Gukeng Township covers an area of approximately 166 square kilometers, which is about one-eighth of the total area of Yunlin County. The terrain includes vast plains, rolling hills, and lush mountain ranges, with diverse and abundant agricultural products.

The township was selected as one of the “Classic Mountain Towns of Taiwan” by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in 2020. Its environment resembles an “effortless ecological paradise,” earning it the reputation of being “Yunlin County’s backyard” and “the Yangmingshan of central Taiwan.” The township’s simple and refreshing cultural charm, coupled with the deep, natural beauty of its green mountains and clear waters, is like a modern-day “paradise on earth.”

To apply for the Cittaslow international certification, a region must pass several stringent criteria, including maintaining local environmental, cultural, and industrial characteristics. Gukeng Township has always actively promoted community building, striving to preserve the most authentic and beautiful aspects of the area.

One of the most important requirements for becoming an international Cittaslow is the involvement of the people. All residents must reach a consensus and work together. Gukeng is actively promoting and advocating for this, hoping that the community will collaboratively create a place where visitors can “slow down or even stop” and experience the beauty of “slow living.” This will, in turn, boost local industry development.

The township aims to create a comfortable tourism environment through the Cittaslow philosophy, develop leisure tourism, promote cultural values, encourage the use of local agricultural products, coffee origin certification, and the integration of information technology and industries. It hopes to enhance Gukeng’s unique character, foster Cittaslow awareness, introduce the Cittaslow concept, apply for certification, and align with global slow living principles.

Coffee

Gukeng is considered the origin of coffee in Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese government selected Gukeng for coffee cultivation due to its ideal latitude and climate conditions. Taiwan’s island climate also contributes to the unique flavor profile of its coffee.

Among the notable coffee producers, the Songyue Coffee Estate won first place in the 2020 CQI (Coffee Quality Institute) International Coffee Quality Certification, among other awards. The Qingshanping Coffee Farm also claimed first place in the 2021 CQI certification. Additionally, Huashan’s featured coffee was designated as the official coffee for national banquets.

The oldest coffee brand in the area, “Baden Coffee,” was established in 1984 and was recognized in 2012 as one of the top ten recommended coffee shops in the world.

Mazu Bamboo Shoots

The cultivation area of Mazu bamboo shoots in Gukeng once reached over 4,000 hectares, making it the largest in Taiwan, earning the nickname “Kingdom of Mazu Bamboo Shoots.” It was also one of the key economic crops that contributed to foreign exchange in the past.

In recent years, the Dapu community has been dedicated to revitalizing the Mazu bamboo shoot industry, launching a “Bamboo Shoot Feast Tour.” The Guilin community has also showcased its creativity with the creation of “Golden Mountain Squid,” which has become popular among food enthusiasts. “Golden Mountain Squid” has even gained international recognition, attracting Japanese tourists who come specifically to purchase it.

Jam

World Champion “Jam.” The Butter Bus Bakery in Gukeng Township won an impressive 2 golds and 1 silver at the “2021 World Citrus Jam Competition” in Japan. They further secured 2 silvers and 1 bronze at the UK competition, and once again earned 1 gold and 1 bronze at the “2024 World Citrus Jam Competition.” The success of owner Chen Yun-jun and her daughter Yang Zi-qiao has become a celebrated story, as their handmade “Yunwei Jam” is recognized for its world-class craftsmanship!

Orange

Gukeng, due to its significant temperature difference between day and night, excellent water quality, and favorable geographical conditions, has allowed fruit farmers to carefully cultivate and manage high-quality oranges. These oranges are known for their sweetness, juiciness, and rich aroma. Gukeng Township has approximately 1,000 hectares dedicated to orange cultivation, making it the largest producer of oranges in Taiwan, accounting for about 30% of the national output. It is affectionately known as the “Orange Town” and the “Kingdom of Oranges.”

