Stay Cool in the Summer! Cool Places to Be in Taitung in the Hot Summer

Summers are all about going to the beach and dipping your toes in the rolling waves to get rid of that summer heat! Shanyuan Beach, located in Beinan Township, is Taitung’s only beach park. Since its opening last year, this spot has instantly become one of the popular summer locations. The 1-kilometer-long beach is open and flat, and the sand is soft and fine, making it easy and comfortable to walk along. As it’s located in the curved Dulan Bay, the waves are mild and gentle, making it relatively safer compared to other beach parks in Taiwan. Between May and September, the park has lifeguards on duty each day, and there are a limited number of life vests available for guests to rent for a safe and fun water play day.

Admission to Shanyuan Beach is currently free of charge. There are designated areas for a variety of water activities such as SUP boards, surfing, snorkeling, canoeing, windsurfing, and more. There are also shower and bathroom stall facilities. Take a stroll along the beach, enjoy the boundless blue ocean, and enjoy an easy afternoon with your friends at the beach to get rid of all your hot summer troubles. （Photo Credit：IG@dongdong089）

Do you want to take a stroll in the forest but despise the long travel time? Taitung Forest Park is located where the Beinan River meets the ocean. The forest is full of casuarina trees which are known for their wind dampening effects. The forest is just a few minute drive from Taitung City, making it the “lungs of Taitung City.” You can enjoy forest bathing without having to travel far.

Taitung Forest Park contains over one hundred hectares of land, with three magnificent lakes: Pipa Lake, Yuanyang Lake, and Flowing Lake. Enjoy a bike ride along the 1.7-kilometer path in the summer. The path is mostly flat and has a natural canopy of trees that create natural shading making the pathway cool and easy to walk under. Many guests also enjoy gathering by the lakes for a cool and breezy picnic.

Enter this forest on the hot summer days to enjoy the breathtaking lakeside views and cool off in the shade this summer. （Photo Credit：IG@whofeelove）

Don’t spend your whole summer holed up in an air-conditioned room. Taking a stroll outdoors can be good for your mind and body. However, what should you do if you’re not a fan of the heat and scorching sunbeams? Here’s where all the locals go to escape the hot concrete jungle. There’s fresh air and a quiet environment. Best of all, you can reach this destination by bike alone. It’s the “lazy man’s waterfall,” Zhiben Forest Road Waterfall.

It only takes a short 10-minute drive from downtown Zhiben to arrive at the Zhiben Forest Road Waterfall Path. You’ll get a view of the waterfall as soon as you park your vehicle. The freshwater pours out and creates splashes of coolness that will wipe all the summer’s heat away. Dip your toes in the cool and refreshing water.

After a quick dip in the falls, why not take a stroll on the path nearby. Zhiben Forest Road Waterfall Path is within Mount Dawu’s Nature Reserve, the path is surrounded by tall trees creating a cool forest environment that acts like nature’s air-conditioning. You’ll find a diverse plant and animal ecosystem along the path that will entertain and grab your attention. Please note, the pool beneath the waterfall is over 2 meters deep. Please pay extra attention to your safety and refrain from visiting after typhoons or heavy rainfall.（Photo Credit：IG@vin_f___）

Do you love a good hike but are worried about getting a heat stroke in the hot weather? The Yulong Spring Eco-Trail, located in Yongan Village, Luye Township, is fully shaded and beside a cool stream. You’ll feel as though you’ve entered a cool and green secret hideout.

Yulong Spring Eco-Trail is within Luye Highland and is an important stream in the Yongan neighborhood. The canyon terrain was formed under thousands of years of spring water flowing through the area and the water flows freely year-round. The locals view the natural spring as a “spiritual spring.” The abundant groundwater creates a natural tropical dry broadleaf secondary forest where you will find butterflies, chirping birds and bugs, frogs, crabs, and more natural wildlife.

The entire Yulong Spring Eco-Trail is over 1.1 kilometers and is full of a natural and humanistic atmosphere. The path is currently maintained by local volunteers who also provide guided tours. There are three sections of the path: Shengan Temple Stairway, Yulong Spring Pathway, and Highland Shaded Stairway. There is a spring area, wetland ecosystem area, water play area, and soil and water conservation education area. The path is laid with rocks and cement, making it perfect for young and old to enjoy. To introduce the local ecosystem and history to guests, Luye Township Yongan Neighborhood’s Development Association provides guided tours. Parties of ten or more people can make a phone reservation for the guided tour. （Photo Credit：IG@kaka_7126）

Having a nice and cold popsicle is the best way to cool off in the summer heat. If you’re in Taitung, you can’t miss out on Ice Spring. Ice Spring’s popsicles are 100% made from locally sourced fresh fruit. Each rich, fruity, and sweet bite will leave you longing for more and the flavor will move you deeply.

What moves you deeply isn’t just the sweet and fresh flavors, but the effort that has gone into the brand. The owner of Ice Spring saw that the hard work of Taitung’s fruit farmers was either bought out at a very low price or became overly ripe and unable to be sold. The owner created the Ice Spring brand in hopes to help protect Taitung’s fruit farmers with a fair price for their labor. Therefore, each popsicle represents his support for local farmers.

Ice Spring, located in Luye, is an honesty shop with no storekeeper. The shop is open all day. Guests can pay and help themselves to the popsicles. There are many flavors to choose from, including pineapple, passion fruit, watermelon, and more. After picking out an icy treat, you can eat the popsicle while looking at the stunning mountain view and sitting in the cool breeze. Enjoy the freshest flavors and most heartfelt and kind intent. （Photo Credit：IG@thegpsgal）

Soak yourselves in the cool river water on the hot summer day and experience total coolness for a refreshing change. Sangshu River is one of the main river branches of the Danan River located in Beinan Township. The location is only a 20-minute drive from Taitung City. The water is clear and cool, the perfect location to visit on a hot summer day in Taitung.

Shangshu River is in a canyon terrain with rises and falls, creating waterfalls, and pools that are ideal for climbing, trekking, diving, and other river tracing activities. Enter this water wonderland with an experienced coach and even newbies can enjoy the fun of river tracing. Sangshu River has retained the most natural and original environment as there aren’t many traces of manmade pollution. The entire trek is almost directly out of a painting and visitors can observe the most natural ecosystems here. Please be weary that the river and valley terrain is drastic and changing, therefore guests should join river tracing groups led by certified coaches to ensure their safety. （Photo Credit：IG@lance_14me）