The Sights of Paiho Township 

The xiang shui lotus, which blossoms year-round, has become a favorite among serious flower arrangers.

The lotus seed harvest lasts from June to September, reaching its peak in July and August. This is also the busiest time of year for local tourism. The fields are drained during December and January and, when the land is dry, the lotus roots are harvested. 

Several different lotus varieties can be seen in Paiho. We recommend that visitors to Paiho plan to stay overnight, so that they can watch the lotus blossoms unfold between 5:30 and 8:30 in the morning. The best flower-packed scenery in Paiho can be found in Yufeng, Lientan, and Kuang-an. Pink, bright red, yellow, and white lotuses can be enjoyed all year round in the "Fragrant Lotus"area of Chumen Neighborhood. Lotus Park, located in Yufeng Borough, is a wonderful place for shutterbugs and flower lovers alike. 

Don't miss the Lotus Feasts. Available June through August.

The Paiho Lotus Festival, held eight times since its inception in 1995, has put Paiho on the map. More than two months of activities, including bicycle tours, the Lotus Country Farming Village Experience, lotus seed shucking competitions, lotus flower sketching, photography competitions, and evening get-togethers, are held from the end of June to the end of August. Available for purchase will be lotus flower tea, lotus root powder, lotus seed cakes and lotus stamen tea, as well as other delicacies and postcards. Lotus feasts, available from June to the end of August, consist of 12 local dishes, including such culinary delights as lotus leaf rice and lotus fairy soup. Be sure to take the roads connecting Chumen with Yufeng, and Sheng-an with Chumen, where overhanging mango trees form green "tunnels." 

Paiho Lotus Carnival  Tourism Section, Paiho Township Administration  Tel: (06) 685-5102  Lotus Feasts  Cost: NT$3500/table  Promotion Section, Paiho Farmers Association  Tel: (06) 683-0122

Paiho Lotus Industrial and Cultural Information Hall 

Make pottery, dye clothes, enjoy drinking tea, and partake in an exquisite local meal--all in the secluded and peaceful setting of the White Lotus Pottery.

Make the most of your visit to Paiho by making the Lotus Industrial and Cultural Information Hall your first stop. It is a wonderful place to learn about the lotus, with all types of lotus-oriented exhibits covering the culture, industry, and ecology of Lotus Country. 

Exhibits include antiquities, poetry, calligraphy, children's songs, handicrafts, religious items, costumes, and utensils. The Hall also offers a detailed introduction to lotus agronomy, genetic research, and pest and disease control. See the "Botanical Studies of the Lotus"exhibit to learn about differences between the lotus and the water lily, as well as their origins, distribution, and various species. Visitors can learn about the life of lotus farmers through exhibits showing lotus seed and root harvesting and processing.
 

Paiho Lotus Industrial and Cultural Information Hall  22-10, Yufeng Borough, Paiho Township, Tainan County  Tel: (06) 685-2983  Hours: 8:00-16:30; open to 18:00 June--August.

Ama's Scenic Guesthouse

Seemingly floating on a sea of lotuses, Ama's Scenic Guesthouse and its witty proprietor will make you feel right at home.

Since the launching of the Lotus Carnival, Paiho Township has been developing visitor accommodations in hopes of providing travelers the opportunity to learn more about the local lotus industry. Ama's Scenic Guesthouse, located in Lientan Borough, was one of the first guesthouses in Paiho. 

The proprietor, Lai Wu-tong, built the guesthouse in the middle of a sea of lotuses. The enchanting courtyard lotus ponds, firefly conservation areas, and lotus pond mazes are designed to bring guests closer to nature. 

Lai also offers early morning bicycle tours that allow guests to take in the splendor of the lotus blossoms as they open. As you meander among the fragrant lotuses, listen to Lai's discourses on local culture, industry, birds, dragonflies, bees, and edible wild plants. In the evenings, watch as the egrets return to their nests, and marvel at the beauty of the unfolding water lilies. At night, learn about local flora and fauna from Mr. Lai's splendid slide presentation. The delightful country fare at Ama's Scenic Guesthouse will help to round out your Lotus Country experience.

Ama's Scenic Guesthouse  2-6, Lientan Borough, Paiho Township, Tainan County  Tel: (06) 687-6899  Rooms: NT$1500-2600

Kuantzuling Scenic Area

Located in the Kuantzuling Scenic Area, the Piyun Temple, a Grade Three historic site, preserves a mixture of Fujianese and Japanese styles.

Spewing forth both water and natural gas, Kuantzuling's "Spring of Fire and Water"is an impressive sight.

Kuantzuling Hot Springs are listed alongside Peitou, Mt. Yangming, the Ssuchong River, and Chihpen as one of Taiwan's top five hot spring areas. (Taiwan's only mud springs can be found there, too.) The springs, averaging 75-80^oC in temperature, are naturally effervescent and mildly alkaline. The waters have a strong sulfurous odor, and leave the skin feeling velvety. They are effective in treating skin ailments, rheumatism and arthritis. The head of the springs is located beyond Paochuan Bridge on Mt. Chingkuang. 

A variety of scenery can be found in Kuantzuling Scenic Area: the beautiful mirror-like waters of the Paiho Reservoir; Red Leaf Park, a great place for hiking; Lingting Park with its Hot Springs Exhibition Hall; the "Spring of Fire and Water"(Shuihuo Tongyuan), which has both spring waters and natural gas spouting from the same spot in side a cave; and Tahsien and Piyun Temples, both Grade 3 historic sites, which are a must-see for temple lovers.

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