A Stroll Through a Sea of Flowers – Qingshan Farm Flower Tour
Get your cameras ready! Let’s head towards Qingshan Farm in Taitung to enjoy the lovely flowers!
Seasoned travelers might think of the sea of orange daylilies that bloom in August each year when speaking of Qingshan Farm in Taimali’s Jinzhen Mountain. However, did you know that there are flowers to be seen all year round at the farm? Besides offering lovely flower gardens to enjoy, Qingshan Farm has a B&B, restaurant, viewing platform, hiking trail, and resting pagoda. Between March and August, you can come and pick orange daylily shoots. Continue reading to learn all about the mini-vacation you can take on the farm.
Jinzhen Mountain in Taimali has been growing orange daylilies since the 1950s. Qingshan farm was once an orange daylily drying factory. The wooden structures that can be seen on the farm were where the factory buildings once stood. Enter the building and you’ll find an authentic feel. The original equipment and tools have been preserved so that visitors can learn more about the orange daylily industry.
The golden-orange daylily fields were the main cash crops of Taimali. During the peak harvest season, rows of workers would pick the flower buds, then they were steamed then dried to be shipped to various locations to be sold. When Chinese orange daylilies entered the Taiwanese market, the profit margin became much lower and the factories were converted into leisure farms. Various species of trees and flowers were imported and planted in the valley. It is quite an amazing sight to see the different flowers in full bloom!
Each season offers a unique view: from January to March is the cherry blossom season, February to March is the apricot flower season, April to May is the Taiwanese lily season, May to July is the hydrangea season, August to October is the orange daylily season, and November to December is when Maple leaves turn red. As the season changes, nature paints the land in vibrant colors for visitors to enjoy.
As you stroll along the hiking trail, you’ll feel your mind and body relax as you enter the green wonderland. Under the care of the farm’s owners, there is a rich and vibrant ecosystem: home for birds, frogs, crabs, butterflies, and more wildlife. Try looking for these fun animals on your walk. Later, you can take a break at Mama Tien’s restaurant and enjoy a cup of coffee.
You can also make a phone reservation to taste the special garden dishes. The kitchen creates meals based on each day’s fresh produce, using local ingredients such as wild greens, roselle flowers, and pigeon peas. During the orange daylilies harvest season, you’ll even have the unique chance of trying orange daylily braised pork knuckles, pickled orange daylily, among other unique dishes.
The farm has recently begun to offer an orange daylily shoot picking activity. The orange daylily shoots are the tender stem portion of the flower. Visitors can enter the sea of orange daylily flowers and get to learn about the value and taste of the orange daylily. （Photo Credit: FB@Qingshan Farm）
Address: No. 196 17th Jialun Neighborhood, Dawang Village, Taimali Township, Taitung County
Phone Number: 089-781-677 (reservation required)
Cost: Flower tour tickets are $40 NT. The $60 NT ticket includes not only the flower tour but a $60 voucher to be used at the restaurant on-site.
Website: http://ching3.jri.tw/HomeStayDefault.aspx
