By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
As autumn cools, bright red coffee cherries and green-skinned i* citrus reach peak harvest in Dongshan. The 2012 Dongshan Coffee Season will run from late October to late January of the following year. During the event, not only are five 1–2 day tour packages such as hiking, fruit picking, and holiday farming offered, but also 22 coffee shops and 4 accommodation providers are giving discounts on coffee desserts, gourmet meals, and other perks like gifts when spending a certain amount. Among them, homestays are featuring 50% off on weekdays, while some even offer free green-skinned i* citrus tastings—letting visitors enjoy delicious food in the flavorful autumn while saving money.
Tainan’s 2012 Dongshan Coffee Season will attract visitors with tour packages and various merchant discounts. (Photo provided by Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau)
Besides coffee shops creating coffee-flavored meals, creative coffee dishes, green-skinned i* citrus jam, and handmade cookies, the 1–2 day tours launched during the event include five routes: Dongshan Hiking & Fruit Picking, Bee-tastic Coffee Experience, Dongshan Coffee Fruit Picking, and one- or two-day Farm Leisure Experiences. These will take participants through coffee harvesting, DIY coffee baby crafts, wild vegetable picking, and local agricultural culture tours, with tour fees ranging fromNT$300to NT$1,700.
The A*utou Mountain area is also in its prime for autumn hiking and sightseeing. Visitors can follow the stone staircase trail behind Dongshan Xiangong Temple uphill to admire the pinkish-purple blooms of spotted touch-me-nots. The stone staircase ends at a rest platform with a pavilion that accommodates 20–30 people. This section climbs from Xiangong Temple at 600 meters above sea level to the pavilion at 830 meters, taking about an hour. For the descent, you can choose the gentler southern farm road—a zigzagging cement path that’s more open and offers different plants and birdlife compared to the temple’s back trail. Around 40 bird species inhabit the area, making this a worthwhile route to plan.
Dongshan coffee is now in peak season—perfect for tasting. (Photo provided by Tainan City Government Tourism Bureau)
In addition, in November, the“2012 Tainan Guanziling Hot Spring Music Festival” will be held, where multiple travel agencies have planned special attraction routes such as the Fire and Water Springs and Biyun Temple. Options include a 2-day, 1-night package staying overnight in Guanziling, then visiting Nankeng for i* citrus picking and heading to Dongshan for coffee the next day. During holidays, a full-day free shuttle bus service is available within Guanziling, with onboard guides providing commentary. For more information, visit the event’s official website: tour.tainan.gov.tw.The “2012 Tainan Guanziling Hot Spring Music Festival” event will collaborate with several travel agencies to plan itineraries featuring special attractions such as Shuihuo Tongyuan and Biyun Temple, including a 2-day-1-night package that involves an overnight stay in Guanziling, followed by a trip to Nanliao for i* citrus picking and a coffee experience in Dongshan. During the holiday period, a full-day free sightseeing bus service will also be available, shuttling around Guanziling with on-board guides providing commentary. For more information, please visit the event’s official website: tour.tainan.gov.tw.
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