Hsinchu

The car was in good condition, the staff were very friendly, the rental agreement was clearly explained, and I was informed in advance that I would be returning the car late. The fare was very reasonable.

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.