Paragliders soaring under the sun in the sky! Head to Hushao Ranch in Nantou for a camping trip.

Text & photos byMckeipeng

When we set off, the weather in Taipei was unpredictable, but as we headed further inland, it got better. By the time we arrived in Puli, Nantou, the sky was completely clear. In fact, it took us less than ten minutes to get from the foot of the mountain to the campsite. When I looked up, I was blown away by the view. There were paragliders everywhere—I thought they were eagles circling above. Before long, I saw someone landing, and it was super cool.

The temperature that day was probably over 30°C, but luckily it was quite cool in the shade. We took a rest first, planning to pitch the tent when the sun was less intense. We also had some snacks and enjoyed the scenery.

Now that she’s in first grade, we made it a rule that homework must be finished before playing.

After resting for a while, we went for a stroll around the campsite to decide where to pitch our tent. Walking down the stairs next to the coffee bar, you can see tiered campsites—some are only big enough for one tent.

Others can fit 2–4 tents.

Wow, this area is amazing—the space is spacious and directly faces the beautiful view of the mountain.

Hiding under the trees to escape the heat was actually pretty warm—the lingering summer heat is strong!

As the sun gradually set, the temperature finally became cooler.

Our family still set up one tent and one living area today—it really makes the city below look tiny.

Right before leaving home in the morning, we happened to receive string lights and got to unbox them today.

The string lights at night are so beautiful, but does anyone know what that unique building in the distance is?

Only three tents came in today, so we had a little date first.

This spot is really nice—almost 8 a.m., and our tent isn’t even in direct sunlight. If we pitched it a bit more to the right, we could probably sleep in even later.

Just open the window, and you can see the beautiful outdoor scenery—that’s why we love camping. Since the temperature kept rising, we planned to finish breakfast and then head back down the mountain. We had several attractions planned for the day.

First stop—once you see this huge hexagonal arch, you’ll know where we are.

You can see adorable bee-themed decorations everywhere.

This is the Acer Bee Eco-Farm.

Inside the exhibition hall, you can see honeycomb specimens. Normally, we just eat honey, but today we got to learn about the bee honey production process.

The exhibition hall isn’t very big, but it’s beautifully decorated.

On the walls, you can see all kinds of honey products, with very clear descriptions.

We were lucky enough to catch a live explanation from a guide. Through the glass, you can see the marked queen bee.

Then we went outside to watch the guide open the beehive for everyone to see. Wow, seeing the densely packed bees—it might be overwhelming for those who fear crowds.

Right after leaving the bee farm, why are there dinosaurs here?

This is the Fengnian Farm, which produces mushrooms.

You can see painted mushroom artworks everywhere.

What caught my eye the most was actually the vegetable stand—the prices were quite reasonable. I bought two packs of green beans to add to dinner tonight.

There are also fresh king oyster mushrooms here, so why bother bringing them all the way from Taipei? We might as well just buy them here!

Today has been non-stop with back-to-back stops. Next up: Da Hei Song Xiao Liang Kou – Yuan Shou Pavilion.

To be honest, I don’t really recommend it because... there are just too many people. It’s packed with tour buses and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

But the square is actually a great spot for photos.

Running around and jumping, with pumpkin carriages in the background—it’s such a colorful and vibrant scene.

The final stop—since the weather was just too hot—we had to find somewhere with air conditioning, so we went to the Puli Winery.

Even though there were a lot of tourists, parking was convenient, and it had air conditioning indoors.

The best part? They had Hua Diao Ji (flower carving chicken) instant noodles. I was really happy to get some, but they didn’t have my preferred sour cabbage beef noodle flavor. Later, I realized they were even more expensive than the ones I bought at PX Mart. What the heck...

It’s already November, yet there’s absolutely no feel of winter. To avoid the scorching afternoon heat, we rushed through several spots during the day, just hoping to steer clear of the mountain sun. Back at camp, the sky was filled with paragliders swirling all over the hilltop.

