Itinerary: Enjoy Taitung’s amazing coastal views at Sanxiantai Scenic Area → Enjoy unique indigenous cuisine at Pisirian Tribal Village → Set up camp and spend the night at Bixilian B&B

Sanxiantai is the east coast’s most popular scenic area and is one of the prettiest spots along the coastline that stretches from Hualien to Taitung. Sanxiantai is also home to an island that covers about 22 hectares. The path that wraps around the island takes about two hours to walk. Sanxiantai is surrounded by coral reefs with a rich ecological landscape that includes a stunning array of indigenous and costal plants. A tour of the island is a fun and educational experience fit for the whole family and gives you a chance to see the east coast’s first light beacon. In addition, you can make your dream vacation at Sanxiantai come true (or anything else) by dropping a letter in the island’s “Sunny Kid Make-a-Wish Mailbox.” Sanxiantai sits on the Pacific Ocean and soaks in an abundance of the ocean’s energy. Making a wish on Sanxiantai leaves visitors brimming with positivity because the area is blessed by the local sun, ocean, and land gods as well as the protective energy of a sea dragon named Ji Fa Wu An.

The Sanxiantai Arch Bridge, a famous east coast landmark, connects the island of Sanxiantai to Taiwan. The bridge looks like a wavy dragon floating on the surface of the ocean. At dawn, visitors can’t take their eyes off Sanxiantai Arch Bridge and the surrounding ocean when the landscape becomes bathed in pale golden sunlight. Thus, a visit to see the sunrise is quite spectacular. However, the Sanxiantai Arch Bridge became displaced after an earthquake in 2022. Therefore, visitors ‘won’t be able to walk the bridge to the outlying island until 2025. The beach area is still open, but be extra mindful of your safety when visiting Sanxiantai.

After your visit to Sanxiantai, make sure to stop by the nearby Pisirian Tribal Village. Pisirian, the village’s indigenous name, comes from the Amis language and means “a place to raise sheep.” In the past, the Amis people all lived by the ocean and raised sheep on Taiwan’s small offshore islands. Life was simple and easy-going. Villagers co-existed with nature and sustained themselves either by tending their crops or going out to sea to catch fish. Even though you can’t see sheep in Pisirian anymore, the furry animals are still close to the hearts and minds of the people here. In Pisirian, there are art instillations of flocks of driftwood sheep, which have become one of the trademarks of the village. When you visit Pisirian, make sure to slow down and enjoy the care-free vibe of this local costal community.

During your visit, be sure to a make reservation to indulge in some traditional indigenous cuisine and savor the distinctive flavors of the Amis tribe’s characteristic dishes. Faluhay, one of the village’s indigenous restaurants, serves classic dishes à la carte as well as multi-course indigenous feasts. The tables on the second floor have an amazing view of Sanxiantai, which allows guests to taste and feel what life is all about in Pisirian.

After touring around the amazing scenery along Taitung’s coastline and enjoying the blue sky and white clouds floating above the azure Pacific, you still might be inspired to keep going. If that’s the case, spending the night here is in order! Bixilian B&B, which is close to Sanxiantai, gives you the chance to listen to the peaceful sounds of waves lapping on shore, stargaze at night, and then watch the sunrise in the morning.

On your trip to Taitung, join us for a camping adventure on the coast. When getting ready for a camping trip, it’s hard to avoid using a bunch of disposable products, one of which is the plastic bags used when shopping. It’s a shame to throw out plastic bags but keeping them takes up valuable space. After cleaning your plastic bags, you can share them with people that need them by putting them in one of the camp sites many “Rebag Recycling Bins.” The Taitung County Environmental Protection Bureau has helped extend the lifecycle of resources and products by setting up “Rebag Recycling Bins” in 16 businesses throughout the county. In addition, “Rebag Recycling Bins” are in line with the mission statement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 12, “promote the green economy and ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” These bins have gradually shaped the eco-friendly concept of “bring your own, reuse, and use less.” Together, we can cherish our precious resources by using fewer disposable products and changing our habit of throwing everything away.

Itinerary: Pisirian Jimmy Park → Paint model sheep and watch a paw paw drum performance at Nowalian Culture Theater → Taitung Museum of Natural History → Rent bikes in Chenggong → Cycle to Chenggong Coast Park to enjoy the view and instillation art → Head home

The blue coastline that blesses the north side of Pisirian is filled with mysterious beauty. At Pisirian Jimmy Park, the walls are home to 11 paintings that depict scenes from Jimmy Liao’s picture book titled One More Day with You. Set out on your exciting treasure hunt by following the villages guide map to find the 11 murals hidden around the village. An added bonus of visiting is getting to see the park’s gigantic instillation of a furry rabbit. This instillation brings together various elements of the east coast by using driftwood to recreate the brushstrokes Jimmy uses when drawing his picture books. Such creative representations of childlike imagination pull in the attention of kids and adults alike. In addition, the instillation next to the rabbit, which is made from discarded beer bottles, displays the spirit of being eco-friendly.
If you wish to explore the unique stories of Pisirian, follow the lead of the little girl depicted in Jimmy’s artwork. Wander through the peaceful alleys and uncover beautiful surprises around every corner. Through this journey, you’ll discover the way of life in this Amis tribal village while gaining a deeper understanding of the Pisirian community.

In addition to amazing scenery and playful paintings, at Nowalian Culture Theater, you can book a spot for a paw-paw drum performance or a model sheep painting workshop! Since 2006, these paw-paw performances, which are put on by the Tribal Community Development Association, have become a hallmark of the area. The association hopes that tribal businesses will bring members of the community together and attract young people that have left back to the area.

Paw-paw drums are made from sheep skin and driftwood. Their unique resonance have come to represent the tribe’s most ancient sound. When paired with the pure voices of children, it feels as if they are infusing this place with a strong vitality, which adds even more captivating tribal charm to the area. Also, you can take part in a model sheep painting workshop. All of the wooden lambs made in Pisirian are crafted from driftwood. Each piece of the wooden lamb has unique patterns, and with the creative touch of each individual, participants can create a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home by painting their own adorable little lamb.

Taitung Museum of Natural History has a huge collection of shells and stones. Currently, the museum has 557 different shell specimens. In addition, their mineral exhibition space has brought together pearls and stones from across the world. By combining natural resources with education, visitors can better understand the east coast’s precious marine and mountain resources. Taitung Museum of Natural History has allowed the public to see another side of Taiwan’s east coast. Their exhibit displaying the evolution of certain species in the deep ocean tells a different story than the one seen on the surface. These miraculous gifts of nature are a fantastic destination to explore with the whole family.

In Taitung, turquoise skies, azure ocean, the sound of the waves, and the smell of the sea are the blessings that make up the easy-going atmosphere here. This type of scenery is best savored slowly by riding a bike around town. Rent a bike in Chenggong and start your very own “low-carbon trip.” Enjoy the simple pleasures of cycling with your kids. From the bike shop, you can ride straight to Chenggong Coast Park, which is close to Sanxiantai. Look at the ocean as you ride and take a stroll on the beach that overlooks Sanxiantai. Chenggong Coast Park is also the midway rest point for cycling enthusiasts touring the east coast.

Chenggong Coast Park connects nearby attractions such as Sanxiantai, Xingang Fish Harbor, the Marine Environmental Education Center of Chenggong Yacht Marina, and Pisirian. The entire area is designed to create an accessible and traveler-friendly environment, which allows visitors to fully enjoy Taitung’s hallmark slow-paced travel while leisurely riding bicycles and exploring the east coast.