Forest Amusement Park Series PART1️⃣5️⃣

When you walk into the Chinan Forest Recreation Area, you will see not waterfalls or mountain scenery, but an orange-blue train quietly standing in the forest, as if time has gone back to the 1930s, the 50-kilometer-long Harun Mountain Railway. This is not only a natural forest, but also a well-preserved logging heritage and forest education base, carrying the golden years of Hualien forestry. Continue walking inside, the forest bathing trail is intertwined with layers of forests, Moraceae, Lauraceae, and wax trees stand beside, and occasionally there are Aconitum flying by. Listening to the sound of streams and insects, my children and I walked slowly forward, stopped at the Forestry Exhibition Hall, listened to old photos and explanation signs, and learned about how this forest was transformed from a logging site to an education base. 🚩 Don't miss: The steam and diesel loggers and timber ropeways in the park stand quietly. These heavyweight machines once delivered the trees of Hualien and Taitung to the locomotives, and now they have become historical sculptures in the forest. ☀️ The most healing is the Huanxi Trail. Walking on the wooden plank road, you can hear the sound of the stream, the sun filters in from the treetops, and the streamside leaks a sense of tranquility. When you walk to the Forestry Monument Pavilion and look out over the Liyu Lake, you will be surrounded by the scenery of lakes and mountains. 🚪 Historical and cultural charm Chinan was originally an important timber transfer station. With the rise and fall of the logging war, it witnessed the rise and fall of the Harun Mountain Railway: • Many original machines such as steam locomotives, diesel loggers, timber ropeways and timber cranes are preserved. They silently tell stories of sawmills and wood pulling.  •The Forestry Exhibition Hall displays forest species models from sea level to 3,500-meter high mountains, as well as heavy old photos and multimedia projections, allowing you to deeply feel the hardships of the loggers back then. This is also the National Nature Education Center. From its establishment in 2008 to winning awards in 2013, it has become an important promoter of ecological education and environmental awareness.  🌲 Forest viewing and garden experience The recreation area is about 169 hectares, extending from the entrance along the forest bathing trail to the circular stream, wild fun and self-guided trails, suitable for parents and people of all ages to hike: •The plank road is flat and easy to walk, and it has barrier-free facilities, so children can also explore with baby strollers.  •The short-distance circular route takes about 30-90 minutes to complete. If you want to take a slow tour, you can take photos and read the interpretation signs.  Among them, the most popular is the Bong-Bong Railway (about 200 meters). Although some parts are under maintenance, the steam and diesel locomotives are still preserved for photos.  There are also timber ropeways and timber cranes on display, allowing people to feel the charm of high-tech machinery for early logging and timber transportation. 🌼 Natural ecological highlights •It is inhabited by eastern forest plants such as Moraceae, Lauraceae, and wax trees; rare wild birds and insects such as Aconitum, butterflies and red-billed black bulbuls are occasionally seen.  •You can also enjoy the black-winged fireflies at night in spring and summer. In April and May, the fireflies are flying. There is also a "Brilliant Firefly Star" guided tour on site (reservation required).  •Look down from the pavilion of the Forestry Monument and look out over the Liyu Lake and the mountain scenery. The green mountains and waters are reflected in the historical machinery.  🔦 Special recommendation: In April and May, you can participate in the evening "Firefly Observation Tour". The forest is lit up by dots of light at night, which is another magical journey. 🧭 Practical information at a glance Tickets👉🏻Full ticket is NT$40 on weekdays, NT$50 on holidays, and discounted tickets range from NT$10 to NT$25 Parking👉🏻Cars are NT$50, motorcycles are NT$20, and large vehicles are NT$100 Opening hours👉🏻08:00–17:00 all year round, closed on New Year's Eve Transportation👉🏻Self-driving: Provincial Highway No. 9→Provincial Highway No. 9C→Linyuan Road; Public transportation: Transfer to Bus No. 1139 at Hualien Station to Tannan Station and walk 600m to the destination ✅ Tips: •Entering the park before 10 am is the most atmospheric, with high chances of taking photos of light and wild animals; •It is recommended to reserve 2–3 hours to walk slowly on the trail and take photos; •Tickets and guided tours must be booked online during the firefly season; •Water, mosquito repellent, and hats are essential, and there is little shade between the trails; •Camping and fires are prohibited, and we work together to protect forest safety.      Chi Nan is not the most magnificent forest, but it combines nature and culture just right. There are intertwined times, railway stories, mechanical legends, springs, birdsong and fireflies. It is a place where parent-child education and forest bathing coexist charmingly. Come up the slope and walk slowly, and you will find that this forest world has more details than photos, which are worth savoring. #5月好去处2025