Camellia oil

The culture of camellia oil in Taiwan has a history of nearly a century, earning it the reputation of Taiwan’s national treasure and the “Eastern olive oil.” In the Caoling area of Gukeng, large camellia trees have been planted for over a hundred years, known for producing camellia oil. The local Shen Nong Hotel, owned by Liu Wenzhen, even won the Shen Nong Award for the exceptional quality of its camellia oil. Lai Ji Camellia Oil was also honored as one of the top ten souvenirs in Yunlin County in 2015.

In addition to this, camellia oil chicken is a must-try local delicacy in Caoling. Camellia oil has countless uses; it can be used for stir-frying, consumed raw for digestive health, and even used as a sunscreen. In the field of nutrition, it is hailed as “plant gold.”

Two-tone dragon fruit

“Champion Two-tone Dragon Fruit.” Zhang Kesen, a resident of He Bao Village in Gukeng Township, returned to farming after his military service and has been cultivating red dragon fruit for nearly 10 years. On October 29, 2020, he won the national “Red Dragon Fruit Quality Fruit Evaluation” competition with his “Two-tone Dragon Fruit,” which earned him the championship. The two-tone dragon fruit gained widespread fame, with each fruit priced over 100 NTD, yet still in high demand.

Donghe Chen’s Residence

Donghe Chen’s Residence is one of the most impressive traditional mansions in Gukeng. The Chen family business was vast and influential, and it is said that the family sold eight acres of farmland to hire artisans from Tangshan to build the residence. The materials used, construction methods, and garden design were all of the highest quality. The mansion is a three-section courtyard house with a five-bay Minnan-style gable roof architecture. On October 24, 2012, the residence was officially designated as a historical building by the Yunlin County Government. It is now known as the “Monster Village Guesthouse – Donghe Chen’s Residence.”

Yongguang Story House

The Yongguang Police Station Dormitory was built in the 8th year of the Showa era (1933) and completed in the 9th year (1934). It is a typical Japanese-style brick-and-wood construction, originally a single-story dormitory for the巡查部長 (chief inspector). The elevated floor was designed for ventilation and to prevent moisture. The building materials include cement tiles, bamboo-woven mud walls, bricks, red cypress, Chinese fir, and a small amount of Taiwan cypress. On April 22, 2008, it was designated as a historical building. In July 2016, the restoration was completed, and it is now known as the Yongguang Story House. The property is currently leased and operated by a casual coffee shop business, where visitors can enjoy slow food and leisurely conversations in the tranquil, nostalgic space—truly a delightful experience!

Guesthouse

The tourism industry in Gukeng Township is well-developed, with a total of 48 guesthouses offering a variety of unique accommodations. Notably, the Monster Village Guesthouse, famous for its nostalgic style, is the most special. This guesthouse is located in the East He Chen Residence, a Hakka three-section courtyard that is a county-designated historical building with a history of over 100 years. Visitors can experience the charm of living in an old house. In addition to the classic coffee-themed guesthouses, Gukeng also offers other styles such as castle, log cabin, cypress wood, nostalgic, and leisure farm-style accommodations, making it a great destination to visit.

Orange Fragrance Bicycle Path

The “Orange Fragrance Bicycle Path – The Canal Path” located in Gukeng Township has a total length of 19 kilometers. The starting point connects the Nanzi Village office with the Green Tunnel Market. There are two routes: one goes from the Green Tunnel to the Riverside Park, ending at the Xianhou Temple in Kanjia Village; the other heads towards the Riverside Park, entering Gukeng Village’s bicycle path, passing through the Shiniu Creek Suspension Bridge, and ending at National Highway No. 3 (Hobao Village). Along the way, visitors can enjoy the Green Tunnel, 228 Park, Gukeng Riverside Park, Fulu Shou Tourist Winery, Gukeng Village, and experience the beauty of rural landscapes.

