TaitungPlay Recommendations

Shan-Yuan Seawater Bathing Beach, near the Fu-Shan conservation area in Bei-Nan Township, is Taitung's only official swimming beach. The sand is flat and fine, the water is see-through, and the shallow shelf makes it ideal for paddling children, sandcastle building and the fish-feeding sessions the area is known for. Since the 2005 fishing ban, the intertidal zone has bounced back, and the boardwalk puts that revived marine life within arm's reach. It is a twenty-minute drive north of Taitung City along Highway 11, making it a natural-education must-do for beach-loving families.

Chi-Shang Brown Boulevard (formally Jin-Xin No. 3 Road) is a roughly 2.2-kilometre country lane in Chi-Shang Township, Taitung, hemmed by rice paddies and backdropped by the Central Mountain Range. There are no power poles along the route, so the views read cleanly and the lane has earned the nickname 'Road to Heaven'. Non-farm vehicles are barred, so most visitors rent a bike or e-bike and pedal — about two hours is enough to tick off the paddy 'picture frames', the Takeshi Kaneshiro tree and the old laundry pavilion. Autumn's golden rice is the headline season.

Huo-Shui Lake, an artificial lake inside Taitung Forest Park, is fed by Bei-Nan Creek springs — chlorine-free and so clear it has been dubbed the 'blue sapphire'. The broad, mirror-calm surface suits family outings, photos, SUP, canoeing and boat rentals, and the lake is serious about sport too, hosting the annual dragon-boat races and the national triathlon. A free open-water pilot ran July through September 2024, opening 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no entry fee. Boat-rental pricing is transparent (slightly higher on holidays, with family packages available), and the surrounding paths reveal lake-bottom fish and distant peaks. Safe, natural and free — a Taitung family staple.

Hai-Bin Park in Taitung County is a coast-hugging park tuned for low-key family outings. A wide seaside promenade and viewing decks make it easy to wander at a child's pace and soak up the open blue, with the rhythm of waves and salt breeze doing the heavy lifting for relaxation. There is no itinerary required — find a seat by the shore, watch the sea and let the mind drift. For parents, that simplicity is the point, and it is one of Taitung's easiest places to unwind with kids in tow.

Rice School in Guan-Shan Township, Taitung, started life as an old rice mill and has been reborn as a rice-themed experience park. The original structure is intact — its walls now splashed in candy colours that pull in family photos — while the programming leans hands-on: rice-culture guided walks, a milling workshop, DIY rice-food classes and a restaurant dishing up nostalgic bowl rice meals. Admission to the hall is free and there is on-site parking, which makes it an easy, education-meets-fun stop for travelling families.

Green Island, about thirty minutes by ferry from Taitung, is an offshore getaway that suits families and pet owners alike. The waters are clear with high-visibility dive sites, the beaches are unspoiled, and hot springs line the shore — a great place to put a child in a snorkel for the first time or stargaze after dark. Several pet-friendly homestays throw in BBQ pits and karaoke so the whole family — humans and pets — settles in easily. Ferries handle the crossing, scooters cover the island loop, and the mix of marine life and downtime makes it a classic summer escape.