No need to go to Europe for this view—a snowy forest camping trip!

Text and photos byMike Peng

As early as December last year, we had visited Qing Shan. We stayed one night and were deeply impressed by the serene atmosphere of the coffee shop. While sipping coffee under the shade of trees in the afternoon, no matter what time of day it was, it always gave me a unique feeling. So, after that trip, I decided that I must come back again. But I never expected that this time, I would encounter... snowfall!

This time, we planned our trip for Sunday and Monday to avoid the crowds. The night before, we had already heard that it had snowed on mountains across Taiwan. As we drove toward Nanzhuang, looking at the distant mountains, wow—the mountaintops were white. There really was snow, there really was snow!

As we got closer, the white snow on the mountains became clearer. When we reached the road toward Luchang and passed the intersection shown in the photo below, we could see the entrance to Qing Shan.

From the intersection, we started climbing uphill. The distance was only 1.3 kilometers, and the road conditions were very good. Along the way, we saw snow covering both sides of the path.

Wow, the walls at the entrance were piled high with snow—it felt just like a resort abroad.

The trees on the mountain were all covered in white, giving a completely different feeling from our last visit.

The umbrellas and chairs in Area A were covered with a thick layer of snow.

Although the heavy snow had stopped by the time we arrived, the snow-covered mountaintops still left us in awe.

Suddenly, a little blue sprite flew by, hopping around—so cute. Is it a Yellow-bellied Blue Flycatcher?

Since Luchang had been closed off, visitors who had originally planned to go there turned to this area instead. It quickly became quite lively.

Considering that Areas A and the cedar grove had standing water on the ground after a night of heavy snow, we decided to camp in Area B this time (the campground has now been fully paved with gravel, so there's no need to worry about rain anymore).

Some people had already started having snowball fights in the cherry blossom area.

Even the power sockets on the ground, covered in a layer of snow, looked adorable (haha, it’s really rare to see snow in Taiwan).

Fully geared up—wear, layer, and wrap up everything you can: waterproof pants, rain boots, gloves, the works.

Let’s build a snowman right away—make your own Olaf!

It was so cold that after setting up the tent, we quickly got the fire pit going. Otherwise, the temperature would drop even faster as the night went on.

I hadn’t prepared waterproof gloves, so my woolen ones got wet right away. Thankfully, hanging them near the gas lamp dried them out quickly. Then I had a cup of plum wine to warm up—but kids shouldn’t drink this.

Minors should not consume alcohol.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

Tonight, let’s have a hot pot with pickled cabbage and pork, paired with shepherd’s purse to elevate the aroma even more.

Tonight, we had the whole campsite to ourselves. We used the fire pit to heat up food and also to keep the living tent warm, but remember to leave ventilation on both sides to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

The night was beautiful. It wouldn’t snow again tonight, but the temperature was still very low—probably close to freezing.

During our alone time, it was our little midnight snack session. The southern ironware cotton cloth pot was incredibly handy—whether for stir-frying or grilling, the dishes had a unique flavor. My wife even made a custom storage bag for it. These handmade items will be available for sale from time to time on our fan page.Mode-RStay tuned!

Qing Shan is surrounded by nature, and birds often appear in the woods. Sometimes, you’ll hear birds chirping nearby, and if you’re lucky, you might spot some. For details on what kinds of birds you might see, more information will be introduced in the article below.

On Monday morning, the temperature when we woke up was only 3°C. It was the first time I felt like I was sleeping in a refrigerator. Fortunately, the 1500g sleeping bag I had ordered beforehand provided excellent warmth, so I didn’t feel too cold. At that time, I noticed that in the areas of the mountain hit by sunlight, wisps of white smoke were rising—it was the snow starting to melt.

The stark contrast was like the steam that bursts out when you open a fridge.

Just as the veterans said, before freezing temperatures and snowfall, you should leave the tap running to keep the water flowing. Otherwise, after a night, the water in the pipes will freeze, and there’ll be no water in the morning.

Our Orange Maple + Decathlon living tent has accompanied us through several camping nights—whether under scorching sun, biting wind, or snowy landscapes. It’s truly an awesome combo.

