10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Taitung

"Marongarong", which means rapidly flowing river, is the name given by the Amis people to Mawuku River. Marongarong Tribe was formerly known as Donghe Tribe. The people of this tribe survived by fishing, hunting and gathering wild vegetables in the mountains. The Amis always pray to their ancestors for success when they make traditional bamboo rafts. You can visit Mawuku River to experience the fun of casting a net from an improved bamboo raft, and get a close-up view of the white boulders and old and new Donghe bridges. Should you encounter any branches or boulders, you'll need to paddle backwards as the rushing stream pushes against the raft, which is a pretty exhilerating experience. After a long day's travelling, you can enjoy delicious glutinous rice, wild boar meat, sea snails and other unique delicacies at the traditional tribe house. Should you decide to spend a night here, you can sit around the fire, enjoy the exotic food and listen to stories about the tribe. You may need to make a reservation for the bamboo rafting and tribe visit. Ready for a trip to the tribe?

You can see a romantic sea of flowers in any season on the famous Day Lily Mountain in Taimali, Taitung County. The mountain is most famous for its orange day lilies, which are in blossom from August to October each year. It has the largest planting area of orange day lilies in Taiwan. When orange day lilies are in blossom each year, the entire Taimali Mountain will turn from green to an incredible sea of golden yellow flowers. You will be absolutely amazed by the breathtaking view of the flowers as they sway in the wind under the blue sky and white clouds. Did you know that an orange day lily blooms for just one day? That's why it's also known as the "one-day beauty". The best time to see these flowers is from mid-August to mid-September. You can follow the industrial road to Wangyou Valley or climb Shuangru Peak, the highest point of the Orange Day Lily Mountain, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea of flowers and the Pacific Ocean, Dulan Mountain and Taitung Plain in the distance. In summer, the romantic sea of golden flowers in Taimali is a perfect spot for couples.

Taitung also has a tree-lined road that is very popular with cyclists. Wuling Green Tunnel is located on the old Provincial Highway 9 in Luye Township, Taitung County. It is about 2.7 miles (4.5 kilometres) in length and is around 8 minutes from Luye Station by car. Both sides of this section of road are planted with camphor, Madagascar almond and beefwood trees that form a spectacular green canopy. Come on a weekday when there are few cars around and enjoy a leisurely stroll or bike ride through this endless green tunnel. Feel the breeze gently brush against your cheek and the warmth of the sun shining through the leaves on your skin. A haven of tranquility awaits you. Many different kinds of shops line both sides of the road. There's also a farmers' market on the second and fourth Saturday afternoon of every month, where you'll find a wide selection of local fruit and vegetables, organic products and handicrafts ‒ as well as the occasional street performer. Whether you're looking for a quiet weekday escape or a lively weekend day out, this charming green boulevard is definitely worth a visit.

On East 13 District Road in Changbin Township sits a straight section with no utility poles on either side. The road leads straight from the ridged mountains to the blue Pacific Ocean. This is where you'll find "King Kong Avenue", one of Taitung's best-kept secrets. One of the coastal mountains on the north-west side resembles a huge gorilla lying down, hence the name "King Kong Mountain", while the road at the foot of the mountain is called King Kong Avenue. As you stand on King Kong Avenue, you can admire the beautiful scenery where the sea meets the sky, take in the green rice fields on both sides and experience the quiet atmosphere where it feels as if time is standing still. If you visit during the harvest season you'll be greeted by a breathtaking golden-coloured landscape. King Kong Avenue is in a peaceful, rural location with few tourists. The rest areas that you'll see along the way are here because this is actually a part of Zhongyong Bicycle Path, which passes through the Zhongyong and Changkuang communities. Why not enjoy a fun bike ride between the mountains and the sea along King Kong Avenue in Changbin?

Jinzun gets its name from the unique shape of its bay, which resembles a wine glass. The Jinzun Recreation Area includes Jinzun Fishing Port, small bays, offshore reefs, and a 1.8 mile-long (3 kilometres) sandy beach. The area's climate is influenced by the north-east monsoon in winter as well as the coastal terrain. Jinzun is also the venue for the Taiwan Open of Surfing. In winter, surfing enthusiasts from all over the world come here to chase the waves. The recreation area has a wooden path leading down to the beach, where you can see the surrounding majestic mountains up close and marvel at how small people seem in comparison. The long white sandy beaches and magnificent scenery make this area well worth a visit. Due to the steep slope of the beach, swimming and other water-based activities are prohibited here. There is also a viewing point and a cafe, making it the perfect spot for an afternoon spent relaxing over a cup of coffee while listening to the sound of the waves.

