Kenting National Park,
located at the southern tip of Taiwan, was the first national
park established in Taiwan in 1984. With warm climate, pleasant
scenery, and easy access, it is one of the most popular resorts,
attracting millions of both domestic and foreign tourists every
year. Kenting National Park faces the Pacific Ocean on the east,
the Taiwan Strait on the west, and the Bashi Channel on the
south. The Park covers a land area of 18,084 hectares, including
the coral reef cliffs and coastal zones.
Getting there ...
We took the High Speed Rail from Taipei to Kaohsiung, which
took around 90 minutes and less than NT$1000 (per adult with
promotion). The High Speed Rail is by far the most convenient way
to travel around Taiwan.
- Kaohsiung 高雄
We got to Kaohsiung at around noon, and had lunch with
Woanyu's friends and visited their new home in Zuoying,
not far from the High Speed Rail Station. We spent the
afternoon doing a little shopping in Kaohsiung, and had
dinner with more friends.
The Second Day ...
- Lotus Pond 蓮池潭
I walked across the street to the Lotus Pond where there
are a pair of pagodas (Tiger Dragon Pagoda) on the
shore.
- Kenting -- Chateau
Beach Resort 夏都
It was about a 2-hour drive from Kaohsiung to Kenting
along the rural part of Pington and a long section of
coastline. Along the way, the driver introduced many
local plants and customs to us.
Kenting Chateau Beach Resort is the only resort in Taiwan
with direct access to sand beaches just right outside the
rooms. It became even more popular recently due to the
movie "Cape No.7 海角7號" which took place in this
beach resort. We had a late lunch at McDonalds just
across the steet after checked in the hotel. After a
short break back in the room, Linus and Iris could not
wait to jump to the ocean waves.
The Third Day ...
- Sunrise
I just stepped outside the back door of our room and
could see the sunrise on the beach. It was as convenient
as any hotel room could get.
- Kenting Tour Bus
We joined the half-day Kenting Tour Bus to go around the
east side of Kenting pennisula.
- Hen-Chun 恒春 -- Chu-huo 出火 -- Gang-Kou 港口
- Long-Pan 龍磐 -- Eluanbi 鵝鸞鼻 -- Shell Beach 砂島 -- Chuan-Fan-Shih 船帆石
- Chateau Beach
After lunch in Kenting downtown (which is just only one
main street), we headed back to the hotel. While Linus,
Iris, and I played at the beach, Woanyu enjoyed herself
at the hotel spa.
The Fourth Day ...
- Sheding Nature Park 社頂自然公園
We decided to rent a car today so we can go somewhere
else further with more flexibility.
Sheding Nature Park has
an undulating coral reef topograhy with hiking trails
winding through cracks, caverns, and grasslands. Along
the trail in the forest, there were so many butterflies
dancing around us, and also quite a few spendid spiders
and their webs dangling between branches. When we hiked
to the more exposed areas, the wind was so strong that
Iris had to hold on to us so she won't be blown away :-)
- Kenting Forest Recreation Area
Kenting
National Forest Recreation Area is home to the
island's largest tropical botanical garden. The rich and
varied ecology here is especially famed for its tropical
monsoon forests, wildlife, insects and jutting coral
reefs. More than 1,200 species of plants grown here
are arranged according to type, with areas for medicinal
plants, tropical fruits, rubber trees, and so on. There
are 17 scenic points that are linked together by
walkways, offering visitors maximum convenience to view
both the plants and the scenery. We took a break at the
Viewing Tower and enjoyed the nice view and wind.
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium
After lunch at KFC, we went to National Museum of Marine
Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA), located in Checheng of
Pingtung County. Designed to preserve and highlight the
surrounding island and marine ecology, it covers an area
of over 60 hectares and is divided into three theme
areas: Water of Taiwan, Coral Kingdom Pavilion, and
Waters of the World, each with a variety of interesting
and informative displays. Having been to several
aquariums (including Monterey Aquarium in CA many times),
this Aquarium is defintely a world-class marine life
exhibition and worth spending time for a visit.
- Chateau Beach and Sunset
After the visit to NMMBA, Linus and Iris preferred go
back to Chateau to play at the beach again. It was fine
with me because I could catch the sunset just right
outside our patio.
The Last Day,
- Sunrise
It was another nice day for the beach sunrise with cool
and clear air.
- Beach
We took the last chance to go to the beach and swimming
pool before check out. Iris wanted to teach me how to
swim in the kids pool which was only about 4-feet deep.
Unfortunately, I flipped my toe nail on the edge of the
swimming pool on my first try, and the nail was almost
gone entirely. The hotel staff had some emergency kit to
help me wrap the injured toe.
Going Home ...
 |
With the injured toe, it was a painful
ride back to Kaohisung and Taipei. Although we had this
small accident, we had a great time in Kenting to relax
and enjoy the natural beauty in southern Taiwan that we
almost forgot the sky can still be so blue in Taiwan. |
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