Hsinchu

It had been 12 years since my last visit to Taiwan. Unable to forget the taste of Din Tai Fung, I decided to return. Having heard beforehand that there would be a long wait, I found this website and used it on the day. The wait time, which was supposed to be over 60 minutes, was reduced to less than 20 minutes. The staff were attentive and efficient, and the piping hot xiao long bao arrived within minutes. The fish xiao long bao was especially delicious.

Departing from Taipei Main Station, the sight of a Mercedes-Benz 9-seater instantly gave us a sense of prestige. On Tuesday, with few tourists, there were only five passengers on board, making the seats spacious and comfortable—perfect for us without our own transportation. Our driver, "Big Bear," was friendly, polite, patient, and enthusiastic, with superb driving skills. He not only explained everything to us while driving but also helped us take photos when we got out, making the entire trip feel reassuring and enjoyable. We were lucky; the weather was perfect, with a beautiful sunny day, making our hike pleasant and the photos stunning. The Lala Mountain Ancient Tree Forest area possesses an indescribable energy and spirituality. Despite the sweltering heat, it felt like a natural air conditioner, cool and pleasant, even requiring a light jacket—truly a beautiful summer retreat. Surrounded by ancient trees, immersed in the beautiful forest, reaching out to touch the thousand-year-old red cypress and Taiwan cypress, breathing in the phytoncides, I felt my lungs and soul completely cleansed. On the return trip, Da Xiong stopped the car at our request so we could buy some peaches, and even helped us take photos with the stunning mountain scenery. The peaches from Lalashan are truly amazing! They're sweet and juicy, and the owner even cut us a lot to try for free. The only regrets of the trip were that the Upper Baling Trail was closed halfway through (damaged by a recent typhoon and still not repaired), forcing us to turn back halfway; and Luofu Hot Spring was closed on Tuesday, making it a wasted trip (we should have asked Da Xiong to let us spend more time in Shenmu District). I recommend checking the opening hours of each attraction online before your trip to avoid being turned away. Overall, Shenmu District is so captivating that even the closures of the Upper Baling Trail and Luofu Hot Spring made all the difference. We departed at 6:30 AM and returned to Taipei Main Station at 5:30 PM, making it a wonderful Father's Day trip. Dad raved about it! (The elderly in Shenmu Park are also very friendly! And admission is only NT$10 for seniors over 65, while it's NT$150 for regular adults. You can also buy your tickets in advance on KKDAY.) Finally, I personally wish KKDAY could extend the Shenmu Park time on this trip to four hours (I think this is the highlight and the most worthwhile part of the whole trip), so we could take our time taking photos and savoring the experience.

There were two stops along the way, and we received sightseeing information. The snack set was delicious. The train was very clean. The only downside was that since I was traveling with my son, we had to share a seat. Overall, it was enjoyable.

This was my first time experiencing a rock bath. I booked a 3-hour basic package on KKDay for $850 per person. Upon entry, you need to scan a QR code to add someone as a friend and fill out a form. Then, you take off your shoes and socks, collect your clothes at the counter, watch a video, hand in your shoe locker key, and receive your locker key. Entering your locker key number into your LINE friend will tell you the end time. The showers only provide shampoo and shower gel, with basic wet and dry separation (each shower has two small spaces). There are water dispensers and vending machines (no containers provided, remember to bring your own water bottle). There are five different temperature settings. The environment is spacious and well-maintained. There are also semi-private spaces for one person, with plenty of comic book shelves and magazines to browse. There are also massage chairs ($30 for 10 minutes), soft chairs, sofas, and various other relaxation spaces. Charging stations are also available. A 10-minute hourglass is also provided inside the rock bath area.