Whose high heels fell in the fields? 6 New Must-Visit Spots in Southern Taiwan During the Spring Festival Holiday

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

From the end of 2015 to early 2016, eye-catching new attractions have opened across Taiwan. If you haven’t had the chance to visit them yet, take advantage of the 9-day Spring Festival holiday to check them out. Following our roundups of Northern and Central Taiwan, this article compiles theNew Must-Visit Travel Destinations in Southern Taiwan for the Lunar New Year, for your reference.

▲ The National Palace Museum Southern Branch in Chiayi was completed at the end of 2015. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

1. Chiayi – National Palace Museum Southern Branch
The National Palace Museum Southern Branch, which resembles a giant gold ingot, officially began trial operations late last year after 15 years of planning and construction, becoming an important hub for showcasing historical artifacts and culture in Southern Taiwan. To coincide with the opening of the Southern Branch, the museum’s most popular exhibit, the “Jadeite Cabbage,” will be displayed there until October 2, 2016, followed by the “Meat-Shaped Stone” from October 4 onward, allowing residents in Southern Taiwan to admire these two treasured exhibits without traveling far.

Address: No. 185, Museum Blvd., Taibao City, Chiayi County

▲ The world’s largest glass high-heeled shoe church. (Photo / Provided by Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan Area National Scenic Area Administration)

2. Chiayi – Glass High Heel Church
Before its official opening, the “Glass High Heel Church” garnered media attention both domestically and internationally. Standing approximately 17 meters tall and 11 meters wide, its exterior is made up of 320 glass panels. The Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan Area National Scenic Area Administration also plans to create 100 photo spots around the church, connected by pathways. Partial access for visitors began on the first day of the Lunar New Year, with a limit of 1,000 people per time slot.

▲ The Blue Print returns to Tainan in a brand-new look. (Photo / Provided by Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park)

3. Tainan – Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park
After a two-year hiatus, the iconic Blue Print has returned to Tainan. The former Judicial Dormitory Complex (now repurposed) opposite Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Xintiandi in Tainan has been restored and revitalized as the “Blue Print Cultural and Creative Park.” The Tainan City Cultural Affairs Bureau invited architect Liu Kuo-cheng to design a 3D Blue Print installation at the park’s entrance, while artist Lee Ming-dao created the park’s mascot, “BLUES.” Standing three feet tall, BLUES features sailor blue as its main color, paired with super-long legs and LED eyes that can change expressions, making it a new landmark for Tainan tourism. The park has now begun trial operations.

Address: Lane 689, Section 1, Ximen Rd., West Central District, Tainan City
(Former Judicial Dormitory Complex, opposite Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xintiandi)
Opening Hours: Open all day
Cultural and Creative Shop Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

▲ The country’s largest sunflower maze awaits your challenge. (Photo / Provided by Flying in the Sky)

4. Kaohsiung – Sunflower Field Maze
The country’s largest “Sunflower Maze,” since its land preparation in November last year, clearly shows the aerial pattern “5230 (I Love Shanlin),” arranged in the shape of a maze. Covering an area of 3 hectares with 25 hectares of flower fields, during the 10-day exhibition period, in addition to the Shanlin Sunflower Maze City, Meiyue Flower Fields, and Shanlin Bridge Flower Fields, the site also hosts flower picking, prayer zones, local produce sales, and couples flower viewing activities.

Exhibition Period: February 5 – February 14

▲ The world’s first 3D painted rice field of the Pili puppet show, created using four-color rice. (Photo / Provided by a netizen)

5. Pingtung – Pili Puppet Show Painted Rice Field
This year, Pingtung County Government obtained free authorization from Pili International Multimedia to create the world’s first “3D Painted Rice Field of the Pili Puppet Show” using purple, white, yellow, and green colored rice. Covering about 2 hectares, the rice field features key characters from the Pili series—Suchunyen and Yehpajyu—as its central theme, with the four-colored rice bringing these vivid characters to life in the fields.

To allow the public to view the full panorama of the 3D Pili Painted Rice Field, a viewing platform approximately 6 meters high will also be set up this year, with timed ticket distribution allowing visitors to look down on the rice field from above.

Time: January 30 – February 29
Ticket: Free
Location: Pingtung Tropical Agriculture Expo Park
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on New Year's Eve

▲One of the hottest southern Taiwan attractions lately — the Shanchuan Glass suspension bridge. (Photo / Reporter You ○ Ru)

6. Pingtung – Shanchuan Glass Suspension Bridge
One of the most popular attractions in Taiwan recently is the “Shanchuan Glass Suspension Bridge.” The bridge spans 262 meters in length and is approximately 45 meters above the ground, making it currently the longest hammock-style suspension bridge in Taiwan.

The Shanchuan Glass Suspension Bridge connects Sandi Village in Sandimen Township with Beiyeh Village in Maolin Township. From the bridge, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the majestic mountain ranges. The design of the bridge draws inspiration from the glass beads symbolic of the Paiwan and Rukai tribes, with glass installation artworks embedded along both sides. In addition, there are 24 story plaques that recount touching tales from the tribes, complemented by light art installations, allowing visitors to feel as though they are walking through a corridor of stories as they cross the bridge.