A Hidden Camping Gem in Tainan: Nestled by the New Forest of Forgetfulness and Breathtaking Seaside Views!

Text and photos by /Master He

Gazing at the vast ocean under the azure sky, the Ai Manor before you helps you leave all urban worries behind, filling your heart with boundless energy. Remember to follow Master He’s LOVE Camping in 2016 as we seek hidden camping spots together and chase after dreams that may have seemed out of reach — you can actually do it.

Vanaheim Ai Manor Elevation and Satellite Positioning Map:

Vanaheim Ai Manor Site Guide Chart:

Directions to Vanaheim Ai Manor:

Take National Freeway 1 or 3, then get on Provincial Highway 84, heading directly toward Beimen (West) on the right.

Provincial Highway 84 has clear and easy-to-follow signs.

Exit at Beimen Interchange.

Once off the interchange, connect to Provincial Highway 17 and head toward Budai.

When you reach the 140 km mark on Provincial Highway 17, please move to the left and prepare to make a left turn.

Turn left onto County Road South 2, heading toward Shuangchun.

Walk along the embankment, and when you see Shuangchun Recreation Area, take the right fork (County Road South 2).

The starting point of County Road South 2 is the main entrance of Vanaheim Ai Manor.

Please park on the right side of the gate, where friendly staff will greet you.

On the left is the ticket booth — please find a staff member to guide you to your spot.

A new hidden attraction in Tainan’s Beimen district: Vanaheim Ai Manor.

The ticket price is quite reasonable.

Upon entering the gate, on the left, you’ll find the Boat House Restaurant.

On the right, there’s a bridal studio.

Walk forward through the Time Corridor.

Master He had a wild idea — if you could camp inside here, it would definitely be a new experience XD

The weather in Southern Taiwan is really nice today. I heard the North has been damp and cold (photo taken facing the main entrance).

On the left side of the main park road is the installation art camping area (it’s huge, with a canal trail).

Vehicles can drive right up to the campsite for unloading, which is quite convenient.

This is the campsite where we’ll spend the night.

To be honest, the campsite is so big — it took us ages to choose a spot.

There are paths next to each campsite leading to the innermost part of the camp.

I'm not sure if campervans can enter the campsite for overnight stays, but it's truly a great place.

This beginner-friendly campsite has only just opened, so we really need more advice from fellow campers (the owner is a total newbie too).

Powered sockets at the campsite

Water sink at the campsite (installed immediately after suggestions were made).

Otherwise, you'd have to wash dishes squatting on the ground XD

It's a newly opened beginner campsite with an unknown itinerary (everything is full of novelty).

The grounds are really vast—I don’t even know where to start describing them.

We canceled our trip to "That Mountain That Valley" in Kenting and came to the southern part where the weather is nice, which gave us a great sense of getting more than we paid for~

A private campsite under the moonlight—we couldn’t sleep and went looking for night photography spots.

After much effort, we found this private spot for night photography. It’s an untouched photography location, not yet known to many (Tainan’s version of the new Forest of Serenity).

Now let’s introduce the houseboat restaurant.

Aerial view of the houseboat restaurant

A very chill restaurant where we came in to eat some Chinese food.

It happened to be Christmas, so the festive atmosphere was strong.

The bright restaurant makes for a pleasant dining atmosphere.

Super clean dining space

The handwritten menu is all up there hey

There are four super comfy hammocks inside the restaurant (for visitors to rest in)

Awesome, right? Even the little ones in our group loved them.

It’s lunchtime, and with a limited budget, we ordered the set meal for 300 NT—first up (shrimp sausage and plain shrimp balls).

Second dish: plain squid (with homemade seasoning, absolutely delicious).

And finally, the third plate: local grilled shrimp feast (highly recommended +1).

Also, the little ones in our family loved

The crispy oyster mushrooms that got finished off completely

Patting our bellies, looking at the sunny sky—I love you, Tainan~ haha.

The restaurant’s outdoor dining area

Also, there’s a small convenience store inside Ai Manor.

They really sell everything (phew, they even have sparkling water for adults!)

The restaurant’s outdoor barbecue kitchen—great use of space and lovely decorative canvas.

The blazing hardwood charcoal fire in the outdoor kitchen

The owner has meticulously decorated this garden, with thoughtful touches visible everywhere.

Though there’s no starlight, admiring the moonlit clouds is still quite lovely, haha.

Now let’s take a look at the beautiful wedding dress area (there are installations up front that are great for photos).

In front of the wedding dress pavilion, there’s an electric yellow duck loved by kids (it moves very slowly, so no worries).

