Flying Cow Ranch 飛牛牧場

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Flying Cow Ranch is a recreational farm in Miaoli County that is open for tourists. Activities there include cow milking, pony rides, as well as feeding ducks, goats, and rabbits, making a trip to this farm fun for the whole family. ​

Planning your trip to Miaoli?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

• Best time to visit: Summer when it is warm and less windy
• Book entrance tickets to Flying Cow Ranch for a discount on Klook here.
• How to get there: Taiwan High-Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
• Best place to stay: Beautiful Landscape Resort or Yuan Motel
• Book tours and activities in Miaoli on Klook
• Stay connected with a local SIM
• Rent a car to explore distant sights

Background:
​Flying Cow Ranch was originally created in 1975 by the government, using students who were sent to America to learn the art of raising dairy cows. After they graduated from schools in the US, the government set aside land in Miaoli for a dairy farming model in Taiwan, known as the "Central Taiwan Youth Dairy Farm" (中部青年酪農村). In 1985, it was converted into a recreational farm, and in 1995, it was opened to the public. 

Hours:
7 AM to 10 PM every day

Price:
345 NT per person (including a free dairy product)
50 NT per car
You can book tickets to Flying Cow Ranch for a discount on KKday here or on Klook here. 

Accommodation:
Flying Cow Ranch: 3000-5000 NT per night (1000+ NT per campsite). You can book a room on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here. 

In Miaoli we have also stayed at and recommend Beautiful Landscape Resort, a fish farm and resort near Nanzhuang Old Street (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), and Yuan Motel, a high class car motel which includes a great breakfast buffet (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here). ​

Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Cherry Blossom Season:  Cherry blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here.

Firefly Season:
Firefly season at Sun Moon Lake is from May to June. Check out our firefly season guide here. 

Tours and Activities: 
There are many tours and activities available in Miaoli, such as Schokolake Chocolate Factory, Shangshun World, West Lake Resortopia, Suweila Manor, Baba Kengdao, Hobbit Valley, Zhuo Ye Cottage Duck Box, and more on Klook here or KKday here. 

Website:
https://www.flyingcow.com.tw/en/

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take National Freeway 3 to Miaoli and get off at the Tongxiao exit. Then take County Road 121 east until you see the signs for Flying Cow Ranch. The ranch is up the mountain about 2 KM. Car parking is 50 NT, scooter parking is free. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. ​
Looking for scooter rental in Miaoli? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Bus: Take Miaoli Motor Transport bus 5820 from Tongxiao Station, two and a half hours(!) to Qixia Bus Station. From there, it is a 2 KM walk uphill to the farm! You can book tickets to travel to Miaoli via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
By TRA: You can take the HSR or TRA train to Tongxiao Station, then take the bus or a taxi (300 NT) to the farm. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here. 
By HSR: You can take the HSR to Miaoli Station, then switch to TRA, or take a taxi directly from the station (about 400 NT). You can book tickets to Miaoli via high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

​Map:
Please see below:

Drone Footage:

Check out our drone video of the area above, or our 360 degree panorama below. 

360 degree aerial view from Flying Cow Ranch in Miaoli County, a dairy ranch built on the coastal hills in central...

Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Friday, June 21, 2024

You can also check out our duck feeding video below. 

Our Journey:

We have been to Flying Cow Ranch twice with our kids, and we loved our experience. I took my two-year-old daughter with me, and later my two-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, and they loved it. It was also the first time in my adult life that I had milked a cow, despite my grandfather and uncle both being dairy farmers. In fact, my grandfather's dairy farm was recently torn down for developers to build a suburban neighborhood. It had been a long time since I've visited a real farm, so it was high time that I got back to my roots. 

Once you far enough west on county road 121, you will eventually come to these signs pointing to Flying Cow ranch. At this point, you turn and go up the hill to the farm. 

Tickets are collected at the entrance, 345 NT per person, with kids under 3 free. Each ticket comes with a coupon to trade in a dairy product of your choice. 

We chose two small bottles of whole milk that were delicious. 

They also provide a map of the place. The entrance actually requires a bit of a climb but is stroller friendly. I guess the place is in the shape of a cow?

For more information, check out the Flying Cow Website here. 

A western style house near the parking lot. 

It is pretty steep to get the to top but there are long switch back roads and sidewalks to get up there. 

Some different areas of the Ranch. 

Instagrammable tractor. 

Off limit cow statues. 

Main entrance to the Ranch after a long walk uphill. 

Just past the main entrance is perhaps the best view of the whole farm, a long strip of grass leading to a red and white barn. 

"Flying Cow Stream"
"Wastewater from human usage is processed in the water treatment facility until it has passed the benchmark for water release quality. Thus begins the first step in the water purification process."

The flying cow stream that once was flushed from someone's toilet. 

Bent tree in the way of the path. 

A cute pond to the side. 

Some more cows in the pasture.

Goat feeding area.

View of a cow's mouth. 

