Qingpu Cypress (Dawn Redwood) Grove in Huwei, Yunlin County is a beautiful place to enjoy fall colors. There are many places like this in rural Taiwan that have recently become hot spots for Instagrammers. Normally, Taiwanese people would have to travel overseas to see cypress trees in fall colors, but now thanks to many independent farmers in Taiwan, these cypress groves make it easier for Instagrammers to take amazing European-like photos every year from November to February.
Historical Background: Bald Cypress, Metasequoia, or "dawn redwood" trees (落羽松) originate from the southern United States but were imported to Taiwan in 1901 by the Japanese. These trees like wet and humid environments and thrive well in Taiwan. They absorb a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. However, due to the hot weather in southern Taiwan, their growth there is less than ideal, so they are mainly concentrated in the central and northern regions such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli. The first real tourist Cypress Grove was the Nanxing Metasequoia Forest in Taoyuan, which actually began as a plantation established by a construction company owner. Over a decade ago, he leased land in Daxi and planted over 3,000 Cypress trees to meet the needs of his construction projects as lumber. Later, aerial photos taken by the public unexpectedly turned it into a popular tourist destination. After the success of this farm nearly 10 years ago in roughly 2014, many similar cypress farms and gardens have sprung up around Taiwan, attracting visitors. Many of these places charge an entrance fee. The Secret Garden of Qingpu is the private sanctuary of former Yunlin County Magistrate, Chang Rong-wei. It sits adjacent to the Huwei Sugar Factory, on the eastern side of the riverbank road by the Huwei Iron Bridge. Inside the garden, meticulously crafted small mounds create an undulating landscape. Nestled among these are small ponds, reflecting the majestic Cypress trees against the backdrop of the sky, evoking the serene beauty similar to the landscapes of Northern Europe. When to go: The best time to go is between November and February when the Cypress trees are in fall colors. Hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM Closed on weekends. Price: Free Where to stay: We have stayed at and recommend Ai Ni Ya Hotel, with great quality and service right in downtown Beigang (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). We also recommend the Grand Earl Hotel, a high class hotel in central Douliu (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here) Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours in Yunlin: Tours and activities in Yunlin include Janfusun Fancy World Amusement Park, Kite Surfing, Tree Climbing , Chaoyang Green Energy Farm, Sam Siu Garden, Pink Castle Park, Gukeng Green Tunnel, Caoling Highway, and more. You can find more tours of Yunlin on Klook here or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. How to get there: By Scooter: From National Freeway 1, go west on Highway until you reach Xiluo Town. The Academy is on the south side of town along Highway 154 and is hard to miss. There is free parking on the side of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Yunlin? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Car: From National Freeway 1, get off at the Xiluo Exit and keep going until you reach Xiluo Town. The Academy is on the south side of town along Highway 154 and is hard to miss. There is free parking on the side of the road. 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. By Bus/Train: From Yunlin HSR Station, you can take bus 88 for about 30 minutes to Xiluo Town. The Academy is then in walking distance. You can also book tickets to travel to Yunlin via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yunlin via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook 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: Our Journey: I went to the Qingpu Cypress Grove once. It was nice that they did not charge an entrance ticket which some cypress groves do. It is a great place to take some selfies and pretend you have left Taiwan if that is your thing.
Check out our drone video of the area above.
You can also check out our 360 degree panorama above.
There is parking inside or on the side of the road at the entrance.
Right off the bat you are inside the grove.
There is a small pond in the middle of the grove with lots of places to take poses and get reflections off the water.
There are also Koi in the water.
A family poses for photos.
Slightly different view.
Another view of the grove.
A family poses for a photo.
More people taking photos.
View of the grove from above.
Another view via drone. Apparently these places are popular for taking drone photos, but I do not think it was that great for getting drone pics.
Don't forget there are many other activities and places to see in Yunlin such as Janfusun Fancy World Amusement Park, Kite Surfing, Tree Climbing, Chaoyang Green Energy Farm, Sam Siu Garden, Pink Castle Park, Gukeng Green Tunnel, Caoling Highway, and more. You can find more tours of Yunlin on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full guide to Yunlin here. You can also see our full guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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