Miaoli Introduction
When people talk about Miaoli, they usually think of picking strawberries. Miaoli is the top spot in Taiwan for strawberry picking, and my parents took me there many times and I even brought my eldest there too when she was only 2.
But Miaoli has more to offer than just strawberries. It’s famous for hot springs and fruit plantations too. So, when planning your visit, don’t forget to include these other cool things to do in Miaoli.
Where To Stay In Miaoli
For Miaoli, we stayed in , a resort that my relatives and parents always stay at. They are popular among the locals, especially for the lovely mountain view and your own private hot spring.
During our time in Miaoli, we stayed at the Tangwei & Tang Zhi Mei Hot Spring Resort, a favored choice for both my Taiwan relatives and parents. Both resort are nearby each other. This resort is well-regarded among the locals, known for its enchanting mountain scenery and the provision of private hot springs for each guest. Tang Zhi Mei is the newer resort compared to Tangwei.
They’re both in Taian, the biggest town in Miaoli up in the mountains. Even though they’re a bit far from the places we want to visit, I still booked them because of the nice stay and the beautiful mountain views.
Our booking for Tang Wei consists of a 2-level building, with one room on each level. Tang Zhi Mei, on the other hand, has two rooms located next to each other.
For 3D2N, both I paid about SGD680 per night (rates are based on 3A4C and the period I have booked), including dinner for the 1st night.
Where To Explore In Miaoli
桔子甜咖啡
Recommended time spent: 1hr 30mins (including lunch)
桔子甜咖啡 Ju Zi Sweet Cafe, literally translated, is more than just a café; it’s also a leisure farm. Upon entering, you can immediately notice the owner’s dedication to their plantation. Adjacent to the café is a small farm featuring orange and lime trees, along with ducks and chickens freely roaming around.
I booked through their Facebook page. Since it’s a small business with few staff, they wanted us to order ahead, so our food would be ready when we got there. Everything is homemade and organic, even the eggs, lime juice, and marinated orange skin are from their farm!
This place is great for teaching kids about the process of food production and preparation, right from the source to our table.
桔子甜咖啡 Information
Address: 354002, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Shitan Township
Operating Hours: 11am to 6pm, Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday
Honey Home Apiculture 蜜乡养蜂园
Recommended time spent: 2-3hrs.
Honey Home Apiculture is an exceptionally distinctive bee farm in Taiwan. It’s also a first-of-its-kind experience for us. Unlike many other bee farms we visited, Honey Home Apiculture doesn’t keep the bee hives in one place. They move the bee hives based on Taiwan’s flower seasons to ensure ecological balance and maintain the quantity and quality of honey.
We paid NT300 per pax (including toddler) for the educational tour, Honey cake, drink and you can use NT50 to offset your purchase.
A video about Honey Home Apiculture.
Honey Home Apiculture 蜜乡养蜂园 Information:
Address: 363, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Gongguan Township
Opening Hours: Daily, 910am – 550pm (booking is required via Facebook or Line)
Charges: NT300 per pax, can use NT50 to offset purchase.
Hobbit Valley 哈比丘森林動物
Recommended time spent: 1hr
When you enter Hobbit Valley, you’ll find adorable hobbit houses that look like they’re from The Lord of the Rings movie. You can’t go inside right now because I think they’re fixing and improving them. But the colorful designs and lovely gardens are perfect for Instagram-worthy pictures! They also have a small cafe while you can enjoy drinks and snacks while enjoying the scenery.
The entrance ticket is not very expensive, about SGD$7 plus per pax. 0-6 years old is free entry.
Hobbit Valley Information:
Address: 366, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Tongluo Township, 盛隆15鄰160號366
Opening Hours: 930am – 530am, closed on Tuesday
Ticket price: SGD$7.75 per pax, 0-6 FOC.
Tips: If you plan to visit during winter, make sure to arrive before 4:30 pm, as the sun sets around 5 plus. Because the location is in the mountains, I prefer not to travel on mountain roads in the dark.
Strawberry Cultural Center 草莓文化館
Recommended time spent: 1hr
The Strawberry Cultural Center in Miaoli, Taiwan, is a spacious souvenir hub. On the first floor, you’ll find a variety of strawberry-related snacks, along with products featuring strawberry themes. Additionally, there is a strawberry museum where visitors can learn more about strawberries. It’s an ideal spot to take a break, enjoy some snacks, and shop for souvenirs to bring back for your loved ones.
We tried different snacks at the Strawberry Cultural Center and liked them so much that we bought two boxes to take home.
