Taiwan International Balloon Festival: An Audio and Visual Feast

When planning your Taitung trip, Chulu Ranch is a stop you can’t afford to miss. Besides plenty of natural scenes to check out, there are also many family-friendly interactive areas including a hay bale zone, a feeding area, a cuddly animal pen, a forest area, and more. The hay bale zone will make you feel like you’ve visited grasslands abroad. Climb up to the viewing deck at the feeding area to see large herds of cows strolling along the fields. Feed and interact with cute and cuddly animals in the cuddly animal pen, and you can even try out horseback riding here. When you’re exploring, you can taste the freshest milk and try other dairy products at Chulu Ranch. Enjoy a day filled with fun and tasty treats.

The Taitung Yuan Sen Garden is in close vicinity of Chulu Ranch and only a 20-minute drive from the city. The garden is one of the few herbal medicine-themed interactive spaces in Taiwan. Each plant or tree has a sign that is both entertaining and educational. Unlike most traditional botanical gardens, the Yuan Sen Garden has a family-friendly animal farm. Come and experience being surrounded by a herd of sheep and even some ostriches that are uncommon in Taiwan. The garden is surrounded by Wanluan Mountain and the Pacific Ocean. Take a stroll through the sky path to take in the stunning views. The path is surrounded by countless plant species where you can enjoy being immersed in nature. The garden even offers healthy hot-pot meals and afternoon tea sets. It is the perfect destination for you and your family!

Yulungchuan is in a protected forest area that has maintained its rich and diverse natural ecosystem. The ecological trail in Luye Township boasts educational, historic, and cultural value, and is one of the most popular destinations in Luye Township. The trail is 1.1 Km long and is split into three main sections. The trail is home to many plant species, abundant water sources, and nurtures a rich ecosystem. Visitors will find butterflies and other life, and it is a wonderland for all types of birds. You will find a large resting pagoda, Ming Pu, at the end of the trail. Take a break and relax here while you enjoy nature.

When discussing the best gifts to buy when visiting Luye, Buo-Ya Pavillion Natural Tea Company’s Black Oolong tea always makes the list. Buo-Ya Pavillion Natural Tea Company is located in Luye, Taitung, and was founded in 1986. The tea company insists on toxic-free growth environments and has been producing tea for over three decades. The tea company has won numerous tea awards in Taiwan and has been honored with the titles “Home of the Gold Medalist,” “Queen of the Black Oolong,” “Experts in Black Oolong,” and many more honorable names. Buo-Ya’s black oolong has been awarded the highest ranking of three stars by the International Taste Institute（iTQi）for six consecutive years. With the exquisite conditions of soil and top-quality irrigation waters in Luye, the tea plants produce tea with a unique honey fragrance that is perfect for hot and cold brewing. Don’t miss the chance to try Buo-Ya Pavilion Natural Tea Company during your next visit!

If you’ve heard of the East Rift Valley Land Art Festival, but never had the chance to attend, then you must come and experience being moved by the art and environment combination. The East Rift Valley Land Art Festival is a collection of art pieces that have been placed to blend in with nature along Route 197. This year, 5 artists from abroad, and 4 Taiwanese artists, have been commissioned to come to Taitung to get to know the land and create new pieces that will add energy and life to the existing works. Come and discover a brand new Taitung for yourselves.

There’s much more to do besides visiting the famous tourist locations when visiting Taitung. Come to visit and explore the mysterious tribal cultures. The Bunun Tribal Village Recreation Farm combines traditional arts and culture. Try out things such as archery, creating unique leather carvings, trying authentic aboriginal flavors, wearing traditional clothing, and more. The stunning pasibutbut (eight-part polyphony) starts as a four-part harmony and builds into a magnificent eight-part polyphony. The song is sung each year between November and December to pray for a successful millet harvest. Come and experience

When was the last time you immersed yourself in phytoncides and nature? The Wulin Green Tunnel is along provincial Highway 9 in the Wulin area and is around 4.5 km in length. The tunnel is surrounded by Camphor, Terminalia, and Casuarinas trees on either side, forming a natural green tunnel. Occasionally, you will see a paraglider soar across the sky. Take some time and enjoy the comfortable natural space. If you happen to visit on a Saturday between 2 and 6 pm, you might even run into the “2626 Market.”

Feel the cool summer breeze brush against your cheeks as you listen to the sound of crashing waves. Let your body move to the rhythm as the romantic ambiance flows over you. The 2023 Moonlight Sea Concert will take place between June 21st to September 8th, with a total of 8 concerts. The events will be held under nature’s backdrop to express the leisurely philosophy and east coast lifestyle of Taitung. Come and enjoy the stunning musical moonlit evenings where the night never sleeps!

The Taiwan International Balloon Festival has been named one of the “12 Amazing Hot Air Balloon Festivals Around the World.” The festival attracts swarms of tourists to Taitung to join the festivities. Ride a hot air balloon into the sky during the day, and enjoy an evening of music and a light show afterward. This year, a total record of 9 light show concerts will be held, 4 of which will be hosted in Luye Highlands. On the opening ceremony (July 1st), the evening of July 20th, and on the closing ceremony (Aug. 28th) a drone show composed of over 700 drones will also take place. You won’t want to miss it!

You have to go for the tethered balloon ride experience when you come and visit Luye. Head out to the boundless grassy fields and embark on your journey into the skies in a hot air balloon. The tethered hot air balloon will rise roughly 60 meters into the sky. The entire experience will last between 5 and 7 minutes. You will have a wonderful vantage point up in the sky to take in the beauty of Luye. Reservation for the event will begin on May 24th. Some tickets are also available for purchase at the venue for guests who are unable to make a reservation online.
Event Dates: June 30th, 2023 – August 28th, 2023

The most relaxing way to explore an area is on a bike! The bike path in the Longtian area of Luye Township in Taitung is 7.2 km in length with plenty of sights to explore on the way. Must-visit locations include the famous Madagascar almond green tunnel. This shaded tunnel provides 1km of coolness and comfort. Watch paragliders land on the large grassy Longtian fields nearby. Longtian village was once a Japanese immigration village, you will be able to spot many traditional Japanese-styled buildings and houses. The village has also been called the “home of the butterflies,” if you’re lucky enough, you might even run into groups of fluttering butterflies passing by.

The Luye District Office is located on Guangrong Rd., which is packed with Luye tourist destinations. The Luye District Office is the only remaining township office building from the Japanese occupation period and has many distinct qualities of Japanese architecture. The historic building is currently managed by the Butterfly Conservation Society of Taiwan. To conserve the integrity of the original building, volunteers in the community worked with German technicians to retain the historic building. Events such as concerts, film showings, Japanese-themed markets, and more, are hosted at the district office from time to time, actively using the space. There are also some items in the space that are on display for charity sales. The proceeds all go towards the maintenance of the building, allowing the space to be a self-sufficient and sustainable venue.

A candy store that doesn’t sell candy? It might sound strange, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Arong Natural Farm. The store used to be a candy store run by a grandma, however, it has been transformed into a shop offering specialty produce items. Arong Natural Farm specializes in processed farm produce, banana chips, dried pineapple, pineapple popsicles, red Oolong, and more. Farms around the area also bring their produce to trade for items or place them on sale at the Natural Farm. There is even a tea shop at the farm, where patrons can buy a cup of coffee, home-grown tea, fresh pineapple juice, fruit tea, and small snacks. Come and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere at Arong Natural Farm.