Chiayi CountyPlay Recommendations

Jordane Castle in Dalin, Chiayi (Da-Pu-Mei Park), is Taiwans first tourism factory and biotech park themed around the concept of beauty. The 50,000-square-metre site is anchored by a 50-metre copper-roofed main keep, flanked by symmetrical European gardens, fountains, and a string of photo-ready corners that fuse Renaissance and Baroque architectural language. Admission is free (originally NT$100-300), and the park offers bicycle rentals and parking, making it an easy one-day trip for families, couples, and photography fans who want to wander a fairy-tale European castle without leaving Taiwan.

Shou-Dao (Longevity Island), perched on the seawall beside Bai-Shui Lake in Chiayi County, is a hidden-gem landscape that appears and disappears with the tide. At low tide visitors can walk down a road that the sea has swallowed, taking in the coastline and abandoned red-brick ruins; at high tide the same road sits beneath the water in a surreal, almost biblical scene. The most talked-about photo spot is an open-air toilet sitting in the front row of the ocean view, a magnet for influencers and wedding shoots. With its sunsets, dramatic tidal shifts, and sky-mirror reflections, it is a must-stop for travellers chasing natural beauty with an artsy edge.

Tai-Ping Cloud Bridge in Meishan Township, Chiayi County, spans between Taiping Mountain and Gui Mountain, stretching about 281 metres at an altitude of roughly 1,000 metres - the highest observation suspension bridge in Taiwan. From the deck, visitors look out over the Jianan Plain, tea fields, and rolling cloud seas, with sunset and mist-shrouded panoramas on clear days. Earthquake- and wind-resistant engineering keeps the structure safe, making it an ideal spot for summer escapes and autumn-winter mist viewing. The surrounding area offers Meishans 36 bends, tea farms, and local snacks, easily filling a one-day itinerary or pairing with other mountain attractions.

Sister Ponds, inside the Alishan Forest Recreation Area in Chiayi County, are two alpine lakes sitting about 50 metres apart. The larger Elder Sister Pond covers around 160 ping in a rectangular shape with mirror-clear water framed by thousand-year-old cypress trees. Xiang-Si Pavilion and a wooden bridge, both resting on two giant cypress trunks, link the lakeshores and form one of Alishans signature views. A gentle loop trail lets visitors soak up morning mist, mirror reflections, and the cool forest-bath air, accessible for families, seniors, and children, and an unbeatable summer escape from the heat.

Bai-Shui Lake sits beside Shou-Dao in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, a coastal landscape defined by sweeping oyster racks, abandoned salt-field relics, and dramatic tidal shifts. At low tide the sea pulls back to reveal old salt-field roads and the famous sea-view toilet photo spot; at high tide the entire area is submerged in a scene that recalls Moses parting the sea. Untouched by heavy development, the area keeps its quiet fishing-village feel, making it a favourite for sunset viewing, wedding shoots, and simple seaside splashing - a cooling hideaway for photographers and travellers chasing the sea breeze.

Zhu-Keng Stream Trail in Rui-Feng Village, Meishan Township, Chiayi County, is a 3.3-kilometre nature trail that follows a stream valley through forest and rock walls. The route passes several signature suspension bridges and waterfalls; the most celebrated is Long-Gong (Dragon Palace) Waterfall, where visitors can step behind the waterfall curtain into a water-curtain cave, soaking up mist and a heavy dose of negative ions - a summertime cooling paradise. The trail splits into a west entrance (at the 30 km mark of Route 162-A, parking 8-10 cars) and an east entrance (36.5 km), with a one-way hike of about two hours, ideal for hikers, nature lovers, and photographers.