Nantou’s Latest Attractions: 3D Mural Wall Along the Shuili River Embankment & Scenic Bridge with Mountain Views

Text and photos byOrange Chairman x Joy’s Travel & Food Map

[Shuili Riverbank 3D Murals] Shuiyun Bridge Scenic Bridge | Shuili Waterfront Park | Nantou County Cycling Trail – Shuili Line

I saw a friend share the latest tourist attraction in Shuili, Nantou – [Shuili Riverbank 3D Murals] – on a Facebook group. With the great weekend weather, I headed there and also planned a “Nantou Jiji–Shuili One-Day Trip.”

[Shuili Riverbank 3D Murals]
Located under Shuiyun Bridge and next to Shuili Waterfront Park, the mural wall stretches about 200 meters. It features animals and insects such as Formosan black bears, butterflies, sika deer, rhinoceros beetles, and rabbits. The “Nantou County Cycling Trail – Shuili Line” is also planned here, allowing cyclists to enjoy the sport while admiring the “ecological mural wall.”

Walking along the flood prevention road, it’s hard not to notice the bold slogan “I Love Rivers” right next to the mural riverbank we’re visiting today.

Look at the adorable “frog” with its round, wide eyes – wonder who it’s staring at?

Another frog, even larger, looks like it’s just leaped out of the water, incredibly lifelike.

The majestic-looking “rhinoceros beetle,” also known as the “armored warrior,” appears to be climbing a tree. The tree’s color is intentionally left blank to spark imagination.

Next is the “butterfly” wall. At first, seeing photos online, Orange thought it was some kind of relief art or design piece, but in person, it turned out to be a hand-painted 3D mural – truly astonishing with its strong sense of depth.

Just strike a pose, and you can become a butterfly with wings spread wide.

The wall depicts three “sika deer,” probably dad, mom, and their fawn, reminding Orange of the real deer seen before at[Uni-President Resorts Lukang Cultural & Creative Hotel]in the “Lukang Ecological Park.” Hearing the sika deer’s call for the first time was quite novel – it sounded different from what I had imagined.

But the deer’s expressions seemed a bit stern, making me want to pose with an innocent look for a photo together.

Orange isn’t a bird expert, so I’m not sure which species are painted on the wall, but judging by their shapes and colors, they seem to represent different kinds.

Just place your hand by your mouth, and it looks like the bird is pecking at feed – pretty amusing.

Some of the murals are still in the spraying phase, so you’ll see walls with only the draft sketches. They’re expected to be fully completed and unveiled by early December. But many locals, like Orange, couldn’t wait to check out the “Shuili Riverbank 3D Murals” early.

With skies, forests, and water ripples as the backdrop, combined with shading and gradient techniques, the 3D murals appear even more vivid. They might not look super deep to the naked eye, but once you take a photo, the patterns on the wall seem to come alive, incredibly lifelike. It’s exciting to imagine how the newly painted murals will look.

After snapping photos of the murals, don’t forget to walk up to the riverbank for even better views.

[Shuiyun Bridge] is a famous scenic bridge in Shuili Town.

It sits at the confluence of the Shuili River and the Zhuoshui River.

The bridge is 96 meters long, completed in May 2005 (Republic of China year 94), and features light sculptures that illuminate at night – a great spot for both sunset and night scenery viewing.

“Shuiyun Bridge Construction Chronicle”

The view from the bridge, presented with contrasting red, green, and yellow hues.

Gazing at the mountain-surrounded landscape and vast open views, you can feel the charm of nature. It’s a pity the riverside is still under renovation; otherwise, it would be even more beautiful.

On the other hand, the opposite “Shuili Waterfront Park” is well-maintained.

There are plenty of water play facilities by the riverbank. This is actually where the annual “Shuili Water Play Festival” is held, but it was canceled this year due to provincial highway construction, much to the disappointment of many visitors.

“Shuili Waterfront Park Riverbank Trail” location map: starting from “Yushan National Park Administration,” the total length is 1,023 meters.

After taking photos, I planned to head to Zhongzheng Road, not far from Shuiyun Bridge, for dinner.

The chosen restaurant was [A’Congshi Mixed Noodles], winner of the “Central Taiwan Hakka Cuisine Competition.” Unfortunately, the shop was closed for a wedding that day, so I missed out on tasting their championship noodles – next time, I’ll make sure to try them.

Photo taken on: (2017.11.05) Photography & Writing

[Shuili Riverbank 3D Murals]

Address: Section 2, Free Road, Shuili Town, Nantou County, on the flood prevention road (under Shuiyun Bridge, next to Shuili Waterfront Park)

“Yushan National Park Administration” (recommended navigation location)

Address: No. 515, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Shuili Township, Nantou County (intersection of Section 1, Zhongshan Road, and Section 2, Free Road)

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