The Dapu Iron Horse Trail

The Dapu Golden Village Community has planned the Songbai Creek Iron Horse Trail, which is suitable for both walking and cycling. The round trip is approximately 6 kilometers, making it perfect for a leisurely outdoor plant education experience. Along the way, you can occasionally spot raptors soaring in the sky and learn about the migration paths of the Taiwan purple butterfly. Strolling or cycling along the Songbai Creek, you can personally experience the beauty of the stream and mountain forest ecology with your family.

Dajian and Erjian

Dajian Mountain is located at the border between Gukeng Township in Yunlin County and Meishan Township in Chiayi County, with an elevation of 1,304 meters. It is classified as a small peak and features a first-class triangulation point at its summit. Situated at the western end of the Alishan mountain range, Dajian Mountain offers excellent views, where you can enjoy the nearby tea plantation landscapes and the distant sights of Yushan and the Taiwan Strait. Hikers typically visit the nearby Gukeng Huashan Recreation Area to taste Huashan coffee, with several well-maintained scenic hiking trails in the area. During weekends, tourists flock to the mountain, making it a popular hiking destination.

The Erjian Mountain Trail is approximately 380 meters long, weaving through tea plantations and industrial roads. It connects to the mountain ridge trail, offering wide-open vistas. Walking along the trail, surrounded by mountains, it provides a prime spot for sunrise viewing.

Jiannan Yunfeng

“Jiannan Yunfeng” is located at the peak where the borders of Chiayi County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County meet. It is the highest peak in Yunlin County, with an elevation of 1,795 meters. From a distance, its steep, towering slopes seem to reach the sky. From the summit, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Yushan Mountain range. Near the trail parking lot stands a 300-year-old giant Kyoho tree, the largest of its kind in Taiwan. The trail begins with beautiful, endless bamboo forests, followed by pristine woods where towering ancient trees, such as the giant yellowwood and cow camphor trees, stand. The trail continues towards the “Cape of Good Hope,” where visitors can stand on a large stone for an excellent view. Below, steep cliffs drop away, offering a spectacular panorama of distant landscapes, including Shibi, Caoling, and Fengshan, as well as the majestic beauty of the cliffs.

Shibi Wooden Horse Ancient Trail

The Shibi Wooden Horse Ancient Trail is located in the Shibi Scenic Area of Caoling Village, Gukeng Township, Yunlin County. Originally used as a pathway for transporting timber, it has since been rebuilt into a leisure trail. The trail meanders through a 516-hectare forest area, with lush groves of bamboo and mixed cypress forests. The area is rich in biodiversity, with sightings of the blue-bellied pheasant in the forest. Along the way, visitors can pass by bamboo pavilions, ecological ponds, the Shibi pheasant bridge, charcoal kiln ruins, and a scenic platform offering views of Jiannan Yunfeng, Shibi Mountain, and the Yángmiēliáo Skywalk. The trail also provides close-up views of towering cypress trees. With its tranquil atmosphere and beautiful forest landscape, the trail is well-equipped with clear signage and is an ideal spot for family rest and relaxation.

International Spiritual Eco-Village

The term “Gukeng International Spiritual Eco-Village” first emerged in 2019, initiated by a group of dedicated individuals in the Mayuan area of Gukeng Township, Yunlin County. This “village” does not have an official administrative boundary. The villagers include locals who have been farming the land for centuries, practitioners of the Fuzhi tradition who have settled here for over 20 years, organic farmers, and those who live outside the area but actively engage in community interactions. The vision of this community revolves around elevating spirituality as its core, embodied in daily actions that respect life, share living experiences, cherish ecology, and balance production.

Zhanghu Ecological Primary and Secondary School

The “Zhanghu Ecological Primary and Secondary School,” also known as the Candy House Dream School, is nestled among the mountain tea plantations, offering breathtaking views that are truly captivating. The school integrates character education, seasonal curricula, and an excellent teaching system, along with digital learning, aiming to bridge the urban-rural gap. The goal is to create a school that nurtures both knowledge and character, ensuring that students in the mountainous areas are no longer considered remote, while maintaining a high level of competitiveness.

