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Sightseeing and Attractions

Taoyuan Country

HOW TO GET THERE
 

The narrow-shaped Taoyuan County is a plateau lies in the northwestern part of Taiwan Main Island, with Taipei and Ilan counties adjacent to it. " Zhibali" was the first name ever placed onto this area, while afterward it was replaced by" Taoyuan"(Peach Garden) for the peach trees in full blossom used to be a major attraction there. However, peach blossom has been somehow a rare scene nowadays. The charming point Taoyuan County was proud of next to peach blossom would be Shimen Reservoir, which was then the largest of its kind in Fareast. Almost none of the visitors to Taoyuan had excluded their tours of pilgrimages to the grand reservoir. Meanwhile, the most important site in Taoyuan is doubtlessly the CKS National Airport---the gate of Taiwan---with passengers amount to tens of million person-times annually. Taoyuan County, in this way, has been honored as " The City of Country Gate". Having the lovely scenery as background, well-known attractions in Taoyuan County includes Dasi (Tashi) historic streets, the mausoleum of Chiang Kai-shek at Cihu (Tsihu), the collection of miniature structures "Window on China"(Xiaorenguo), Jiaoban Mountain (Jiaobanshan), as well as the sacred woods at Daguan Mountain (Daguanshan), and Fushing Township. As to the specialties, the soft peanut drops of Lung tan and dried tofu of Dasi (Tashi) are something else you shouldn't miss on your trip to Taoyuan.


FOREST PLEASURE GROUND

• Daguan Mountain Nature Reservatory
  Historical Background : The original name of Daguan Mountain was La La Mountain. Its location is at the border between Fu Hsing Town in Taoyuan and Wulai Town in Taipei. The Cultural University professor, Chou Yen Hui, discovered a big chump of giant tree in this reservation region in 1973. Therefore this place became the new redoubt that people gather for leisure time. Also because of its condign abundant forests, it has the biggest area of juniper forest in Taiwan. It formed into the Daguan Mountain Natural Landscape Reservation in 1986. Some people said that this is ??the place with the most air in north part of Taiwan The ambit of the reservation included the mountain region near the north of Balin. The word Kuanin Taya clan language means beauty. There are lots of abundant forests in the reservation, such as the green Chinese maple, the red maple, the beech, and other trees that the leaves are discolored. Every year to autumn, the green leaves turn red and then turn yellow, this is such a wonderful view in the poem.
  Cultural Highlights : Visitors can enjoy these trees with the age in 500 - 3000 years old. The plentiful characteristic of the giant juniper alive likes the magic fairy tale. Among these giant woods, the number five giant juniper is the oldest of all. It has the history of 2800 years. The 18 giant juniper has the trunk peripheral measurement of 188 foot long. The number 18 giant juniper has appearance of white bole, like dying tree, but at the treetop sprout out fresh green leaves. This special view has attracted many visitors to visit. The worthiness to mention is the howl flat leafed giant juniper of number nine. It is the rare juniper kind at the sea level at about 1500~1600 meter high in Taiwan. It is the kind of evergreen conifer that is worthiness both to use and to watch. The leaves shape like a bud scale, and they grow abundant on the branches. The tree also grows small roundness cones. The cones are tiny and cute. Besides the giant junipers, all kinds of rare birds also color the reservation region.
   

AMUSEMENT PARK

• Taiwan's Window on China
  Taiwan's Window on China has the second-largest collection of miniature structures in the world. Its meticulously executed scale-model reproductions focus on famous buildings from Taiwan and China, both ancient and modern, with a large number of buildings from other parts of the world as well. Its attractions are divided into four sections : Mini China and Taiwan : Contains exactly reproduced miniatures of Chinese and Taiwanese architectural wonders. Including the Great wall, the Forbidden City, Lungmen Buddhist Caves, Lungshan Temple, and Tianhou(Goddess of the Sea) Temple. Mini Kingdom : Features European classical architecture, structures from the mysterious Orient, sites from the opening up of America. And marvels from ancient Egypt. Amusement Park : Contains exciting, thrilling, but safe indoor amusements. Taiwanese Folk Performances : These encompass a diverse range of traditional folk performances, including Chinese acrobatics and folk dances as well as Traiwanese aboriginal singing and dancing. A miniature railway in the park offers visitors free rides to its many attactions.
   

GENERAL

• Chiang Kai-shek International Airport
  The Chiang Kai-shek International Airport is near Taoyuan. 40 kilometers southwest of Taipei. It is one of the newest. most advanced airports in Asia. and will soon be expanded to better handle the massive annual flow of people and cargo.
   

• Chung Cheng Aviation Museum
  The Chung Cheng Aviation Museum has four main exhibition areas that house 700 different types of airplanes and a space shuttle model. a flight simulator. and a genuine American space suit. It also has audio-visual presentations. a restaurant.
   

• Cihu
  Historical Background : Cihu is the place of mausoleum to put the first President Chiang. It is located in Dasi in Taoyuan. Dasi locates at southeast of Taoyuan, which is west to Pingchen, northwest to Bade city, southeast to Fusing, northeast to the border of Yingkke in Taipei County. Cihu locates in Dasi was the temperate place for respecting hereupon of the President Chiang death in 1975. Sculptures standard refined of collocation, and the view of arcadia sort, make people feel like being in for a meantime with the diameter sense divinely. Ex-president Chiang Ching Kuo was place in the guesthouse of Tau Liao one meter away in 1988. Ash black dolomite gate to a monastery standing tall and upright the sides of the entrance place. The simple artless four-sided courtyard has the green mountains and waters around at the side. Keeping company with the two great mens rest peacefully in the mausoleum. Therefore there are a lot of Chinese or foreign guests to bow in the mausoleum for the great respectful men.
  Cultural Highlights : Cihu is spited into the front and the back lakes. Among the lakes connected a little stream. The weather here is agreeable in four seasons. The back lake connects to the steamily mountains. The mountains are like the moveable dragon and the lumpish peak mountains; it gains the name of ear the dragon The President, Chiang Chung Cheng thought the beautiful landscape scenery was similar to the hometowns view in Chekiang. Every time he stood here, he thought of his kind mother, Madam Wang. Then he called the lake Suhu which means ind mother in Chinese. The four-sided lake permanent hall at the side of the lake was built in the Chinese Year of 51st. The place is a place for resting tour place. The President as momentous wrote Suhu two words.
   