The installations attract young visitors to come and explore.

Tainan is truly a winter paradise—camping here feels incredibly lucky.

White clouds and blue sky + paper cranes = fallen angels of Vanaheim Love Manor.

The wedding sprite pavilion under the moonlight is perfect for heartfelt chats with friends.

Let’s check out another area in the campsite that’s great for pitching tents, heading toward the seaside.

Passing by colorful mosaic installation chairs.

To the right is the lakeside pavilion area suitable for camping.

There’s no electricity here, making it ideal for seasoned campers.

Free tables and chairs are available for use.

Next to a scenic lake.

There are also sand piles for play along the roadside.

On the opposite side is the mudskipper area.

There are also several free tables and chairs.

Plus, there are cheerful mudskippers keeping you company (this was almost the chosen spot)—the ground is flat.

Beautiful lakeside pavilion camping spots with endless scenic views.

This is the most stunning wedding photo spot in the manor.

The lake water complements the white clouds and blue sky.

You won’t find another campsite like this anywhere.

The breathtaking reflection by the lake—sipping coffee under the pavilion here is absolutely delightful.

Love Manor also has a super fun attraction: the white sandy beach.

The mudskipper camping area, just a one-minute walk outward.

Tainan’s Nanmen is truly a place that sparks endless imagination.

Under the azure sky, imagining a pirate flag drifting here (is this the New World from One Piece?).

Is it an endless fantasy of drifting?

Is it the dream of wild men?

The moment you ride the waves across the sea, your dream comes true.

Dream House at Love Manor is a must-see.

Camp right in the midst of a fantastical mangrove forest.

Camp along the lakeside trail under the azure sky.

The wishing tree at Love Manor helps little ones make wishes—some entries are really creative, not sure what to write myself.

Get a close-up view of Kandelia obovata—it’s really rare to see, and it’s my first time, so it’s super fresh.

Special introduction: the camping forest bathing area at Love Manor (men-only).

Clean, simple, and nothing missing.

Shower cubicles (the first three have hot water).

Clear signage outside the showers—don’t use the wrong one.

Inside the shower, just missing a shelf.

One sink available.

Hairdryer available for 10 NT for 3 minutes (can take turns, available in both men's and women's bathrooms).

Women's only.

Just like the men’s restroom—nothing much to add, haha.

Two convenient vending options are available outdoors.

Also, Beimen has many famous attractions. After exiting the freeway, head toward Jiaoshi and turn left.

Park your car and walk into Beimen.

Out of habit, I looked for the local Ministry of Transportation office, the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan National Scenic Area Administration.

All for this tourist map.

A helpful volunteer guide led us throughout.

First, we visited the office building behind the administration center, the former police substation.

There are also many installations outside for photos.

Outside the building are meaningful totems—the square represents salt crystals, and the triangle stands for the salt mountain.

You can visit inside too—the place has a strong Christmas vibe.

Our little ones’ dream wishes XD (the kids are actually pretty practical) — the wishes are quite ambitious.

The most famous attraction in Beimen, the Crystal Church—first thing you see is this church.

Behind the church is what locals call the “Little White House,” a popular spot (arrived at 10 AM, truly deserted).

Visit the Blackfoot Disease Hospital.

The hospital offers rich guided explanations.

Volunteer guides enthusiastically took Master He’s family around, explaining and visiting various attractions in Beimen.

The weather wasn’t great, so the shots of the Crystal Chapel didn’t turn out well either—I’m too lazy to post them, hehe.

I wandered around the visitor center (it’s an artificial indoor attraction, not really my thing).

Sperm whale specimen

Outdoor installation art

I picked a unique one—really amazing.

The teacher’s paintings are truly exceptional.

I was actually surprised to see Vanaheim Love Manor’s promotional vehicle here.

Following the recommendation of a volunteer guide, I headed to Beimen Sanniaowan for food and drinks. It’s about three to five minutes’ drive from Beimen—turn right onto County Road 174 toward Sanniaowan.

It’s just 100 meters past Donglong Temple.

Don’t get the wrong place, hey—it’s Changying Seafood.

A clean kitchen with dishes made to order.

Tried some dishes I hadn’t had before (I’d eaten a bit in Beimen, so I just randomly ordered two things to try).

Three-cup milkfish sausage—absolutely delicious, seriously (super chewy and bouncy).

Limited-edition Hunkai ice

This handmade Hunkai is really something else—its smooth texture is unmatched.

Also, the black sugar and lemon in this ice are all homemade—the flavor is just different, really great.