(OS... Glad we didn’t enter on Saturday. Campers who arrived the night before said: heavy snow fell in the middle of the night, and they had to clear the snow off their tents several times. If not cleared, the tents could have collapsed.)

Finally, the sun is out. No need to worry about packing wet tents.

Qing Shan] Blown away by how incredibly beautiful it was. From high elevation to low, from morning till dusk, whether in sunlight or under a soft hue—the moment we stepped into that warm room with coffee inside, we knew we could arrange another stay here. For details on accommodation prices, check the blog post: Accommodation Info.

Who knows how long it’ll be before we get to see such snow scenery again? Before taking down the tent, let’s take one more walk around.

It felt like being abroad—the combination of blue sky and white snow was so picturesque, no matter how you shot it, it came out beautiful.

The walking path behind the cafe was covered in snow. Though much less than the day before, walking on it still filled us with joy.

Thankfully, because of this camping trip, our whole family got this precious snow-chasing experience. Although we don’t yet have enough travel funds to go abroad, it was a small way to satisfy our craving for snow.

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Next is an introduction to the campsite. I originally read a travel-sharing post by “Ni Ni’s Mom,” whose introduction was actually even more detailed. The photos below are all from December last year, taken on weekdays when visitors had gradually left. In front of the restaurant is my favorite cedar forest area—can accommodate 4 tents, with cars able to park next to the tents, but this may be canceled in the future due to the route between the restaurant and visitors.

A corner of the restaurant

The restaurant pricing is similar to that of a regular garden restaurant. After all, ingredients have to be transported up from down the mountain. It’s worth trying if you get the chance.

Area A, located beside the restaurant

Can accommodate six tents. Cars must be parked in the parking lot below.

Area B, shot from the inside out. This time with the snow, our family switched to setting up here (cars can be parked next to the tents, about 10 tents maybe, but actual tent numbers to be confirmed).

Lastly, the cherry blossom area—this spot is likely to become very popular too, but the space feels smaller. We haven’t had the chance to set up here yet.

Cherry blossom area

Cherry blossom area layout—can accommodate 9 tents.

Now, we must especially introduce the thoughtful touches found all over the campsite—from the illustrations, decorations, and wording you see everywhere—to most importantly, the Japanese-style color scheme, which I absolutely love.

Even the toilet decor is fun, and the plants planted are full of life.

Throughout the entire campsite, inside and out, you can see the owner’s meticulous care.

The large birdcage nestled in the forest makes for a fantastic photo background.

They were so thoughtful that even the toilet signs became little sprites in my lens. Throughout the visit, it felt like I was chasing these playful sprites through the forest, almost imagining that a Totoro might be hiding in such a woodland.

Just past the wooden bridge beside the cedar forest area is the campsite’s only restroom (farther from the B&C areas and cherry blossom area). However, the owner mentioned that new bathrooms are under construction and will be available soon, making things more convenient for everyone.

There is one squat toilet in the men’s restroom

The women’s side has two squat toilets and one sit-down toilet

After checking out the toilets, next are the showers. These are located in the metal shack in front of the restaurant entrance. Currently, there are only two shower rooms, but future expansions of the bathroom facilities will also be built here, making it much more convenient for campers.

Outside, there are mirrors and hairdryers available for everyone to use.

Bathroom A is very spacious—even the whole family can bathe together. However, there’s limited storage space, so it’s recommended to bring your own RV storage bins for clothes.

The semi-transparent roof above allows for very soft lighting.

Bathroom B is also very roomy, but be aware that the water pressure is quite strong—water might spray everywhere if you’re not careful.

Even the electricity-saving reminder on the wall is filled with the hostess’s gentle touch.

Are you ready to come to ~~~ the deep mountains?

I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

[Qing Shan]nbsp;
Price: 1000 per tent
Address: No. 22, Shipi, Donghe Village, Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan
Phone: 0917171815 / 03-7821510
Elevation: 750M
Dates: 2015/12/20-12/21 & 2016/1/24-1/25

Mike bump
Not at home today, taking the kids on an adventure away from home~ A parent-child nature diary