Miaoli

The development history of Nanzhuang was similar to Neiwan in Hsinchu and Jiufen in New Taipei City: once being prosperous for rise of lumber or mining industries, but also declined due to industries’ downturn.

The development of Nanzhuang could be dated back to late Qing Dynasty. Shiesankung (洗衫坑, denotes a ditch for laundry) in Laojietou (老街頭) was originally built to convey water for irrigation and laundry. Even nowadays, local residents often wash their clothes or vegetables here. In the Japanese Colonial Era, the place boomed for mining camphor and coal. Its prosperity kept growing and reached the height at latter stage of the period. Similar to Neiwan Theatre in Neiwan, Nanzhuang Theatre had evidenced the golden age of Nanzhuang. By now, the theatre is transformed into a nostalgic-themed restaurant. The old post office in Japanese style has once been rebuilt because of an earthquake.

The Guihuaniang Bingzhen Tangyuan(桂花釀冰鎮湯圓, iced sweet dumpling with osmanthusmalt) in Osmanthus Alley (桂花巷) is the last thing you could miss in Nanzhuang. You can also find all kinds of Hakka foodsuch as mochi and Hakka rice flour lath (客家粄條) here. The street is full of crowds in holidays, which just like narrow alleys in Jiufen Old Street in some ways.

Located in the Tongxiao Township of Miaoli, Flying Cow Ranch is the best destination for parents to spend some quality time with their little ones. Covering a vast area, the ranch grazes cattle, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits and ducks. Kids can benefit from interaction with these animals on the farm and even get to experience the joy of milking a cow to see where milk really comes from. There is so much to do here, so why not spend the night, either camping or in the cabin, to enjoy the relaxed night under the starry sky?

The ranch can be divided into four different sections dedicated to cows, butterflies, sheep and water landscape. The professional guide will give you an insightful look into the vibrant ecology, and you can benefit from interaction with animals on the ranch. The hands-on activities are extensive and varied, from painting cow figurines to making your own egg pancakes and ice cream. Homemade dairy products are not to be missed here: the rich taste of milk and ice cream as well as the one-of-a-kind pudding balls will only leave you asking for more!

Built in 1916, Shengxing Station is a great place to examine the history of Japanese occupation in Taiwan. This station was once the highest train station in Taiwan at an altitude of over 402 meters. The station building reveals the art of Japanese carpentry at its finest in that it was finished without using a single nail! Just imagine a structure like this has survived catastrophic earthquakes and beating rain for almost 100 years! That is really something, isn’t it?

If you have time, you could walk around the station on the remains of the railway to experience the harsh working conditions endured at the time of building it. There are 7 tunnels and 3 bridges near this station, and, yes, these structures were also made almost 100 years ago, surviving the river of history with only minor damage. It leads you to wonder how people at that time accomplished all these amazing feats with only pencils and paper, and of course, hours and hours of human labor. Where there is a will, there is a way, and the people involved in its construction certainly put their minds to it!

For an eerie delight, make sure to explore the main tunnel near Shengxing Station. At 726 meters in length and no lighting except the ambient glow from the opening at the other end, you’ll feel like you’re walking through a dream!

On your way to Tai'an hot springs or to pick strawberries in Dahu (大湖), you will definitely pass through Schokolake, Taiwan's first chocolate-themed complex style manor. In addition to purchasing handmade chocolates from here, you can also make your own chocolate in a DIY workshop. The owner of Schokolake has travelled all over the world visiting chocolate factories to learn the tricks of the trade, purchasing the required technical equipment from manufacturers in Europe and Japan- all for the love of chocolate! And today, the owner has opened the doors of his creation to allow others to share the delight of top quality chocolate. Schokolake has even directly invested in several cocoa estates in Ecuador, with its cocoa beans being directly shipped to Taiwan from South America. The location of the manor is fantastic. From here, you can see Xuebashan (雪霸山) and pick strawberries nearby. In addition to chocolate, accommodation and meals are also available for guests. If you are interested in exploring Miaoli tourism in depth, then there is nothing better than staying the night at Schokolake and enjoying the taste of chocolate and juicy strawberries picked together with your loved ones!

The Taiwanese history of wood carving began during the Ming and Qing dynasties. As Tainan, Lukang and Daxi are home to a wealth of traditional temples, the wood carving industry was once very prosperous in these towns and cities. While the Sanyi Township of Miaoli is located in the mountainous area, the clay soil is ideal for growing camphor trees and tea trees. Thus, Sanyi became famed for an abundance of aromatic camphor wood. During the Japanese Colonial Era, the government cut off a significant number of camphor trees for medical and industrial purposes. Some workers found out that the roots of these trees loaded with profound aesthetic values, and professional wood craftsmen could turn these rotted roots into artistic objects. In the 1960s, the wood carving industry started to boom in Sanyi, attracting many wood craftsmen to settle here, and Sanyi soon became the well-known wood-carving town.

Open to the public in 1995, Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum is the first national museum in Taiwan solely dedicated to wood carving. Featuring nine different exhibitions from the origin to the modern world, the museum embodies an inseparable link between tradition and innovation. If you are visiting Miaoli and looking for some local experiences, Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum is worth every second.

When the wood carving industry was in its heyday, there were more than 200 studios surrounding the museum, making it a real “wood carving street.” However, labor costs started to soar and the cheap materials from China further weakened the Taiwanese wood carving industry. The town might not be as prosperous as before, but many furniture retailers still travel all the way to Sanyi to look for the best wood-carved works.

Situated on the borderline of Sanyi Township and Yuanli Township of Miaoli, Fire Mountain with an altitude of 602 meters is on the list of the 100 minor peaks, where the breathtaking badlands are inhabited by a great number of endangered species. Most people will drive along the Freeway No.1 without even noticing such a unique destination, but it is well worth a visit.

The Fire Mountain is a national nature reserve, where visitors cannot enter without a permit. The trail is about three kilometers long. You may return by the same route or continue on other trails to complete the walk. The trail is not paved, and you might also need to cling to the rope and climb the rock to continue at some point. With an elevation difference of merely 400 meters between the highest and lowest points on the trail, the walk is not demanding at all. When you reach the top of the mountain, you will be amazed by the exposed laterite on the peaks as well as the most extensive forest of pinus massoniana. However, the soft soil can be quite slippery, so make sure you stay away from the edge of the cliff to avoid risks or danger.