• Fusing
  Fusing is a mostly aboriginal township nestled amidst the verdant mountains rushing rivers of Taoyuan County. It is home to Jiaubanshan Park, a densely forested area that is especially beautiful during the winter season when the plum trees blossom in great profusion. Fusing is also the starting point of the mountainous Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 7).
   

• Little Wulai Forest Recreational Park
  Historical Background : In the mother language of Ta-ya clan, Wulai represent the meaning of the hot springs. The names of hot springs in the old Ta-ya language are all called ulai Little Wulai with many gorges locates in the region of the Fusing Town. The famous inner scenery is the little Wulai waterfall, Lung waterfall, and the Wind Stone. Yu Nei Stream locates in the village of Fusing Town in Taoyuan. The stream is the upper branch of the little Wulai waterfall. Therefore the flows of the water are strong because of the plentiful rain. The Little Wulai waterfall is not affected by the dry season in winter. Little Wulai waterfall broke out into three sections. The middle section is the most impressive. It belongs to ault hanging valley type waterfall. The apex of the stream is narrow as the little street, and then meets the downfallen formation cape. The stream falls straight 50 meters down to the deep pond from the leftward notch. The water split out like the fog and the mist. This is the special view of wonderland.
  Cultural Highlights : There is a four-floor observatory at the side of the highway, and this is a good observe point. The seasons of watching the birds are May to June and November to the next February every year. You can enjoy the forest shower here, and also watching the waterfall and the birds. During the deep autumn, Yu Nei stream is the upper branch of Little Wulai; the red maple leaves will cover the road besides the stream or flow in the stream. The stream with the flown maple leaves and the waterfall make the beautiful scenery. There are the three sections of the Little Wulai waterfall from top to down near the observatory besides the main road. The drop height of the upper section is only about 3 meters. You can see it from the observatory. The drop height of the middle section is about 50 meters. It is the special waterfall with the high drop height in the northern part. The flow is vigorous, the sound is like thunder, and the water bloom splashes, these are condign grandeur. There is a small lake on the upper part of the middle section of the waterfall. The water on the upper section of the waterfall runs into the small lake, it is quite grandeur.
   

• Shihmen Reservoir
  Historical Background : Situated midstream of Da-Han River between the town of Dasi and Longtan Village, the water source for Shihmen Reservoir comes from north of the Tapachien Mountain. Since 1964 when it was first opened to the public, Shihmen Reservoir has remained a top favorite on Taiwan sightseeing billboards. The reservoir is approximately 133 meters high, and has a conservation capacity for 680 thousand cubic meters of water. It has six water gates, and it also has a power generation plant, the Shihmen Dam and a circular walkway. The Shihmen Reservoir has been the most large scale water conservancy project to take place in southeast Asia. Erosion from nearby rivers have produced sheer precipices and soaring peaks in the area, so that the Reservoir not only provides water and generates power for northern Taiwan, its beautiful natural scenery serves as a tourist attraction as well. The maples of Shihmen Reservoir were originally planted for soil conservation. They are widely planted all across the reservoir, starting from the huo chi weir on the west side of the reservoir, and reaching towards the great dam itself. During maple season, not only is the overhead foliage a mass of glorious auburn, the ground is also carpeted with burning maple leaves. Walking along maple avenue pass Lan-Sheng Pavilion, one may reach the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, and the Plum Blossom Garden. The maples turn from red to gold in the winter, offering is a view that is equally stunning.
  Cultural Highlights : The Reservoir possesses beautiful scenery, and the view of the entire reservoir as seen from the dam is excellent. Shihmen fresh fish is another attraction for gourmets; the fish within the reservoir are fresh and tender, and just one single fish can be made into several dishes. During the pilling??of the dam, Pinglin Park is the best vantage point to view the torrents falling to a hundred meters below. During late autumn, the glorious maple forest stretches from the huo chi weir on the west side of the reservoir to the great dam itself, and the scene is mesmerizing for visitors. By walking along maple avenue pass Lan-Sheng Pavilion, one may reach the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, and the Plum Blossom Garden. The maples turn from red to gold in the winter, offering s scene that is equally stunning. The three-tiered pavilion within Pinglin Park is the best place for star watching, and for viewing the city lights at night. Lovers often stroll here, and enjoy the poetic and romantic atmosphere
   

FARMS

• Wei Chuan Pusin Pastures
  Historical Background : Pusin Pastures is the first pastureland in northern Taiwan. It was established by Wei Chuan Food Co. under the guidance and support of the government. After years of efforts, today it is a professional dairy pastures. Besides animal farming, the pastures has also provided recreational activities, attracting tourists on vacation.
  Cultural Highlights : Wei Chuan Pusin Pastures is located in the east of Yangmei. Visitors can watch the milking process and learn about the production of fresh milk. In addition, there is a barbeque site, camping site and log cabins. Besides dairy products, Pusin Pastures also engages in growing flowers. Thus, visitors can ride on a horse-drawn carriage and enjoy the beautiful views in the pastures.

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Information provided by Tourism Bureau, Rep. of China.

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