Traveling alone to Taiwan during Tet, a Vietnamese female tourist was overwhelmed by the cherry blossoms and decided to "chase" to the most beautiful place.
Traveler Tam Phan (HCMC) shares his spring trip and cherry blossom viewing in Taiwan during a six-day trip during the Lunar New Year.
If spring travel to see cherry blossoms is on your New Year's wish list, then going to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, Taiwan, to see with your own eyes 5,000 cherry blossoms blooming everywhere is a worthwhile experience.
Unlike cherry blossoms in Japan or Korea, which only bloom for about 2 weeks in late March and early April, cherry blossom season in Taiwan comes earlier and lasts longer. Starting from late January, cherry blossoms bloom in the North and gradually spread to the South until almost the end of April. The high mountains and national parks are where visitors can admire cherry blossoms blooming across the forest.
Starting from February 9, I arrived in Taiwan on the occasion of the New Year. Besides discovering the New Year customs of the people, one of the goals I pursued was to see with my own eyes the cherry blossoms blooming brilliantly.
Arriving in Taipei, walking around the Tianyuan Temple area, Lane 42 Pingjing Street, Shilin District - the places that the "backpacker" pointed out, I was a bit disappointed because the cherry blossoms seemed to have almost all bloomed, with only a few late blooming trees remaining.
The first day of wandering around looking for cherry blossoms was not as expected. The next day, following the "tip" of the locals, I set off to Central Taiwan to find the place where the cherry blossoms were blooming most beautifully - the Nine-Forest Cultural Village.
Solo travelers or couples can take the HSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) to Taichung, then take a two-hour bus ride to Nantou. Group travelers can choose to rent a car or taxi to get to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, where more than 5,000 peach trees bloom in the spring. After purchasing an entrance ticket (900 TWD, about 700,000 VND), visitors can visit and take photos at any point in the village or take an electric bus, traveling around the 62-hectare campus, admiring the cherry blossom forest.
Nine Tribes Cultural Village. Photo: Tam Phan
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is a popular destination in Taiwan, not only for international tourists but also for locals. In 1986, the area was planned as a recreational area with three main parts: the tribal village park (including museums of Taiwan's nine indigenous tribes), the European garden, and the recreational area. Every year, from January to the end of February, the biggest cherry blossom festival of the year is held here.
Coming to Cuu Toc village to see flowers, visitors can also admire unique performances of indigenous tribes, local food fairs, or participate in fun games from thrilling to gentle games suitable for children and the elderly. The magnificent European garden in the village is a place for young visitors who love to take "virtual life" photos.
Sun Moon Lake seen from above. Photo: Tam Phan
Sun Moon Lake is a tourist attraction within the grounds, connected to the village by a cable car. It is also the largest freshwater lake in Taiwan, with picturesque mountains and clear blue water, where visitors can stroll around the lake and worship the ancient and sacred Wenwu Temple. Visitors who are not afraid of heights can choose the "sakura" cabin cable car - with cherry blossom motifs and a glass bottom that looks through to the ground, from here they can admire the beautiful natural scenery right below their feet.
Coming to Taiwan in spring, in addition to exploring Jiufen, Shifen, Taipei 101, Yangmingshan National Park, Alishan National Forest, and the interesting "night market life" from Taipei to Kaohsiung, try visiting the Jiufen Cultural Village and Sun Moon Lake to immerse yourself in the peaceful, quiet scenery of the hills and rivers in the bright pink cherry blossoms.
During my 6-day journey to Taiwan to chase the cherry blossoms (including transportation), I spent a full day in the Nine-Forest Village to wander around and enjoy the flowers. The trip, which I did alone during Tet, cost about 18 million VND, helped me gain more experience and, most importantly, see with my own eyes the most beautiful spring in Taiwan.
In Taiwan, in late February and early March, besides the Jiu Zuo Cultural Village, visitors can also visit Cingjing Sheep Farm, Wuling Farm, Alishan National Forest, Sun Link Sea,... to see cherry blossoms and experience nature tourism. Travel time is about 2-5 hours, by public transport from Taichung Main Station.
Tam Phan
Source link
Comment (0)