10 Best Things to Do for Families in Pingtung

Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area, located in the north of Dongyuan Village, Mudan Township, is an important national wetland in Taiwan. It covers an area of about 12 hectares and belongs to the Dongyuan wetland along with the water grassland. There are tourist information stations, lake trails, pavilions and other facilities in the park. You can take a guided tour of the entire park or walk along the tree-lined trails at your own pace, enjoying beautiful Dongyuan Lake and the white wild ginger flowers growing on its shores. When wild ginger flowers are in full bloom from July to September each year, the air is filled with a fresh floral fragrance, attracting many tourists. The park is rated as having one of the best routes by cyclists. Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area is the venue for a series of activities held during the annual wild ginger flower season, including tribal competitions, markets, traditional dances and orchestral performances. Dongyuan Forest is committed to fostering a positive relationship between humans and the natural world, making this an ideal place to take the family on an eco-tour.

Have you heard about Paradise of Deer in Kenting? Paradise of Deer Ecological Park was established by three people aged 30 to 39 years old, who wanted to successfully breed sika deer on their own farm. Unlike the sika deer in the wild in Kenting National Park, the deer here like to play with tourists, and you can pet and feed them. You can also learn about the difference between pilose and fully developed antler. Pilose antler is soft antler still in the growth stage, while fully developed antler is slightly hard and the product of calcification of the pilose antler. You can get close to the young deer to observe their habits and understand the ecology of sika deer and red deer. Paradise of Deer Ecological Park hopes to be able to educate people and show how we all have a huge impact on ecology. Next time you visit Kenting to swim in the sea, why not add this trip to your itinerary to broaden your horizons?

Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park is located in Beiye Village, Majia Township, Pingtung County and covers an area of about 82 hectares. It's easy to get to and just 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Pingtung City. It's the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan, boasting magnificent natural scenery and the largest collection of preserved cultural relics of indigenous peoples. The park is divided into four areas: Papakufang, Tamaluwan, Fuguwan and Naluwan. The Papakufang Area is located at the entrance and has an artefact display room, a handicrafts room, a multimedia room and a special exhibition hall inside an octagonal building. The Tamaluwan and Fuguwan Areas contain examples of traditional houses of indigenous peoples, made from slate, bamboo and wood. The Naluwan Area hosts energetic performances, with a 360-degree circular theatre and a lifestyle exhibition hall dedicated to 16 ethnic groups. If you're visiting Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park, remember to check out the times of the performances, which include singing and dancing, praying for blessings, welcoming guests with drums in the Naluwan Area, as well as salutes in the Papakufang Area. All are worth watching.

Houbihu has the largest fishing port and the largest fish distribution centre on the Hengchun Peninsula and is also the location of the first marina in Taiwan. At dusk, when the fishing boats return to unload their fresh catches, local residents and tourists can be seen rushing to buy seafood at the bustling port. In addition to seafood, Houbihu Fishing Port also offers a wide range of water sports, including jet skiing, parasailing and sailing. For a great view of the island, you can take a yacht out to sea. If you want to swim with the fish, why not try snorkelling or diving? As Kenting's most successful marine conservation demonstration area, Houbihu's sea area prohibits fishing, making it the richest fishery along the coast of Hengchun Peninsula. If you love seafood and water sports, Houbihu is a great place to visit.

Shuangliu Forest Recreation Area is located next to the Southern Cross-Island Highway in Shizi Township. One of the park's most famous attractions is Shuangliu Waterfall, whose magnificent twin falls cascade straight down from the hillside, and was once voted the second most beautiful waterfall in Taiwan. Tropical rainforest plants can be seen all over the park. You can stroll along the forest trails, wade in the river, play in the water, watch butterflies, listen to the calls of insects and birds and breathe in the fragrant forest air. Maozi Mountain, the highest point in the park, rises to an altitude of 2,133 feet (650 metres) and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Taiwan Strait. Shuangliu is less crowded and quieter than other forest recreation areas. You'll therefore have plenty of opportunities to slow down and get a closer look at its unique ecosystem. Along the trail you'll find typical plants such as Hengchun mountain loquats and selaginella boninensis. A rich variety of rare birds and more than 196 species of butterfly are also waiting to be explored here.

Located on the southeast side of Kenting Park, Sheding Nature Park has been preserved in its original natural state with only simple trails and explanation facilities. Dominated by coral reefs, the park features a rich variety of flora and fauna, limestone caves and the One-Line Sky scenic spot formed by rock fissures, all well worth a visit. There are more than 329 kinds of plants alone. If you're lucky, you might get to see the amazing bioluminescent mycena chlorophos on summer nights after heavy rains. In spring and summer, nearly 50 species of butterfly can be seen flying around. To admire the butterflies fluttering in the breeze, head for Butterfly Alley. In mid-September each year, Lingxiao Pavilion within the park becomes the perfect vantage point for the spectacular scenes of Chinese sparrowhawks and grey-faced buzzards soaring over Kenting at dawn. And if all that weren't enough, you might even catch a glimpse of wild sika deer in the sika deer ecological conservation area during the day.

Liudui Hakka Cultural Park is situated in Neipu Township, Pingtung County, and has a total area of about 30 hectares. As you enter the park, you'll see six oil-paper umbrella-style structures, designed to resemble a Hakka settlement. There are four themed areas, including Hakka Ditch Area, Natural Prairie Area, Hakka Settlement Architecture and Nine Flowers Garden Area, which have been developed with the aim of preserving Hakka culture and giving visitors the chance to experience the life of the Hakka tribe. Each scenic spot offers a diverse and colourful display of Hakka culture. An auditorium and a multimedia exhibition hall host a variety of exhibitions, performances and art activities. The biggest highlight are the traditional red brick houses scattered everywhere. One of them is the Rice Mill Exhibition Hall. This building houses a 100-year-old rice huller donated by the third-generation ancestors of the founder, Mr. Shi Xinde, for the purposes of demonstrating traditional Hakka rice culture. The children's area offers role-play activities and teaches children about Hakka culture through interactive technology. Outside, there are endless fields and grassy areas that are perfect for families to visit and enjoy.