No longer free！Bayan Settlement charges 250 NTD per person & requires 7-day advance booking

▲ Bayan Settlement. (Photo / From the official Facebook page of Bayan Settlement)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

Once regarded as a hidden gem in northern Taiwan and famed for its “mid-water” scenic beauty, Bayan Settlement will no longer allow unrestricted public access starting from April this year. Instead, visitor management will be carried out through a “group-in, group-out” system. In addition to paying a fee of 250 NTD per person, visitors must also make a reservation at least seven days in advance.

In fact, Bayan Settlement is privately owned land, but because it is located within Yangmingshan National Park, many people assume it is a freely accessible public area.Starting from April, to maintain the quality of visitors’ experiences, the settlement has gradually implemented controlled access to its buildings and fields by zone. Visitors who have not made prior reservations will only be allowed to access the connecting pathways within the settlement and will not be permitted to enter residential or field areas. In the future, even these connecting pathways will be included within the controlled zone.

▲ Bayan Settlement. (Photo / From the official Facebook page of Bayan Settlement)

Due to differences in land use, if visitors only wish to see the “mid-water” area, they can pay a separate on-site fee of 30 NTD. However, they will not be able to access the Bayan Settlement area, which requires a prior reservation.The Bayan Settlement stated that in the past, many visitors trespassed into residences and fields, causing disturbances to local residents. That’s why the new control measures have been introduced. After registering at least seven days in advance, visitors will be given a two-hour guided tour. The aim of these controls is to provide a high-quality, welcoming travel environment where visitors can truly experience and understand the settlement, rather than simply visiting for sightseeing and photo opportunities.