE double bed with a mattress and pillows of medium firmness. A SONY sound system is provided on the bedside table, filling the room with pleasant music that adds to the cozy atmosphere.
In addition to the TV in the living room, there’s also one in the bedroom, so no need to fight over the remote. The two double rooms are separated by wooden sliding doors, giving parents and children their own private spaces while maintaining a sense of intimacy.
The KeleGuo family really loves the room design at “The Forest with Bears,” filled with elegant, warm wood tones. The entire space is clean, spacious, and relaxing—like being at home. The kids kept saying, “I wish our home could be decorated like this.”
Dad from the KeleGuo family thought to himself: I just need to earn more money and then hire the “Bear with Conscience Design Company,” run by the owner of “The Forest with Bears,” to do our home’s interior design!
After entering the room, our whole family didn’t want to leave at all. For this wedding anniversary trip, we decided not to rush around but to fully enjoy the homestay’s tasteful ambiance. The kids played in the outdoor hot tub, the parents sipped hot tea, listened to music, and watched their children laugh—it was the perfect family moment, truly delightful.
For dinner on the first day, we waited until the kids had enough fun before driving out to eat. When we got back, after taking a shower, the Kele siblings snuggled up to the big teddy bear and fell asleep. That huge teddy bear took up nearly half of their bed, but they didn’t mind at all.
Dad from the KeleGuo family specially bought a few bottles of wine. When the kids were asleep at night, we enjoyed a relaxing soak together, chatting. Since it was our wedding anniversary, of course we added a little spark to enhance our relationship. Haha. With the starry sky above, we soaked, drank beer, and definitely slept well that night!
Breakfast on the second day consisted of an individualized nine-grid meal set, plus a bowl of sweet potato rice and miso soup. The items in the nine-grid often change—this time we had vegetables, meat, fish, and eggs, covering all the nutrition we needed for the day.
I love such a refreshing meal. It’s not only healthy and nourishing but also delicious, giving me plenty of energy for the day!
I (KeleGuo mom) specifically chose a vegetarian option. Aside from no meat or fish, even the miso soup was vegetarian—the rest was the same!
There’s also a counter that offers soy milk, coffee, fruit tea, steamed buns, and toast—you’ll definitely leave with a full stomach.
After breakfast, we headed to Lichuan Fish Farm to dig for clams. It wasn’t far from the homestay. The kids experienced digging for clams in the water for the first time—it was so much fun. By the time we got back, our bedsheets and pillows had already been changed, the trash cleared, and there was even a cute note left for us (along with an adorable paper-folded teddy bear).
For dinner on the second day, we stayed at “The Forest with Bears.” The adults enjoyed an “Annam-style set meal,” while the three Kele kids each had their own bear-themed egg fried rice kids’ meal + miso soup.
The adults’ set meal was served course by course, allowing us to savor each dish elegantly. Southwind Salad with sweet and spicy fish sauce, Vietnamese spring rolls, French bread with turmeric chicken, seafood pho, and dessert—one delicious and refreshing dish after another.
The kids’ meals were adorable—little bears made with egg wrappers as blankets and fried shrimp as limbs. Very cute and eye-catching. However, personally, I felt the kids’ meal was a bit simple—I’d have liked to see more vegetables or meat options.
Halfway through dinner, the host brought over a bouquet of flowers and a cake, which was such a lovely surprise. After being married for so many years, it’s rare to get such romantic surprises. This one really made me happy and unforgettable. (You can inform them when booking if it’s for a celebration or birthday—they can help arrange flowers and cakes!)
Holding that bouquet of flowers in my hands, I was truly overjoyed. Having walked through more than a decade with the man beside me—from meeting to marriage—so many sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy memories flooded back in an instant.
Just as we were immersed in happiness, Dad from the KeleGuo family actually smeared cake on me—what a total mood killer!
We placed the bouquet and cake on the table, with the background of our three Kele kids. I never imagined my life would include three such adorable treasures. Watching them grow little by little, the age differences between the siblings make them both competitive and supportive—the house is always lively and bustling.
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We ended the beautiful dinner filled with immense happiness. Choosing to spend our wedding anniversary at “The Forest with Bears” felt incredibly meaningful—truly touching and unforgettable.
Before checking out, the kids went to the lake again to call the geese, bringing some bread to feed them. Each goose stretched its neck, waiting for food from the kids, especially Lele, who was the most excited, running all over the place.
These geese actually belong to the homestay across the way—they’re quite healthy and clean in color. Watching them swim in the water is so soothing.
“The Forest with Bears” offers premium five-star experiences in both facilities and services, understated yet elegant. Spending two nights here is truly a luxurious treat.
On our second visit to “The Forest with Bears,” we were welcomed back to the familiar cozy bedrooms, the stargazing open-air hot tub, and the kind, friendly bear-themed hosts. Everything felt familiar—as if we had returned to our own little holiday cabin. (If this were really our family holiday home, how wonderful that would be—we could come back to vacation here every year!)
Thank you to “The Forest with Bears” for maintaining such high quality. You helped us leave our worries behind, experience true relaxation in Hualien, and created unforgettable, happy memories for our family.
Guoguo and I have stayed in countless homestays and hotels, but to this day, he only remembers "Forest of the Bear." I guess he really, really loves that bear!
The beauty of Yunshan Water made me unable to resist taking a handsome photo of Cola Guo Dad’s vintage car. This car, which has accompanied us through mountains and seas for over ten years, finally got its moment in the spotlight.
The beauty of Yunshan Water in Hualien, with its enchanting lake views, majestic and towering mountains, and the interplay of white clouds and lake water like a painting—I truly love such natural scenery. If you have the chance to visit Yunshan Water in Hualien, consider staying at "Forest of the Bear" to enjoy the tranquility of nature and the slow pace of life in Hualien.
[Reprinted with permission from Cocoa’s Imaginary World | Original article: “A Heartwarming and Moving 11th Anniversary Celebration at ‘Hualien Forest of the Bear Villa’—A Relaxing Feeling of Being Home”]