10 Best Things to Do for Families in Taitung

Located in the Hot Spring Village of Beinan Township, Chihpen Forest Recreation Neighborhood is an ecological forest park that makes an ideal family day out thanks to its warm climate all year round and its lush green forests. The park has four trails, a medicinal plant garden, a nature education center and a picnic area. There are information signs along the four trails. You can start with the leisurely scenic trail, which takes about 45 minutes. The Haohanpuo (Brave Man's Slope) Trail, while only 1,049 feet (320 meters) long, rises 492 feet (150 meters) and has 792 steps. After reaching the top, you can head directly to the Rongyin Trail, along which you can see a variety of trees of the Ficus family, such as the banyan (also known as "thousand-root banyan"). Many of them are more than a century old and are truly spectacular. There is also a gentle forest trail where you can wander in the shade of verdant trees, breathe in the fresh air and listen to the sounds of the insects and birds. If you’re feeling tired, go to the foot massage trail, where you can take off your shoes and massage your feet by standing on the round pebbles in the water.

Taitung Forest Park is located at the estuary of Beinan River. The dark color of the beefwood trees planted throughout the forest to shield against the effects of the northeast monsoon earned the park the nickname "Black Forest". You can reach Taitung Forest Park in less than 10 minutes after leaving the city. The park is full of greenery and is perfect for a family picnic. You can go for a bike ride and have a picnic at any of the scenic spots in the park, such as the coastal wetland ecology of the estuary, the vast grassland, Pipa Lake, Egret Lake or Flowing Lake. The lush woods and vast green grassland of the park are truly impressive. The clear water of Pipa Lake reflects the blue sky and white clouds, forming a picture-perfect scene framed by the green trees on both sides. If you look closely you'll see the fish happily bathing around in the lake. Pack a cushion and some light refreshments for a pleasant afternoon picnic with your family.

Taitung Ocean Dream Aquarium, known as the Aquarium of Anemonefish until 2017, still retains a variety of successfully bred clownfish. It is a themed aquarium with the largest number of clownfish species in the country. In addition to clownfish, the aquarium has many freshwater fish and coral reef fish, such as humphead wrasse, snapper, potato grouper and other underwater creatures. The aquarium is equipped with various interactive multimedia installations where you can learn more about marine life. The two-storey-tall projection screen on the first floor of the aquarium lets you scan your face into the animation to create a mermaid with your own face, and you can then look for your mermaid on the projection screen. Kids love the interactive installation where the clownfish bravely rush to Golden Island. You can test your reaction ability by swaying your body left and right to dodge obstacles and earn yourself some gold coins. The aquarium also has a fantastic touch pool for children.

If you're looking to cool down on a hot summer's day, you'll find delicious ice-cream at Taitung Sugar Factory. Established in 1913, Taitung Sugar Factory was closed in 1996 due to environmental changes, and then transformed into an arts and culture park in 2004, with the former Taiwan Sugar Ice Products Department being moved to the shop. The frozen treats on offer at Taitung Sugar Factory are made using local farm produce and self-produced sugar, and come in a variety of flavors. There are popsicles in glutinous rice, taro and red bean flavors as well as 14 flavors of ice-cream, including traditional as well as unique flavors such as hibiscus, green mango, durian and coconut milk. Red bean milk ice-cream is the best seller. Ice-cream is available to buy in cones or tubs. The factory's products are reasonably priced and made using authentic ingredients, and are extremely popular with Taitung locals of all ages. People flock here in the hot summer weather to enjoy these delicious and refreshing frozen treats.

Dapochih, also known as "Chihshang Dapi (Bei)", is an important inland lake on the Huadong Valley Plain. The place name "Chihshang" is derived from "On Dapochih". According to official documents, Dapochih once covered an area of 138.38 acres (56 hectares) and had abundant fish and shrimp stocks. The locals used bamboo rafts to fish for their livelihoods. No wonder that "Fishing in Chihshang" was once selected as one of the top ten attractions in Taitung. Dapochih has an inner and outer loop trail around the lake. You can cycle on the outer loop and enjoy the gentle breeze, admire the lotus in the pond or enjoy the fascinating and ever-changing lake scenery, ranging from hanging mist in the morning to crystal-clear reflections of the colorful clouds on the lake in the evening. The rich wetland ecology in Dapochih has attracted many aquatic birds. In July and August each year, the Chihshang Township Office organizes a series of bamboo rafting activities. One of the most popular family activities during summer is picking lotus from the pond while floating on a bamboo raft.

If you're in Donghe Township, it's worth visiting Dong He Chiao Recreation Neighborhood, located at the estuary of Mawuku River. The new and old Donghe bridges, which are red and gray respectively, span the river, creating an interesting contrast. Old Donghe Bridge was built in 1930. Because the north bank of the river has hard limestone while the south bank has soft sedimentary rock, the northern half of the bridge was designed with an arch-shaped pier that spans the river, retaining the boulder landscape, while the southern half of the bridge has a framed pier. Old Donghe Bridge is listed as one of Taiwan's top 100 historical sites by virtue of its unique bridge design that blends harmoniously with the natural environment. The old bridge has been closed to vehicles and now features numerous art installations. You can stroll on the bridge while appreciating the artists' works, check out the muscovite rock under the bridge, and gaze out to the Pacific Ocean in the distance. You can also try traditional Amis bamboo rafting under the bridge at Mawuku River. Shuttling between the huge white boulders is a fun way to get close to these wonders of nature.

You can get close to groups of Taiwanese macaques at Dengxian Bridge Recreation Neighborhood, a wild macaque park in Taitung. Dengxian Bridge, located in Taiyuan Village, was formerly known as "Shengxian Bridge". It has hard igneous rock and is surrounded by spectacularly steep canyons. This recreation area is closed off from the outside world and is largely untouched by human development on account of its dangerous terrain, making it an ideal home for Taiwanese macaques. Every morning and at dusk, you can see groups of macaques walking around in search of food, while others bask leisurely in the sun. You can also spot mothers grooming the younger macaques, and others scaling the rock wall. The urge to take endless photos of these adorable animals is almost impossible to resist. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the group leader. For safety reasons, please ensure that your children are supervised at all times. Do not let them get too close to the macaques or feed them, as the macaques may attack humans while grabbing food.