Waldorf Experimental Elementary School

After the passage of the Experimental Education Act in 2014, the Shanfeng Waldorf Experimental Elementary School in Gukeng Township became the first public experimental school in Taiwan approved by the Ministry of Education’s Advisory Committee. Shanfeng Elementary began its Waldorf education experimental program in 2011, based on Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophical educational philosophy. The school operates as an experimental education model. To foster a closer connection between the community and the school, the school invites local elders to share the history and cultural development of the area, allowing children to gain a deeper understanding of their hometown and develop a sense of local identity.

Caoling Ecological and Geological Elementary School

The Caoling Ecological and Geological Elementary School, often referred to as the “highest institution” in Yunlin County, is situated at an elevation of 1,000 meters among the surrounding peaks, offering a scenic campus. The new school building, completed in 2014, is primarily constructed with brick and wood, featuring a simple and beautiful design. It has won the “Taiwan Architecture Award,” often regarded as the Oscar of Taiwan’s architecture industry. The school was also selected through online voting as one of Taiwan’s six most beautiful elementary schools.

Hua Nan Experimental Elementary School

Hua Nan Experimental Elementary School, located in one of Taiwan’s smallest communities, partnered with the originally doomed Hua Nan Elementary School over a decade ago to develop unique curriculum centered on Gukeng’s coffee industry and the community’s ecological care. The school offers students the opportunity to engage in outdoor education, participate in bike tours, and assist coffee farmers with charity sales, fostering direct interaction with the community. This connection has strengthened local empathy and attracted many students from other districts, changing the school’s fate. The school was also awarded the Ministry of Education’s Excellence in Teaching Gold Award in 2022.

Flower Festival

The “Flower Festival” in Gukeng showcases a variety of vibrant flowers. In February, the Chashan area is covered with over ten thousand cherry trees, including varieties such as cold cherry, white-flowered mountain cherry, mountain cherry, double-flowered cherry, Fuji cherry, tricolor cherry, and weeping cherry. The sight of these blooming flowers is breathtaking, attracting large crowds each year for the cherry blossom season held in February and March. Gukeng Township is also Taiwan’s main area for growing oranges, with vast cultivation areas. In March, the orange blossoms bloom, creating a sea of pure white flowers that fill the air with fragrance, earning the area the nickname “March Snow.” By April, the Tung flower blossoms at the He Bao Mountain Tung Flower Park, where two thousand Tung trees are planted. During the Japanese colonial era, coffee trees were planted under these Tung trees, forming a unique landscape. It is also the only quality place in Yunlin County for Tung flower viewing.

Caoling Shibi Forest Healing Festival

The “Caoling Shibi Forest Healing Base” covers scenic spots such as Yunling Hill, Shulin Trail, Wuyuanliangjiao, and the Shibi Trail. Since 2022, the Shibi Forest Healing Festival has been held annually at the end of October, showcasing the beauty of Gukeng’s Caoling Shibi area in Yunlin. The festival invites forest healing experts to lead participants into the mountains, reconnecting with nature in a way that minimizes disturbance. The Qingshui Creek and surrounding mountains form a natural secret haven, with towering cliffs beneath Feishan Mountain and mysterious potholes scattered throughout the gorge. The forest is like a treasure chest waiting to be unlocked, holding countless awe-inspiring natural and cultural wonders. This area is one of the most mysterious and worth exploring green landscapes in central Taiwan’s mountains.

Jianhu Mountain World

Jianhu Mountain World covers an area of over 60 hectares, combining a theme park with a five-star resort hotel, surrounded by 140,000 trees. It offers a blend of flowers, local coffee, and natural culture, creating an educational and entertaining experience. Every year during New Year’s Eve, it features Asia’s only Ferris wheel fireworks show, lighting up the sky in a spectacular display. With a variety of leisure, entertainment, cultural creation, accommodation, and shopping, it is an ideal destination for relaxation, conferences, and business trips. In 2023, Jianhu Mountain World attracted nearly a million visitors, making it a must-visit resort when in Gukeng.