Another view looking back at the cows.

A lone mini pony on the grass. 

Cows lining up to me milked. One of the cows licked my leg here as I posed for a photo. 

Ducks being let out to be fed. 

Here you can also feed baby calves. 

Be careful though, those animals are strong even when they are babies.

Another goat feeding area.

Goats waiting to be hand-fed.

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People lining up to see the ducks. 

Explanation of Barbados Black Belly Sheep. 

I paid 10 NT for some feed and started feeding the goats. It was fun. 

People beginning to feed the ducks. 

"Barn Activity Information"
"Hand miling demonstration: 7:00, 11:00, 14:15, 17:00"
"Calf feeding demonstration and experience 9:30, 15:00"
"Duck parade 10:00, 13:45, 16:00"

We got there just in time for the 4:00 duck parade. We would have to wait another hour to milk the cows. 

Duck feeding show.

Ducks chasing after food.

More goats further up the trail. 

Goats eating hay. 

Looking back at the dairy barn. 

Goat scratching his head. 

A goat waits on a cat walk for people to pull feeding buckets up to him. 

Rabbit house. 

Rabbit feed is 10 NT, and you are on your honor to pay. This would only work in Taiwan. 

You can ride a mini pony for 100 NT. Yes, I did pay for my kids to take a ride and take their photos. Very much worth it.

Cute baby ducks.

Rabbits. 

Another view of the rabbit house. 

View of the surrounding area from the top of the farm. 

Another view from the top of the hill. 

Even though the whole farm is hilly, there is a nice paved path throughout, except for the butterfly trail where there are some steps.
Also it was super cold on this February day, and the wind was blowing super hard. I imagine this farm would be a little more enjoyable in the summer.  

Paved road through a wooded area of the farm. 

The flying cow stream below. 

Another barn on the far end of the ranch with more cows. 

Cows enjoying the grass on the far side of the Ranch. This place looks nothing like the rest of Taiwan. 

We then circled back to milk some cows. 

The sky was beautiful at dusk. 

We wasted some milk on the ground, but we had some fun. It was an unforgettable experience. 

Pink sky over the goats. 

People enjoying the cute little ducklings. 

A man feeds milk to some baby goats. 

And then they let the goats run wild back to another pen.

A lady herds goats with two broomsticks. 

Another view of the beautiful sky. 

There is also a playground  in the middle of the farm, perfect for little kids. 

There are two old tractors here that kids can play on.

Cute little playhouse. 

Purple Crow Butterfly Migration (Flying Cow Ranch)
The Purple Crow Butterfly is famous for its large-scale seasonal migration in Taiwan. Every year, as temperatures change, these butterflies migrate south in autumn and winter to warmer areas, and then return north in spring to reproduce. Taiwan is one of the few places in the world where this kind of butterfly migration can be clearly observed.
During migration, vast numbers of butterflies travel along fixed routes, often following mountain ranges and valleys. Unfortunately, many used to die due to traffic when crossing highways. To protect them, Taiwan built butterfly-friendly highway structures, such as elevated nets and guided passages, and implemented traffic control during peak migration periods.
These conservation efforts—led by government agencies and environmental groups—have significantly reduced butterfly deaths and helped preserve this rare natural phenomenon. Visitors can observe the butterflies, learn about their life cycle, and see how human engineering and ecological protection can work together to support wildlife conservation.

​You can check out our Taiwan butterfly guide here. 

View from the butterfly trail, which is not very long.

View of a Common Jester 花豹盛蛺蝶 (huā bào shèng jiá dié) Symbrenthia hypselis scatinia

There are also some great views from further up the hill. 

View looking down at Tongxiao and the ocean.

There is also a fun coi pond here and you can feed the fish.

Camping Area

Flying Cow Ranch is about 3000-5000 NT per night (1000+ NT per campsite). You can book a room on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here. 

Camping is cheaper, and so here I will give you a tour of the campgrounds. Most sites are either on dirt or on grass, which is not ideal if it rains. I recommend camping here in the spring or fall when there is less wind and rain. 

Toilet and shower area.

Views of the dirt camping sites.

More camp sites. I think each spot does come with an electrical outlet.

Great views over Miaoli from the campground.

Another great picnic spot.

There is also a large grassy area, great for group outings, and a small chapel.

Sign to Flying Cow Ranch as we were leaving.

Now that it was getting dark out, we decided to check out the store and trade in our coupons for some milk (seen above). 

We also passed by the hotel near the entrance. 

Statue of a cow...

View of Miaoli from the entrance of the Ranch. 

Even though it was cold, it was a gorgeous day. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more blogs on Taiwan to come.

There are many tours and activities available in Miaoli such as Schokolake Chocolate Factory, Shangshun World, West Lake Resortopia, Suweila Manor, Baba Kengdao, Hobbit Valley, Zhuo Ye Cottage Duck Box and more on Klook here or KKday here. 

You can check out our full guide to Miaoli here.

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

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