Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

After the successful Golden Years launch last year, the Tourism agency in Taiwan continues to promote travel programs that cater to our friends at their Golden age.

Golden years start at the age of sixty and here in Taiwan, we see many of our senior friends still active in their chosen careers and preoccupied with their respective businesses. To be able to have a work and life balance, the Taiwan Tourism agency works hard on promoting the different tourist spots in Taiwan that are suitable for the Golden Years.

This year, our stunning itinerary features the healing power of nature. In our two days and one night in Changhua, the Golden Years team discovered and learned so many places that’s perfect for our senior friends.

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Day 1 Taipei Train Station to Changhua

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Taipei Train Station East 3 Exit

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Yangming Service Stop

Tai An Service Stop Southbound

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Where is Changhua?

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

First Spot: Taiwan Mingyuan Art of Gardening

Taiwan Mingyuan is a gardening company that has accidentally become a “check in” spot by netizens. It offers Zen-like serenity to lovers of botany. The beautiful landscape would surely encourage you to take some pictures and videos. You don’t have to go abroad to have a Japanese-like garden. This is located in Tianwei Changhua, the center of Taiwan.

There are many rare old trees in the park. The native species of violet imported from Japan, the most complete and most beautiful Japanese Luohan pine, the medium and large Lanyu Luohan pine, and the collector-level old real cypress. For Mingyuan, “Tree” has the meaning of continuation and heritage.

Address: No. 102, Sanfeng Road, Justice Village, Tianwei Township, Changhua County

Reference Website: https://www.twmygardening.com/

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Second Spot: Tenway Garden

Tenway Garden offers a garden themed restaurant with a fusion of Asian and Western dishes that give the customers more food options. Tenway Garden is not just a dining area. It also has some walk paths with tall cypress trees that’s perfect for picture taking or vlogging. You can also avail DIY activities or handicrafts and buy some flowers here.

Check more activities on their official website here: https://www.green.com.tw/

Address: No. 73, Zhangcuo Lane, Tianwei Township, Changhua County 522

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Third Spot: Xi Zhou Garden

The largest plain park in the country is in Xizhou, Changhua. Covering an area of 123 hectares, the park offers diverse recreational facilities. Divided into a seedling and forest area, the park is cultivated with flowers and seedlings native to Changhua County to create a lush, verdant park environment.

The entrance art installation consists of white European style flower racks with vines to present an exotic feel. Step onto the observation deck, and you will catch a commanding view of the serene flower fields surrounding the area. The round installation design in front of the park entrance symbolizes perfection and completion, representing the park’s flawlessness. This is where the main event of any park activity would take place, thus if the public wishes to learn information about park events, the entrance art installation is the place to be.

Reference: https://tourism.chcg.gov.tw/AttractionsContent.aspx?id=469&chk=ced49bc9-c15f-4ef7-9eb3-84c2e035f9f1&l=EN

Address: No.138, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Xizhou Township, Changhua County, Taiwan (R.O.C)

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Fourth Spot: Jingqin Leisure Farm

Jingqin Liesure Farm gave us the freshest guava fruit tasting experience. It was so delicious that I ate more than I used to. The guava picking was also very much enjoyable and you can also purchase their very own guava jelly, guava tea and dried guavas.

This Jingqin Liesure Farm is perfect for our Golden Years itinerary. The activity didn’t require too much movement but it’s so much fun most especially for our grannies.

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tzgreentour/

Address: No. 7, North Lane, Chenggong Village, Xizhou Township, Changhua County 524

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Fifth Spot: Lukang Longshan Temple Changhua

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Lukang is one of the important historic towns in Taiwan. It is the town for well-preserved historic sites, old houses, old temples and folk arts. Longshan Temple is called the Forbidden City in Taiwan. It is the best among the 8 great scenes of Lukang. Longshan Temple was originally a small temple in Lukang.

Later it was remodeled by local residents to be the current larger scale. The temple was beautifully designed. It is seated facing the west with the back to the east. The layout is square. The main building consists of four strata and three gardens. The format and design are inspired by Longshan Temple in Quanzhou (Chuanchow).

In the old days, there were 99 doors. The carving is magnificent in terms of the structure and the ornament. There is fine colorful painting. It has the reputation of being the Treasure of Chinese Architectural Art. The buildings are worthy of detailed observation. At the front gate, there is a pair of dragon poles made of granite.

There are the ascending dragon and the descending dragon corresponding to each other. The design is simple and powerful and they are excellent art works. At the end of front hall, there is a theater stage for traditional plays at festivals. There is an octagon well within the theater stage.

Its colorful painting and the good technique reflect superb art works. In the past, the houses around Longshan Temple could not be higher than the temple. The buildings in Longshan Temple are getting higher and higher. It means ascending. There are many historical artifacts in the temple. For an example, there is an old bell from Ching Dynasty.

It was made in Ninpo of Chekiang Province in China. It is the largest bronze bell in Taiwan. There is also a Guanshiyin Budda made of copper. The complexity of Longshan Temple in Lukang is amazing and the buildings in the temple are marvelous and rarely seen in Taiwan.

Reference: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002113&id=2156

Official Website: https://www.lungshan-temple.org.tw/

Address: No. 81, Jinmen Lane, Lukang Town, Changhua County 505

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Day 2 Discovering Changhua

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

First Stop: Cow Feeding Activity Moo Yong Lin Ranch

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Second Stop: F Seasons DIY Umbrella

In a Golden Year itinerary, DIY Activity is my most awaited schedule. I never thought sewing an umbrella could be so difficult but I was glad I was able to complete the task.