On the way back to camp, I didn’t forget to grab some Tainan specialties—milkfish floss for breakfast.

Vanaheim Love Manor also has a winter-exclusive activity from November to February.

After so much camping, this was an absolutely unique experience (nighttime dune buggies, sand racing). The image below shows the eel-catching hut.

All to witness the only nighttime eel fry catching process in southern Taiwan.

An incredibly moving new experience—I never thought camping could bring such a special moment to a family.

The hardworking fishermen, every year during this season, brave the cold seawater and risk their lives, all for this very moment.

What they painstakingly catch isn’t just these tiny eel fry, but also a heart full of gratitude to bring joy to their families in the new year.

My last camping trip of 2015 turned out to be such a rich experience—visiting a hidden spot and night-shooting Tainan’s new Forest of Relief.

Night-shooting the beautiful pavilion by the lake (unfortunately), at night, Master He didn’t dare go into the water alone to shoot the lake view.

Truly, truly—camping is just that fun and moving.

I really can’t imagine how many beautiful places Taiwan has, gradually opening up for camping.

This camping trip made Master He fall in love with camping, bringing a whole new sensory experience.

The final camping trip of 2015 ends perfectly here.

In 2016, Master He’s love for camping will drive him to search even harder for new hidden camping spots in Taiwan, benefiting fellow camping enthusiasts.

With this reveal, Master He has already stored up ample energy to press forward.

At the end, we’re posting the door number of this reveal: NO.144. Next stop, heading north to Taiwan’s new camping secret spot.

Final wish: may the 2016 dream of Love Manor come true.

Realized at this new starting point of love, Vanaheim... a sprite descended from the starlight to the mortal world.

Vanaheim Love Manor Notice
1: This campsite area is very large, with currently inconvenient electricity and water supply. Only those who don’t mind may camp here.
2: A southern Taiwan campsite with super high cost-performance. It’s newly opened and urgently needs feedback and suggestions from campers.
3: This campsite has personnel on duty at night, with access via RFID tags (vehicles must park in the external parking lot).
4: Beimen District in Tainan is not a dengue fever epidemic area. Camp with peace of mind—there are few mosquitoes here.

Vanaheim Love Manor Information Sheet
Campsite fee: NT$700 per tent (for four people). No additional admission or other fees.
Campsite spots: Parking area spots (under construction, not yet open); art installation area spots (under construction, trial camping available).
Campsite power 1: Art installation area, power and water supply completed in the front section (for the back section, it’s better to bring your own power source and water containers).
Campsite power 2: Mudskipper area and pavilion pond area spots (it’s better to bring your own power source and water containers).
Campsite bathrooms: 6 bathrooms, many cold-water shower rooms, many toilets. All recreational area bathrooms are centralized (please note).
Campsite cost: NT$700 per tent (camping fee includes admission).
Mobile signal: Chunghwa Telecom 4G OK, others mostly available (only Far EasTone has limited reach—might need to pray a bit!).
Camping in summer: Bring a fan, as it’s at low altitude.
Campsite amenities: Includes restaurants and shops with everything you need.

Campsite Perks
1: No entrance fee for camping—super value and cost-effective.
2: Just a three-minute walk from the campsite, you can enjoy breathtaking sea views. This kind of campsite is truly the first of its kind in western Taiwan.
3: This is the place in Taiwan with the most wetland aquatic tree species (you can apply for a guided tour with the manor for a fee).
4: Vanaheim Love Manor—southern Taiwan staff with warm smiles and super friendly service. Highly recommend dining here.
5: Beimen District in Tainan is close to the sea, mostly coastal or fish farms, with minimal light pollution—great for stargazing at night.
6: Tainan’s new hidden gem—a new “Forest of Forgetfulness.”
7: Soon adding a sampan lake tour route (currently applying with Tainan City Government).
8: Beimen District in Tainan has many attractions, such as the Crystal Chapel, Zhi’azijiao Tile-Pan Salt Fields, and more.
9: Free 30-minute bridal dress experience with over 20 white wedding dresses available (free trial).

Master He’s Musings：Master He was among the first group of campers after Ai Manor opened its camping grounds. In the early days of the campsite, we welcome suggestions from fellow campers.

Vanaheim Ai Manor
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Address: No. 73-11, Shuangchun, Beimen District, Tainan City
Phone: Please call during business hours at 06-7865307
Business Hours: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Official Website:Ai Manor Tainan Tourism Bureau webpage

Master He LOVE Camping
A world where the freedom to camp stretches out endlessly before you
If my camping dreams can guide your way
Pursue them under the banner of belief
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