MiaoliPlay Recommendations

Yaxiangbao Tourism Factory is located in Sanyi Township, Miaoli County. Originally a woodcarving factory founded in 1963, it transformed in 2002 into a tourism factory that integrates woodcarving culture, nature education, and family-friendly handicrafts. Admission is free. The factory offers painting DIY experiences for wooden carvings such as ducks and water birds, suitable for families, groups, and school field trips. The site has a display area, DIY painting area, cafe, and fountain, with parking provided. DIY piece prices range from about NT$300-600 depending on size and pattern, making it a great destination for experiencing local woodcarving art and creative handcrafts.

The Eight-Tentacled Octopus Slide is located inside Miaolimiao Family Park in Miaoli City, Miaoli County. It is a free octopus-shaped slide that attracts many families and children eager for a challenge. The slide features eight tentacle-shaped chutes with varied curves - some straight and thrilling, others turning and playful - suitable for different ages. The park also features sand pits, spinning chairs, swings, and other inclusive play equipment, with free parking for convenient outdoor family activities. No admission fee is required. Open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, welcoming the whole family to come experience it.

Shengxing Station is located in the Sanyi area of Miaoli. Built in 1903, it is the starting point of the Old Mountain Line railway and one of the highest elevation points on Taiwan's western trunk railway. The station preserves Japanese-style wooden architecture, with tenon-joinery craftsmanship combined with tiger-tooth eaves, exuding historical atmosphere. In recent years, the opening of the Old Mountain Line railway bikes and mini trains has made Shengxing Station a popular summer escape and family-trip destination. Visitors can take photos on the platform, sample railway bento boxes, and stroll through the nearby Shengxing Old Street for lei cha, Hakka snacks, and diverse delicacies. Multiple short hiking trails surround the station, suitable for families and railway enthusiasts.

Qiding Mother-Son Tunnels are located in Zhunan Township, Miaoli County. Originally railway tunnels, they have been transformed into a sightseeing walkway and cultural park. The full length consists of two connected tunnels named for their front-and-back dependency resembling a mother and child. Walking inside the tunnels, visitors can feel the sea breeze and cool light-and-shadow interplay, ideal for summer excursions. The path is shaded by dense trees on both sides, with free parking and public restrooms. Visitors can also see WWII-era bullet holes and enjoy cinematic-feeling scenery - a free attraction popular with families, couples, and photography enthusiasts.

Huoyan Mountain is located at the boundary of Sanyi Township and Yuanli Township in Miaoli County, at about 602 meters elevation. It is one of Taiwan's Small Hundred Peaks and ranks first among Taiwan's Top 100 Hiking Trails. The trail is about 5.5-6.4 km long with an O-shaped loop layout, featuring diverse terrain from gentle slopes to badland gravel and clay ridges, suitable for beginners, families, and hikers who love natural scenery. Admission is free throughout. Along the way, visitors can admire unique red ochre gravel, magnificent canyons, and rich bird and plant ecology - a popular spot for photography and family hiking. Plan for half a day, bring enough drinking water and slip-resistant shoes, and pay attention to weather and trail conditions.

Shitoushan Quanhua Hall is located at No. 242, 17th Neighborhood, Shishan Village, Nanjhuang Township, Miaoli County, situated halfway up the mountain in the Shitoushan Scenic Area. It is a Buddhist temple with over a century of history. The temple is embedded into a natural rock cavity in the mountain, with architecture that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape. The trail is gentle, allowing visitors to enjoy magnificent mountain views and quaint temple structures along the way - ideal for whole-family or parent-child excursions. The grounds provide free parking, vegetarian meals, drinking water, and clean restrooms, so visitors can worship and rest at ease after hiking. The site also preserves historical relics such as Japanese-era stone lanterns and a Taisho 9th year (1920) old bridge, blending cultural, natural, and spiritual experiences. It is a must-visit free attraction in Miaoli Nanjhuang.