F Seasons provides different kinds of umbrellas including collaborations to big car brands. They also have innovative umbrellas like the ones with buit-in fans, leds and canes.

Address: No. 183, Fanhua Road, Xiushui Township, Changhua County 504

Official Website: https://www.beo-chion.com/?locale=en

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Third Stop: Puyan Shunze Temple

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Shunze Temple is a local legend. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1948. It was torn down for rebuilding in 1998. The design of the new-built temple is very unique. You have to climb up two stone stairs surrounded by vivid-looking dragon motifs. 
What’s most special about Shunze Temple is the mud statue of Hsuan Tien Shang Ti.

After the fire of 1948, a mud statue of Hsuan Tien Shang Ti was made when the temple was rebuilt. The statue was kept intact after 50-odd years later. It can be listed as a national heritage. 

Reference: https://www.puyan.gov.tw/eng/form/Details.aspx?Parser=2,14,129,111,,,333

Also visit wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunze_Temple

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Final Stop for the 2D1N in Changhua : Baguashan

Stunning Itinerary for Golden Years Senior Tour Program 2024

Big Buddha Parkland is located in Baguashan (Mt. Bagua) in Changhua. It is tight to Changhua downtown. Black body Sakya Big Buddha statue is the special landmark and spiritual representation of Changhua City. From Baguashan (Mt. Bagua) going through the Big Buddha archway, walking along till the end of the way, there is Big Buddha sitting up straight in the wide place. Baguashan (Mt. Bagua) Big Buddha is built in 1961.

The whole body is curved with the ferroconcrete sculpture. From the lotus seat to the Buddha’s whole body, the length is about 7.2 foot; the shoulder length is about 13 foot, and the length of the across chest is 44 foot. It was called the biggest Buddha in Asia in early years. Big Buddha is not only to supply visitors to join visiting, but also an important athletic place for the people in Changhua at usual.

The aroma joining the Buddha footway of green view, it is a beautiful place that you can imagine. And the Long Pond rebuilds in front the big statue of Buddha. It is classic and beautiful especially overlook the streets of Changhua City at the corridor in front of the pond. There is a water dancing show in Long Pond at night. It provides a great new view for the visitors.

There are six sections divided in the inner part of the statue. The lowest part is the Buddhist sanctuary. The second to the fifth floor are all about Buddha lifetime marks. Gradually step up the stairs; right against to your face is the 32 Buddhist contributions contributed by the believers at two sides of corridor. It was named numerous statues. Every floors design exhibits the lifetime of the Big Buddha.

This is the place that Changhua County Government and the local scholar desiring established a temple with the Changhua County’s landmark and the representation of the spirit. Furthermore can supply the dwellers the psychical hopes, and also bring up the movement of the local tour development.

Because the government of Changhua County is trying to rebuild the whole area, there are combination of Buddhist footway, delicately pleasance area, clocking geyser fair show area, tour service center, restaurants, souvenir monopoly shop, multimedia audio-visual room, community culture exhibition and showing room and so on, providing the visitors more abundance service. Around the Big Buddha visiting area, there is a man-size static park layout. The finishing re-build part also includes natural biome garden area, athletic garden area, and visitor service center. 

Baguashan Ecological Visitor Center
Close to the Tri-Mountain Buddha Landscape, the Baguashan Ecological Visitor Center was opened on March 17, 2001. Around the spring equinox in March each year, the center highlights the Grey-faced Buzzards that fly back north or make a foraging stop in the Baguashan area. The Center also offers information on wildlife and plant life in the area. It houses the country’s first Grey-faced Buzzard Theme Pavilion, which displays a collection of ecological records of these fascinating birds.

The Grey-faced Buzzard is a strong bird of prey living at the top of the food chain. Every spring, when the weather up north turns gentle again, around the time of the spring equinox or Tomb Sweeping Festival (Qingming Festival, early April), the Grey-faced Buzzards will fly north back to their breeding grounds. They pass by Baguashan Scenic Area, the Dadu Mountains, and other environs and may take a rest there.

This has given rise to the bird’s popular names, such as Southern Eagle, Qingming Bird, and Tomb Sweeping Bird. When towards winter the weather turns cold again, the Grey-faced Buzzards will start flying south once more around Taiwan’s National Day (October 10), and they will pass by Manzhou Township of Kenting City in the very south of Taiwan, which has given rise to the names National Day Bird and Manzhou Bird.

The Centre’s façade features a relief of Grey-faced Buzzards created by local artist Wang Chen Wen. The enlarged sculptures of the Grey-faced Buzzards invite visitors into the Grey-faced Buzzard Theme Pavilion and make people aware that the theme is the Grey-faced Buzzard. This is also a popular spot for young and old to take pictures for their Facebook pages.

Reference and more details here: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002113&id=R21

Also Read: Golden Years 2023 https://everydaywithgen.com/breathtaking-itinerary-for-golden-years-senior/

Accommodation: Union House Lukang Changhua

UNION HOUSE consists of hotel industry elites and seasoned professionals dedicated to building bespoke design hotels and offering five-star travel experiences.

With sleek and cozy design in gold color tones, UNION HOUSE rooms are elegant and comfy with generous room space that cleverly incorporates unique Lukang art and cultural elements. An enchanting perfect trip awaits you at the UNION HOUSE Lukang.

More details here: https://www.unionhouse.com.tw/en/index.php

OOTD for 2D1N in Changhua