NantouPlay Recommendations

Tao Mi Water Park in Pu Li, Nantou County, is a free family splash park centered on natural mountain spring water. Open every summer, it offers a water slide, arch fountains, foot-rinse zone, restrooms, and rest areas, suited to families and kids looking to beat the heat. The grounds are spacious and clean, with no admission fee, plus markets and simple vendors on site, making it a must-visit cooling spot in Nantou summers.

Meng Gu Waterfall is in the Seediq indigenous community of Pu Li, Nantou County, one of the three Pu Wu waterfalls and the easiest to reach. A roughly three-minute walk from the parking lot leads to a thunderous cascade pouring from above, surrounded by towering cliffs and dancing butterflies, with cool stream water available for wading, making it a popular summer cooling spot. Signage along the road is clear, navigation by car works well, and free parking is offered on site, ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

Yuan Shiang Dining Hall is near the visitor center beside Cing Jing Farm in Nantou County and serves affordable indigenous-flavored cuisine. The menu centers on platters of grilled meat, ma-gao free-range chicken hotpot, and the popular soul-grilled meat rice, available à la carte or as set meals for two to ten diners, with prices spanning roughly NT$100 to NT$2700. The simple interior is rich with indigenous cultural flair, and the kitchen sells house-made chili sauce and ma-gao draft beer. Its proximity to Carton King and the Cing Jing high-altitude observation walkway makes it a popular dining choice for tourists.

Tai Yi Eco Leisure Farm in Pu Li, Nantou County, is a pet-friendly vacation park integrating agriculture, floriculture, and leisure. The grounds span more than forty thousand ping with expansive gardens, a bald-cypress trail, rainbow cottages, a water play zone, and DIY fruit-picking experiences, ideal for families traveling with kids and pets. Leashed dogs are welcome on outdoor lawns, where visitors can also see peacocks, ducks, geese, and other waterfowl, and flower exhibitions change with the seasons. Lodging, dining, and various activities are on site, with admission around NT$200 (half ticket NT$100), making it a great base for a one-day or multi-day nature and ecology experience.

uSu Cafe at No. 83, Section 1, Xi An Road in Pu Li Township, Nantou County, is a coffee shop reborn from a Showa-era Japanese-style wooden heritage house. The interior preserves retro Japanese decor and serves brunch, pasta, grilled rice balls, pour-over coffee, and a wide dessert selection, with a menu built around local ingredients and inventive dishes. Seating is limited, mixing regular chairs with shoe-off tatami zones, so reservations via IG or FB are recommended, especially on busy weekends. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, with street parking nearby and paid lots a short walk away. Ideal for travelers craving slow living, vintage atmosphere, and refined brunch.

Yokai Realm Sugar Dog Village at No. 2-6 Dong Shan Road in Nantou City is a Japanese monster-style theme park inspired by the designer's beloved dog Jiao Bai. The grounds blend creative landscapes, a dog shrine, Japanese torii gates, and a Spirited-Away-style Kamaji foot-soaking pool, with pet-friendly settings and stroller-friendly family play areas. Hours run Saturdays and Sundays 11 AM to 4 PM, with entry at NT$250 (NT$200 redeemable on consumption) and parking on site. Ideal for travelers who love photo check-ins, fantasy atmosphere, and stray-animal advocacy.