Yellow Rubber Duck Heads to Taoyuan: Top One-Day Itinerary Recommendations

By MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The Yellow Rubber Duck visited Kaohsiung, and we’re sure many friends from the north felt disappointed about not being able to see the duck at Glory Pier. But don’t worry—on October 26, the Yellow Rubber Duck will make an appearance at the Taoyuan Land Art Festival. Friends up north will also be able to see it nearby. But after enjoying the duck, where else can you go? There are actually plenty of exciting spots waiting to be explored nearby, whether it’s visiting the Fanjiang Ancient Houses to admire traditional Hakka courtyard homes, feasting on seafood at Yong’an Fishing Port, strolling through the Xinwu Flower Sea Leisure Area, wandering among Taiwan lavender and cosmos flowers, or heading to Zhongli Night Market in the evening to sample delicious street food. Friends, start planning your trip now!

The “Taoyuan Land Art Festival,” taking place from October 26 to November 10, will be held across five major themed zones: Houhu Pond in Xinwu Township, Xinwu Pond, Guoling No. 58 Pond, the Water Lane in Xinwu Market Street, and the Fanjiang Ancient Houses. The most eye-catching highlight of this event is the internationally invited art installations, which include Yayoi Kusama’s “Dot Art” from Japan, Choi Jeong Hwa’s “Lotus” from South Korea, and, of course, the recently duck-fever-inducing “Yellow Rubber Duck,” which will be displayed at Houhu Pond.

The ancient house cluster centered around the Fanjiang Ancestral Hall was once densely packed, but today only four Fanjiang houses and the ancestral hall remain. The Fanjiang Ancestral Hall is a two-courtyard, multi-winged quadrangle compound. Whether it’s the swallowtail ridges, the horseback-style gables, or the earth-brick structural materials, all preserve the simple and unadorned characteristics of Hakka architecture. Situated at the heart of the family estate, the space is well planned and strongly embodies familial unity. The other four ancient houses vary in orientation and layout, but all belong to the ㄇ-shaped three-courtyard style of “main house with side wings (wings extending horizontally).” A low wall is set up in front of the open courtyard. Among them, the house at No. 3 is the most impressive, featuring decorations as ornate as temple architecture.

Yong’an Fishing Port, also known as Toucuo Port, is just like Taipei’s Fisherman’s Wharf, featuring ocean-view pavilions and walking paths. At sunset, it always attracts numerous visitors who come to admire the afterglow of the setting sun. At night, the illuminated harbor-view bridge casts a romantic glow. Aside from enjoying the scenery of the fishing port, you can also savor delicious seafood dishes at the sightseeing fish market.

Flower-loving friends, Xinwu Flower Sea is definitely the place to go. Covering dozens of hectares, the flower cultivation area is planted with sunflowers, cosmos, lotuses, Taiwan lavender, salvias, roses, and more. Each type of flower is presented in field-like arrangements, so during the blooming season, reds, yellows, purples, pinks, and whites form a vibrant sea of blossoms—an absolutely gorgeous sight, which is why it has become a popular spot for wedding photos.