Hsinchu | Smangus 2-Day Round-Trip Transfer | Giant Tree Trail, Silifu Waterfall, Observation Deck, Tribal Tour | Depart from Taipei/Taoyuan/Hsinchu

— Itinerary —​​

Day 1: 7:00 Depart from Taipei Main Station East Exit 3, 8:20 Depart from Hsinchu HSR Station Exit 4, stop for a restroom break along the way, 11:00 Arrive at Smangus, tribal tour, tribal observation deck, hunter's trail, Silifu Waterfall, etc. Accommodation in Smangus (travelers can choose the accommodation package or book their own lodging).

Day 2: Smangus Giant Tree Trail (approx. 4.5 hours round trip), afternoon tea at Canaan Cafe, 16:10 Gather at the parking lot – 16:20 Depart down the mountain on time.

* Smangus is an open area. Travelers are required to walk around the tribe on their own and explore the above attractions freely.

【​​Shared Transfer】

– Departure Time and Location 1: Day 1 07:00 / Board at Taipei Main Station East Exit 3
– Departure Time and Location 2: Day 1 08:20 / Board at Hsinchu HSR Station Exit 4 (This stop will be skipped if there are no passengers on the day)
– Trip Duration: 2 days, total of approximately 13 hours
– Return Information: Day 2 19:00~19:30 Drop-off at Hsinchu HSR Station; 20:00~20:30 Drop-off at Taipei Main Station East Exit 3
– Vehicle Type: 5-seater (WISH or SIENTA) / 9-seater (VW T5/T6 or Hyundai STAREX)

【​​private tour Transfer】

– Departure Time: Day 1 07:00 (Taipei) / 07:30 (Taoyuan) / 8:00 (Hsinchu)
– Departure Location: Home, hotel, or designated pick-up point in Taipei City / New Taipei City / Taoyuan City / Hsinchu City
– Trip Duration:
– Pick-up/Drop-off in Taipei/New Taipei area: 2 days, total of approx. 13 hours
– Pick-up/Drop-off in Taoyuan/Hsinchu area: 2 days, total of approx. 10~11 hours
– Return Information: Day 2 20:00~20:30 Drop-off at designated location in Taipei City / New Taipei City / Taoyuan City / Hsinchu City
– Vehicle Type: 5-seater (SIENTA or WISH) / 9-seater (VW T5 or Hyundai STAREX)

* Travelers choosing this option, please fill in the pick-up and drop-off locations when placing your order.
* If the pick-up or drop-off location is in Taoyuan/Hsinchu, please note that the total duration of the private tour will be reduced by 2~2.5 hours to account for the driver's travel to and from Taipei.

— Attraction Introduction​​ —​​

- Smangus

Located in the remote high-altitude mountains (approx. 1500 meters above sea level) of Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, this is an Atayal indigenous tribe belonging to Yufeng Village. All residents are indigenous Atayal people. Due to its deep mountain location and lack of electricity for a long time, it was once called the 'Dark Tribe' and is the most remote indigenous village in Taiwan. Later, it developed tourism due to the discovery of the giant tree forest and has now become an important tourist destination. Known as 'God's Tribe', the area is famous throughout the province for its red cypress giant tree forest. It takes about two hours to walk from the tribe to the primeval forest. Upon arriving at the red cypress giant tree forest, you can see the giant tree known as the 'Old Master', which is about 2500 years old, 20.5 meters in circumference, and about 35 meters high. Its most distinctive feature is its 'human' shaped trunk. The discovery of the giant tree forest has attracted many visitors and it has become the Furusato of cypress trees, as well as a popular summer resort.

- Tribal Observation Deck / Hunter's Trail

Located at the highest point of Smangus, it offers a bird's-eye view of the entire tribe with an unbeatable panorama. It is a must-visit spot in Smangus. There are two paths to reach it: one starts from the front left of the visitor center, which is flat and less than 400 meters one way. The other starts from the 'Hunter's Trail', which is a steep climb of just over 200 meters, allowing you to experience the hunting paths used by hunters.

- YAYA Giant Tree (YaYa Qparung)

Smangus is famous throughout Taiwan for its red cypress giant tree forest. Upon arriving at the forest, you can see the giant tree known as the 'Old Master', which is about 2500 years old, 20.5 meters in circumference, and about 35 meters high. Its most distinctive feature is its 'human' shaped trunk, resembling a gentle mother opening her arms to embrace the children who come to visit her in the mountains, waiting for you to listen to the sounds of the forest. It is said that when the Japanese arrived, the people of Smangus hid here to escape the war, so the tribe calls it Yaya, meaning mother, in gratitude for sheltering the entire tribe. (The entire Giant Tree Trail is about 5.2 km long, and the 10.4 km round trip takes about 4.5-5 hours.)

- Giant Tree Trail

Smangus is famous throughout Taiwan for its red cypress giant tree forest. Upon arriving at the forest, you can see the giant tree known as the 'Old Master', which is about 2500 years old, 20.5 meters in circumference, and about 35 meters high. Its most distinctive feature is its 'human' shaped trunk, resembling a gentle mother opening her arms to embrace the children who come to visit her in the mountains, waiting for you to listen to the sounds of the forest. It is said that when the Japanese arrived, the people of Smangus hid here to escape the war, so the tribe calls it Yaya, meaning mother, in gratitude for sheltering the entire tribe.

- Silifu Waterfall

The Silifu Waterfall Trail is a newly developed trail by the Smangus tribe. During the rainy summer season, you can enjoy the majestic waterfalls, and in autumn, you can admire the maple leaves along the trail, which is truly refreshing.

- Koraw Ecological Park

Koraw Ecological Park is an ecological trail behind the Smangus tribe. In the Atayal language, it means 'fertile land where the tribe farms, and when returning to the tribe at sunset, the body is always covered with dark soil.' It represents the beauty of the land and symbolizes a bountiful harvest every year. The park is dominated by Lauraceae and Fagaceae plants, and when the breeze blows, it feels like being in a fairyland on earth.

- Tribal Classroom

Started in 2000, the tribal classroom combines traditional and modern perspectives, using education to build the tribe. Its walls are stacked with raw logs, and inside the classroom, you have the chance to see eagles flying through the skylight.

- Canaan Cafe & Restaurant

Located on a high terrace in the tribe, in front of the New Canaan cabins, the cafe is a large, well-designed wooden building. It offers a variety of drinks and meals, and has a terrace area where you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. An art shop is located nearby, where you can choose tribal handicrafts, commemorative albums, and other creative works.