Chiayi CountyPlay Recommendations

Zhu-Qi Water Park in Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County, spans about 12 hectares and is a free, family-friendly waterfront park. Inside you will find a childrens splash pool, sky corridor, signature suspension bridge, gardens, viewing platforms, and multiple walking trails, supported by parking lots, rest areas, restrooms, and even hair dryers so families can change and dry off after summer water play. The park sits right beside Zhuqi Train Station, making access simple, and it is one of Chiayis most popular picks for cooling off during the hot summer months.

Guan-Yin (Guanyin) Waterfall in Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County, is a nature area celebrated for its cluster of waterfalls and forest trails. The site holds eight waterfalls of varying size, with the main cascade about four storeys tall, plus a viewing platform that surveys the valley and the full force of the water. The trail takes around an hour and uses stairs and suspension bridges, well suited to relaxed hikers and visitors who love being close to water. After rain the falls run powerful and the air is thick with negative ions, earning the spot its reputation as a summer cooling secret. Since 2026 the park has been free of charge, making it ideal for family outings and photo sessions.

Ta-Na-Yi-Valley Nature and Ecology Park sits in Shan-Mei Village, Alishan Township, Chiayi County, inside the Shan-Mei tribal lands, and is one of Alishans newer cooling destinations. The stream runs clear and the canopy is thick, perfect for slow walks and ecology watching; uniquely for Taiwan, a water-borne restaurant serves Indigenous Tsou dishes so guests dine surrounded by nature. Bamboo-cup DIY workshops, Tsou cultural tours, a fish-viewing zone, and traditional song-and-dance performances let visitors sink into both tribal culture and alpine-valley ecology. A drive up Route 18 lands you here, an ideal escape from the heat for anyone wanting to get close to nature.

Jin-Jie (Kumquat) Farm in Minxiong, Chiayi County, sits near National Chung Cheng University and is a tourism factory themed around the golden kumquat. The grounds are wide and tree-shaded, with hammocks, tree houses, slides, and rope-net climbing frames for active families. Indoors, coin-operated miniature trains, excavator rides, and interactive zones complement DIY workshops for jam, painted wind chimes, and sand art. The dining area leans into the kumquat theme with kumquat tea, tea eggs, kumquat steamed buns, and free kumquat-tea tasting. Admission is free year-round, parking is spacious, and the farm is an easy pick for parents wanting a nature-and-creativity day out with the kids.

Jin-Xing Toys (KHTOY) in Minxiongs Tou-Qiao Industrial Park, Chiayi County, covers more than 600 ping and houses Taiwans largest plush-toy flagship hall. Over a thousand plush designs line the shelves - Disney, Kanahari, Godzilla, Harry Potter - drawing families and influencers alike. The interior is bright and spacious, with three floors served by a large elevator and full air-conditioning throughout, making it a popular indoor refuge for hot summer days and rainy-day backup plans. Themed exhibition corners and interactive zones let visitors get hands-on with the dolls and take home a new favourite.

Alishan Forest Recreation Area in Chiayi County is Taiwans most celebrated mountain escape. The park draws travellers with its breathtaking sunrise, seas of clouds, ancient giant trees, Sister Ponds, and tea estates. Summer averages around 15 degrees Celsius, refreshingly cool, and the grounds lend themselves to forest bathing, hiking, and the heritage narrow-gauge train rides. Trails such as the Shui-Shan Giant Tree Trail and the Giant Tree Trestle lead past thousand-year-old red cypresses that breathe their woody fragrance into the air. The Alishan train carries passengers to sunrise and scenic platforms, with dawn breaking over the peaks as the signature view. Plan at least two days and one night to take in the full rhythm of day and night on the mountain.