Of the 13 national scenic areas managed by Taiwan’s Tourism Administration, the Siraya National Scenic Area stands out. While the others are named after regions, archipelagos, or geographical landmarks, the Siraya National Scenic Area is unique in bearing the name of an Indigenous people.

What is known about Taiwan in the first half of the 17th century is largely gathered from a record of encounters between the Siraya people and outsiders. Dutch East India Company schoolteachers and missionaries, alongside Ming Dynasty officials seeking to suppress piracy, documented detailed accounts of Siraya settlements in the southwest, including their customs and foodways. Because it offered safe anchorage and abundant natural resources, the Siraya homeland — modern day Tainan — was the primary gateway for the era’s traders.

In July, the Siraya become Taiwan’s 17th officially recognized Indigenous people, following legislation passed last year that allows Pingpu Indigenous peoples — those historically inhabiting Taiwan’s lowland plains, coastal regions, and river valleys — to apply for official Indigenous status. Yet the Siraya’s efforts to achieve this recognition began several years prior. Over the years, they have led a sustained series of cultural and language revitalization movements, demonstrating to the world that despite extensive assimilation into Han Chinese society, the Siraya identity has never vanished.

Almost the entirety of the roughly 97,000-hectare Siraya National Scenic Area is located in Tainan, with a small portion extending into neighboring Chiayi County. This is a region characterized by charming small towns and pastoral villages. Agriculture remains the backbone of the local economy, making the area a vital production hub for avocados, coffee, longans, lotus roots and seeds, lychees, mangoes, ponkans (a type of mandarin orange), rice, and sweet potatoes.

The highest point within the scenic area is Mount Dadong. Standing approximately 1,241 meters above sea level, it overlooks Guanziling, renowned for its rare muddy alkaline sodium bicarbonate hot spring. A popular retreat developed around the spring during the 1895-1945 period of Japanese colonial rule. Because the mineral-rich waters contain a high concentration of fine natural silt reputed to nourish the skin, bathers are encouraged to let the mineral residue rest on their skin before rinsing to maximize its therapeutic benefits.

Beyond the hot springs, Guanziling and its surrounding area offer a variety of outdoor activities. Hiking to the top of Mount Dadong is a three-to-five-hour commitment, but it is accessible to anyone with moderate physical fitness and sturdy footwear. Nearby, the Fire and Water Cave is one of at least four sites in southern Taiwan where natural gas seeps through the bedrock, feeding a visible flame that burns directly above emerging spring water day and night.

Thanks to a splendid location 395 meters above sea level, the historic Huoshan Biyun Temple offers panoramic views of the western plains. But this Buddhist temple’s most unusual feature might be the boulder resting by its entrance. Legend has it so much rice poured from an opening in the rock each day that the temple’s monks were self-sufficient. That was until a greedy neighbor, aiming to seize the entire bounty at once, struck the rock with a hammer, permanently cutting off the miraculous supply.

The landscapes and infrastructure of the Siraya National Scenic Area lend themselves to various forms of slow and low-carbon tourism, particularly cycling. Launched in 2024, the 5COOL cycling event series invites riders of all skill levels to pedal toward and around the scenic area’s five major reservoirs.

These manmade lakes include Zengwen, Taiwan’s largest reservoir in both storage capacity and surface area. The construction in the 1930s of Wushantou Reservoir (also known as Coral Lake) and the network of irrigation canals it supplies transformed the region into Taiwan’s rice basket. Jianshanpi and Baihe reservoirs situated in the northern sector of the scenic area, while in the south, Hutoupi is hailed as Taiwan’s oldest reservoir with a history of around 180 years.

This year’s 5COOL events include sessions for children, themed tours, intermediate-distance routes — highlighted by the Siraya 5 Reservoirs Cycling Rally on September 19 — and an epic 188-kilometer grand challenge on November 7. Most of these events kick off at Guantian Visitor Center, adjacent to the Siraya National Scenic Area headquarters about 4 kilometers southwest of Wushantou Dam.

The visitor center is a short ride from Longtian Railway Station and bringing bikes by train is a practical option for participants. This seamless rail-and-bike integration is just one of many reasons why Taiwan is widely celebrated as an ideal destination for cycling vacations.

Those planning to participate in these events will likely consider an overnight stay within the scenic area. Among the region’s hotels and B&Bs, the 52-hectare Fairy Lake Leisure Farm is renowned both for its spacious rural setting and innovative cuisine. Located approximately 30 minutes by car from Guanziling, the farm boasts an ideal microclimate for cultivating longans. The sweet, translucent fruit is artfully incorporated into a variety of innovative signature dishes served on-site.

The restaurant at Fairy Lake Leisure Farm displays the “Tian Mama” certification mark, signifying its participation in a long-standing government initiative. This program empowers women in rural farming communities to commercialize their culinary skills and local agricultural expertise, while simultaneously stimulating market demand for produce grown by smallholder farmers.

For overnight guests, the hillside farm stay offers numerous attractions, including an infinity pool, miniature pigs and other farm animals, and a selection of curated activities and classes (advance booking required). For visitors with limited time, day-admission passes offer an accessible option to enjoy the on-site dining and farm grounds without staying overnight.

Tucked away beside Zengwen Reservoir, a little town called Dapu is the site of one of the scenic area’s most distinctive attractions. Driftwood Violin Village was born of one man’s dream to create a violin-making community in his hometown. Making use of the abundance of high-quality wood washed into the reservoir each rainy season, a growing band of local luthiers craft stringed instruments. Rather than sell their creations, they gift the violins to local families and students, promoting musical education throughout the community. At Dapu’s Violin Exhibition Hall, visitors can learn about the instruments and tools on display, as well as the founder’s vision.

Dapu is accessible via Provincial Highway 3, a scenic inland route popular among road-trippers that bisects the scenic area. The open roads of the Siraya heartland await your exploration.

TOURIST INFORMATION
Travelers planning a trip to Southwest Taiwan can gather additional information from the following websites:
Siraya National Scenic Area (multilingual)
2026 Taiwan Cycling Festival
Fairy Lake Leisure Farm (multilingual)
Tourism Administration (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) (multilingual)

The 24-hour tourist information hotline at 0800-011-765, which is toll-free within Taiwan, can answer all kinds of questions in English, Japanese, and Chinese.

The central government’s Tourism Administration and International Trade Administration are collaborating to encourage international travelers attending MICE events in Taiwan to explore the country through the Travel Incentive Program. In 2026, the program provides travel incentives of up to NT$2,000 per person per visit, with a maximum of NT$600,000 per proposal. The program aims to promote the development of both the MICE and tourism sectors, thereby supporting economic growth.

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