Eco-Tour of a Ruili Knight

Bihu Tea Plantation

Meishan Township Farmer's Association Visitor Center: Passion of Tea Town Pavilion

Meishan Township is one of the important tea towns in Greater Alishan, Chiayi. At the Passion of Tea Town Pavilion located in the visitor center of Meishan Township Farmers' Association, tourists can learn about the development history of Alishan alpine tea. Besides an introduction to the culture and facilities related to Greater Alishan's tea industry, there are also mini models of tea-making machinery and equipment. Here, tourists can be find, appreciate, taste and purchase good tea. The pavilion not only brings a new outlook for the tea industry but also incorporates spatial design to provide more tourists with an in-depth understanding of the culture of Alishan alpine tea.

Taiping Old Street

Taiping Old Street of Meishan Township, with an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level, was already a street as far back as the Qing Dynasty; it was an important production area of Alishan alpine tea. While heading for Taiping Old Street from Meishan,  visitors must pass the test of the famous 36 curves on the steep slopes. This section of the road is extremely challenging and is a favorite among cyclists.The old street has refreshing and pleasant weather throughout the year, and mist and clouds wreathe the mountain tops. With a rich culture and history besides the intriguing landscape and tea culture, Taping Old Street has produced a lot of champion teas in the past. During the tea picking and production season, the air in the old street is always filled with the strong fragrance of tea.

Bihu Tea Plantation

Bihu tea plantation is located above the Bifengshan community in Bihu Village of Meishan Township. With an elevation of 1,2000 meters above sea level, it has panoramic beautiful views. From Shengmaoshu Creek valley, tourists can take in the magnificent landscape of connected peaks from the Four Heavenly Kinds Mountain, Alishan Forest Recreation Area and main peaks of Yushan. The ever-changing scenes of moving mist and cloud over the tra plantation are breathtaking, especially the sea of clouds during January and February each year; it is an unforgettable paradise of tea plantations, mountains, villages, valleys, sea of clouds and sunrise. Crowds of photography enthusiasts are attracted to Bihu to find the best views and experience every moment of happiness.

Zhukeng River Trail

The Zhukeng River Trail dates back to the Qing Dynasty; in ancient time it was used for carrying charcoal with a pole. with locals heading downhill to sell it. The trail is about 2.5 km long, with six or seven waterfalls and as many as twelve suspension bridges. In this enchanting wonderland of floating mist and cloud, tourists can enjoy the varying scenery along the trail, including the magnificence of the mountain range of fault sedimentary rocks and small and large waterfalls that drop straight down in the valleys, while breathing in the refreshing phytoncides of the forest. In addition, the manageable trail is quite even in height, making it very suitable for the general public. Try hiking in Zhukeng to rejuvenate your body and soul.

Ruifeng Longgong Waterfall

Longgong (Dragon Palace) Waterfall was formerly known as Shuan-Shui-Tan (Double Waterfall Pools) because there is also a Leiyin (Thunder Sound) Waterfall under the Dragon Palace Waterfall. Both waterfalls pour water into the same cliff circle, but each waterfall has it's own waterfall pool, forming a very rare terrain of double waterfall pools. It is the only place in Taiwan with such unique scenery. The height of Dragon Palace Waterfall is about 120 meters, and 60 meters for Thunder Sound Waterfall: one small one large, and one high one low, the effortless appreciation of the reputable scenery along the trail always attracts lots of tourists.

Swallow Cliff and Bat Cave

Swallow Cliff and Bat Cave are connected to each other. There are large and small strip-shaped thin holes distributed on the cliff, very tidy and spectacular. The trail has a wooden fence set up on both sides for protection from the broken ridges on one side and cliff on the other side. Built using the circuitous construction method and with uncanny workmanship. The trail allows tourists to enjoy the awesome experience of magnificent views. From Swallow Cliff to Bat Cave, rich ecology lines the trail; birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles and fish in the mountain stream can all be found if you look closely. The stunning landscape of the area has gained the reputation of "Dunhuang Grottoes of Taiwan."

Yuantan Natural Eco Park

Yuantan Natural Eco Park is known for it's rich natural flora and fauna ecology. There are three natural trails and one suspension bridge in the park. The first floor of the Visitor Center is an ecological exhibition hall providing tourists with information on the terrain and ecology of the park. Guided ecology tours are also available, which are well received by schools for field education. Food and beverages are provided on the second floor where visitors can taste local gourmet food and local agricultural products. There is also an old defunct train station in the nearby Shuisheliao that had been renovated into a Bat Ecological Education Center. In addition, Taiwanese leaf-nosed bats can be found perching in the surroundings. The park is a place of abundant ecology hidden in a misty world.

Yuntan Waterfall

Known as Ruili's No. 1 scenery, the waterfall is about 200 meters in height. The water plunging down from the crevices in the rocks is divided into three layers, with each layer forming it's own surface in the pond, creating a myriad of different looks. In particular, the vertical drop of the waterfall's upper layer is about 35 meters, making the waters of the azure green pond water a shiny emerald in the sunlight.