By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Li Xinyi, compiled and reported
Currently, temperatures in the Meilin Mountain area of Tainan have dropped sharply, and the plum trees are feeling the chill, with blossoms gradually coming into bloom. Popular spots for plum blossom viewing include Wulong Trail and Meifeng Ancient Trail (Purple Peony), among others. Visitors can drive directly to nearby parking lots and enjoy the sight of the plum blossoms on foot or park at Erceilou Parking Lot and walk to Guanyin Temple. Going downhill, you can also admire plum blossoms in front of Mei Garden Restaurant and at Fulai Century-old Plum Garden, among other areas. Another route includes plum blossom trails and scattered white-blossoming plum trees around Hongyuan in Zhuzaiji and around Guanyin Temple, giving the entire Meilin area a dusting of white. The plum blossom season is expected to last until the end of January, with blooms gradually opening from the mountaintop down to the foothills.
Plum blossoms in Tainan’s Meilin Mountain are gradually blooming from the mountaintop down to the foothills. (Photo provided by Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau)
The Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau recommends considering nearby accommodations in Nansi, Yujing, and Nanhua such as Guidan Leisure Experience Farm, Zengwen Homestay Mountain Villa, Zengwen Youth Activity Center, Zengwen Shanfurong Resort Hotel, Oweis Villa, Mango Story, and Mahogany, allowing you to plan your own 2-day-1-night itinerary. Whether it’s soaking in Guidan Hot Springs, admiring plum blossoms, tasting plum chicken, or visiting must-see attractions like the Jiang Family Ancestral House, Yongxing Suspension Bridge, and Xuan Kong Temple, or engaging in local rural DIY experiences, it’s a perfect winter travel option for families or friends.
Visiting Meilin to admire the flowers also gives you the chance to join local package tours that include activities like q"earthen stove cooking, starfruit picking, and mushroom gathering. (Photo provided by Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau)
To complement the plum blossom viewing event in Meilin, the Meilin Leisure Agriculture Area has launched several rural experience package tours, including loquat picking, q"earthen stove cooking, starfruit picking, and mushroom gathering. These newly introduced tours are related to the area's winter fruits and include visits to the local plum orchards. Visitors can not only enjoy the close-up fragrance of white plum blossoms but also find great photo spots in the vast plum gardens. In addition to admiring the plum blossoms, you can pair the experience with a few cups of hot tea or locally produced limited-edition Taiwanese coffee. For example, Junming’s Home offers a starfruit picking tour, and depending on weather conditions, you can also add on mushroom picking and enjoy them grilled on the spot. At Hongyuan, after the earthen stove cooking, visitors are taught how to make homemade ginger candy. Made with chemical-free old ginger and a mix of black and brown sugar, it becomes the perfect winter tonic for those who feel the cold. For more details, please visit the Meilin Leisure Agriculture Area information website at www.plum-meiling.org.tw.
● Extended Reading: 2-Day Trip to Tainan ~ Reliving the Charm of Old Houses
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