The main goal? To snag this perfect angle!

Finally, there you are—this exaggerated proportion makes it look like the paraglider is about to fall into the tent.

The sun is setting, and the paragliding activities are wrapping up.

Such a beautiful sunset, paired with our little orange maple tent—it’s an amazing color combo.

In no time, what’s hailed as the million-dollar night view came into sight, with the faint outline of the Chung Tai Chan Monastery visible on the right.

Since it’s so close to the city, taking less than 10 minutes to get down, most people headed down the mountain to grab a bite. So tonight, let’s treat ourselves a little. The Hua Diao Ji instant noodles tasted especially delicious at camp, paired with dried mackerel, green beans—a simple but satisfying meal.

Chef Jia’s place finally lit up tonight—usually so low-key and tucked away. We’ll probably see it more often from now on.

Although dinner wasn’t that long ago, everyone was in super high spirits. After the leader turned on the lights, somehow the table got loaded with all sorts of snacks.

This time, Christine’s brother took charge of the grilling, and his skills were top-notch—not much different from a pro. Has he officially made it?

Tonight’s spread was abundant, and we just couldn’t finish it all.

Next time, we’ll have to show some restraint—even if the night view is gorgeous.

Paired with those oh-so-naughty late-night snacks, it was still a bit too much to handle.

Maybe next time, skip dinner altogether and go straight to the midnight munchies.

Just then, bursts of firecracker sounds came from behind. Looking up, it turned out someone was setting off fireworks in the open area outside. Honestly, it’s almost midnight—this is really disturbing people’s sleep.

Yet, under such a stunning night view, it’s really hard to fall asleep. Two nights in a row of beautiful skies—it’s genuinely hard to say goodbye.

The gentle cool breeze at night, warming up by the bonfire, brought maximum satisfaction to body and soul (well, the feeling of a full stomach is the most real, lol).

On the last day of the holiday, after a group photo, we quickly packed up because it was just too hot—everyone could barely keep their eyes open.

Next, let’s take a look at the campsite facilities. Once you enter the camp, you’ll definitely notice this counter—it offers coffee drinks and snacks like instant noodle pancakes.

The camp only has two toilet areas. This one is next to the counter and does not have a shower.

Go down the slope, and you’ll find the restrooms.

Separated by gender, the men’s side has three toilets and two showers.

Outside are urinals, and the showers use electric heating. Based on my experience over the past two days, the hot water supply isn't very stable—it sometimes cuts out, though it usually comes back on quickly.

The female facilities are similarly configured: three toilets and two showers. One notable thing is that the shower floors are wooden platforms elevated above squat toilets—if anything falls through, it can't be retrieved. Also, there’s no toilet paper in the female toilets, so it’s best to bring your own (ironically, the male toilets do provide it).

Tiger Roar Mountain Villa
Address: No. 1-100, Lane 433, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Puli Town, Nantou County
Phone: 0989 290 527
Elevation: Approximately 700M
Fee: NT$1000 per tent, no early-bird discount
Dates: 2015/11/6–2015/11/8

Acer Bee Ecology Farm
http://www.hgbees.com.tw/
Address: No. 1-52, Peipo Road, Puli Town, Nantou County

Fengnian Farm
http://www.agaric.com.tw/index.php
Address: No. 58, Dongrun Road, Shuitou Li, Puli Town, Nantou County

Dahesong Xiaoliangkou - Presidential Museum
http://www.9420.com.tw/kinggarden/
Address: No. 219, Section 4, Zhongshan Road, Puli Town, Nantou County

Puli Winery
http://event.ttl-eshop.com.tw/pl/
Address: No. 219, Section 3, Zhongshan Road, Puli Town, Nantou County

Mack’s Bar
Not staying home today—taking the kids on a little adventure away from home ! ~ A Parent-Child Outdoor Adventure Diary

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