The forest restaurant in Taichung has pet "store ducks" — wooden boardwalks and viewing platforms offer scenic views of central Taiwan

▲ The park spans a vast 2.5 acres, where chickens and ducks roam freely—it’s absolutely adorable.

Reporter Chen Hanyin / Reported and photographed in Taichung

Nestled in Shigang, Taichung, the Tamarind Eco-Educational Leisure Farm is like a hidden paradise tailor-made for hermits. The owner, passionate about plants and dedicated to crop research, has cultivated over 700 plant species on this small hillside of 2.5 acres. Visitors can savor the most pristine mountain flavors and admire the purest natural scenery here, rediscovering their most genuine original intentions amid the sounds of insects and birds.

▲ The pet duck Pipi in the shop loves following guests around.

The Tamarind Leisure Farm is a botanical park that combines tourism, dining, and natural ecological education experiences. It is not only filled with rare plants from around the world but also features an adorable animal area where you can interact up close with chickens and ducks. Surrounded by vast greenery, the expansive farm includes wooden boardwalks, a cyclamen pavilion, observation decks, a butterfly ecology museum, and other facilities, making it perfect for spending a full day with children.

▲ The tamarind is a fruit tree from Africa. The farm owner, whose surname is Luo, started planting this tree around the time his son was born, so he named the farm Tamarind.

▲ The scenic area offers views of the greater Taichung landscape.

The nature-loving owner created a forest restaurant where sunlight streams freely through the wooden structure. The restaurant’s pet star, the duck “Pipi,” waddles around tending the shop and dozes off standing up when tired—absolutely adorable. The menu is full of healthy, nourishing dishes, such as steamed perch with perilla, mountain fern with plum flavor, and q-shaped grilled seafood pumpkin, allowing guests to enjoy the most authentic mountain delicacies.

▲ The lush, green forest restaurant has an amazing atmosphere.

▲ Authentic wild vegetables are delicious without needing heavy cooking, leaving a memorable aftertaste.

Tamarind Ecological Education Leisure Farm
Address: No. 6-6, Gangxian Lane, Wanshan Street, Shigang District, Taichung City 422
Public Transport: Take a train to Fengyuan Railway Station, then transfer to Fengyuan Bus to Shigang Station. You can be shuttled to the farm, or take a direct Ubus from Taipei to Shigang Station and shuttle to the farm.