Strawberry Cultural Center 草莓文化館 Information:
Address: 364, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Dahu Township
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-530pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
Free Entry
SUHU Cafe 紅色琉璃瓦草莓園
Recommended time spent: 1.5-2hrs
There are numerous strawberry farms in Miaoli, and I’ve visited several since I was young. However, I ultimately chose SUHU Cafe because it’s Instagram-worthy, and after picking strawberries, we can enjoy desserts that my husband, who has a sweet tooth, loves.
It’s advisable to make a reservation for the cafe, and make sure to follow their Facebook page for updates on strawberry picking and cafe-related information. If it’s not strawberry season or the berries aren’t in good condition, the farm won’t be open.
Unlike most strawberry farms, SUHU Cafe’s racks are positioned at kids’ eye level and around adult waist level. This makes the strawberry-picking experience much more enjoyable, especially for those with back issues or older individuals who find it difficult to squat down.
After weighing the strawberries, they offer plates and a washing area for you to clean the strawberries and eat them right there. Since we had already had lunch, we opted to order desserts and coffee for our enjoyment. Please note that there is a minimum spending requirement of NT300 per person and NT150 per child (3-7 years old).
When we were leaving, we saw quite a number of locals doing picnic around the cafe after strawberry plucking. Very nice experience!
SUHU Cafe 紅色琉璃瓦草莓園 Information:
Address: 96-6, 淋漓坪, 義和村, Dahu Township, Miaoli County, TW
Opening hours: Strawberry season, 830am to 530pm.
Reservations needed for the cafe.
Schokolake Country House 苗栗大湖巧克力雲莊
Recommended time spent: 1-1.5hr
If you love chocolate, you should check out Schokolake Country House. They also have resorts if you want to stay close to the town. I got the tickets on Klook, and they include a tea time with snacks and a drink. It’s quite affordable, around SGD$7 plus per person.
If you purchased tickets from Klook, go to the main house to exchange them. Then, head to the cafe near the entrance to reserve your tea time slot, as you might have to wait for a table, especially during peak times. Once booked, take a stroll around the lobby to discover more about chocolate or engage in some hands-on activities.
Schokolake Country House 苗栗大湖巧克力雲莊 information:
Address: 364, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Dahu Township
Opening Hours: 9am – 530pm
Tickets: Can buy from klook.
阿發哥果園
Recommended time spent 1hr.
Apart from strawberries, oranges are also in season and available for picking. I remember one of my favorite activities in Taiwan when I was young was fruit picking, so I found a place for my kids to experience it too!
阿發哥果園, the orange farm, is a kid-friendly place for fruit picking in Miaoli. However, as it is located up in the hills, it’s still important to take care of your child while picking the fruits.
No entrance fees, charges is based on the weight of the fruits you have pluck. Foreign tourist has a minimum spending (plucking oranges) of NT100 per pax.
阿發哥果園 Information:
Address: 364, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Dahu Township, 46號
Opening hours: 8am -12pm, 1pm – 5pm
Tips: Bookings not required, but do message them on FB to confirm the fruits season.
Do dress comfortably and warm, because it gets very windy and cold up on the mountain.
Xi Shui Keng Tofu Street 清安豆腐老街
Xi Shui Keng Tofu Street is located in Miaoli, where a mix of Atayal and Hakka people live together. Thanks to the sweet and pure water in the area, they are renowned for producing silky and tender tofu. The old street is not large; it forms a T-shape, making it easy to navigate with kids.
Some of the must-try snacks include tofu, grilled quail eggs, yam cake, mochi, and peanuts.
Miaoli boasts numerous tofu stalls for lunch or dinner, and we opted for 阿婆豆腐店. It’s a popular choice among locals, and the place is clean and well-lit, making it suitable for families with kids.
Address: 36541, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Tai’an Township, 清安村35號
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 7pm, Sunday close at 540pm.
Xi Shui Keng Tofu Street 清安豆腐老街 Information:
Address: 365, Taiwan, Miaoli County, Tai’an Township
Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm, we went on Saturday, most of the street stalls are still open around 6pm.
My Itinerary for Miaoli, for reference.
Day 1
1200hrs 桔子甜咖啡
1330hrs Honey Home Apiculture 蜜乡养蜂园
1600hrs Hobbit Valley 哈比丘森林動物
Day 2
0900hrs 阿發哥果園
1030hrs Strawberry Cultural Center 草莓文化館
1130hrs Lunch at 好師父牛排館(very local food, cheap and good. You can skip this option and eat lunch at SUHU Cafe).
1300hrs SUHU Cafe 紅色琉璃瓦草莓園
1430hrs Schokolake Country House 苗栗大湖巧克力雲莊
1600hrs Xi Shui Keng Tofu Street 清安豆腐老街
You can see a summary of my video below!
Check out the rest of my Taiwan trips!
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