A trip to Taitung is not complete without a visit to the iconic scenic spot of Tiehua Village. Tiehua Music Village is located next to Taitung Railway Art Village, in what was once a Taiwan Railways Administration dormitory. Nightly music performances and the "Slow Market" on weekends are among the unique attractions that Tiehua Village has to offer. Tiehua Village hosts a range of activities each month, such as the Slow Food Festival. Visitors are encouraged to slow down, learn about the land and experience the endless creativity and vitality of Tiehua Village. An evening visit is highly recommended, as you get to experience Tiehua Village both by day and by night. After nightfall, iconic painted hot air balloons light up and embellish the night skies. Their splendid colours and the accompanying music provide the perfect setting for a romantic evening. You can listen to music while strolling around the market, where you'll find a fantastic array of crafts and local artisanal products. Tiehua Village is a showcase for Taitung's vibrant arts and culture scene. Why not come and chat with talented artists and soak up the leisurely atmosphere of Taitung?

Another big international event that takes place every year is the Balloon Festival at Luye Plateau in Taitung City. Luye Plateau, 1,207 feet (368 metres) above sea level, is a great place for a paragliding or hang gliding adventure thanks to its high terrain and expansive views. On weekends, tourists flock here to experience the excitement of flying high. The launch of the Balloon Festival at Luye Plateau in 2011 brought a completely new stream of tourism to Taitung. Every June to August, the Balloon Festival attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to Luye Plateau. Visitors can take a regular or tethered hot air balloon ride and enjoy magnificent views of the beautiful Taitung East Rift Valley from the sky. This is probably the most romantic thing to do in midsummer! Those who are not taking a ride can head to the viewing area in the valley, where they can watch the colourful spectacle and feel their hearts soar as the hot air balloons ascend into the sky, as if carrying their dreams. There is also a fantastic light show at night. Day or night, the Luye Plateau is definitely worth a visit in summer.

With its blue and white Mediterranean-style buildings and reputation as "the most beautiful elementary school in Taiwan", Fong Yuan Elementary School has become one of the must-visit attractions for tourists in Taitung. Taitung Fong Yuan Elementary School was built in 1964, but due to the gradual deterioration of the building, it was rebuilt as the current school building in 2012. The renovated school building features the colours blue and white. Its sloping roofs symbolise sailing ships, the parapets are designed to look like waves, while the bright orange tower represents the torch of Taitung. With all these splendours and the vast green grassland surrounding them, visitors could easily imagine that they are in a Mediterranean resort. On weekends, this beautiful building used to attract large crowds of tourists, sometimes between 2,000 and 3,000 a day. However, the constant flow of visitors also led to large volumes of rubbish, beverage cans and cigarette ends as well as damage to school property. Fong Yuan Elementary School has therefore been closed to the public since 2018. Nevertheless, if you're passing by you can still admire this Mediterranean-style elementary school from the gates of the campus.

Jialulan ("kararuan" in the Amis language) means the place where hair is washed. Your hair will look naturally beautiful if washed here because of the rich clay minerals, and this is how Jialulan gets its name. Jialulan, formerly used as a waste soil storage site, was redeveloped by the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration. Equipped with pavilions, lookout areas and art installations, it has become the most distinctive rest area on the East Coast. Here, visitors can admire the boundless sea and stroll on the large grassy areas. What's more, they can enjoy the various art installations made of driftwood, such as "Singing with the Wind", whose creator used a harp as the central image, while the small windmills attached to the strings represent the childhood imagining of wind. Though the mountains and the sea remain the same, people and things change. So why not seize the moment and sing with the wind? Before autumn draws in, a crafts market is held here, bringing a group of East Coast artists and creators to Jialulan. In addition to the market, there are outdoor film festivals and local band performances. Why not take time to experience the East Coast, where nature and art meet?

As the weather gradually turns cooler, tourists begin to look for hot springs to visit. Along with a number of well-known hot spring resorts in Taitung, you'll also find Jinlun Hot Spring in Jinlun Village, Taimali Township, a famous wild hot spring in Taitung County. Experience the fun of digging for hot spring water at the riverbank under Jinlun Rainbow Bridge. Jinlun Hot Spring is a weak alkaline bicarbonate spring. Its spring water is transparent and colourless with a faint sulphur smell. The temperature is around 70°C (158°F) to 90°C (194°F), which is extremely high. Jinlun Hot Spring is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the landscape is both natural and pristine. Feel the embrace of the green mountains and forests while bathing in the hot spring. With the blue sky set against this magnificent backdrop, you can enjoy a romantic bathing experience. If you'd prefer not to drive you can also take the popular "hot spring train". There are just 4 departures daily for the southbound train between Kaohsiung-Pintung and Jinlun. On holidays, the trains are full of passengers heading to Jinlun for a hot spring bath. A trip by train to Jinlun Hot Spring makes a great day out.