Gukeng Green Tunnel Park

The Gukeng Green Tunnel Park stretches for approximately two kilometers, lined on both sides with mango trees that are about fifty years old. These trees form a shaded green tunnel, providing a cool and refreshing escape from the heat. Along the path runs a unique Taiwan Sugar Corporation miniature train, whose carriages are quite distinctive.

On weekends, the area comes alive with special markets offering local agricultural products, various snacks, coffee, and more. Street performers also bring an artistic flair to the atmosphere. Next to the tunnel, there is a large grassy area perfect for picnics, and the renowned Honey Bee Story House is also located here. It is an excellent spot to visit for a relaxing weekend outing.

Caoling Geopark

Caoling Geopark was officially designated by the Yunlin County Government in 2004 in Caoling, Yunlin, making it the first geopark in Taiwan formally designated by a government agency. With geological education as its primary goal, the park is best known for the Caoling landslide and its resulting landslide dam lake. It also features a variety of unique and remarkable geological formations, including hanging valley waterfalls, canyons, potholes, fossil-rich layers, travertine, and porous rocks. These diverse landforms and geological resources make the park of significant academic and educational value in terms of natural landscape preservation.

Beekeeping Story House

The Beekeeping Story House is located beside the Green Tunnel in Gukeng Township. It boasts the largest beekeeping operation in Asia, with facilities spanning across Taiwan and Thailand. This family-run beekeeping business has been passed down for nearly 80 years over three generations, and it has consistently received top honors in the national honey quality evaluations, including Grand and First Prizes.

On the second floor, a transparent glass observation hive allows visitors to closely observe the fascinating world of bees. The venue also offers reservations for DIY activities such as seasonal fruit-infused honey and calendula honey balm. Right next to the apiary is the Honey Garden Café, where guests can enjoy sweet, fragrant treats made with fresh honey delivered directly from the source. All desserts and drinks here use natural honey from the farm instead of artificial syrups, ensuring every bite is healthy and safe. This has made the Beekeeping Story House a beloved weekend destination for both adults and children.

Fulu Shou Tourist Winery

Located in Gukeng Township, Yunlin County, Fulu Shou Winery is the largest privately owned distillery in Taiwan. In addition to its comprehensive distillation equipment and machinery, the winery grounds are also designed as a well-structured museum, serving as an excellent educational resource. Visitors can gain a complete understanding of the ingredients and process of liquor production. The winery combines traditional solid-state fermentation techniques with century-old spring water from an ancient well to brew its mellow kaoliang liquor. Its Fulu brand products have repeatedly been recognized by international institutions, including the prestigious Monde Selection in Belgium, winning multiple gold medals and bringing international acclaim to Taiwan’s private distilling industry.

Chang Sheng Winery

Chang Sheng Winery initially focused on food and bamboo shoot processing. However, due to changes in the times and the opening of the WTO, the winery transformed into a rural winery, becoming the first legal rural winery in Gukeng. The winery produces a series of alcoholic beverages, vinegar, and enzyme products made from Yunlin’s local agricultural specialties. Visitors are welcome to savor the delightful flavors that come from the area’s rich natural resources.

Orange Lifestyle Festival

Gukeng is rich in local products, and during the autumn and winter seasons, it becomes a major citrus-producing area (the largest producer of oranges and the second-largest producer of Shiran oranges in Taiwan). During this period, the landscape is filled with vibrant orange hues, and various events are actively organized to promote local agricultural products, such as the Orange Festival and Shiran Orange Festival, vividly embodying the imagery and spirit of the Orange Lifestyle.

Taiwan Coffee Culture Festival

The Taiwan Coffee Festival has been held in Gukeng since 2003, marking its 21st year this year. The festival is held at the “Gukeng Green Tunnel” and “Huashan Elementary School.” Visitors can stroll through the camping-style coffee market and carnival, explore their favorite coffees, drinks, and lifestyle items, and immerse themselves in the music, picnic atmosphere, and the fragrant aroma of coffee.