Hebaoshan Coffee Recreational Area

The Hebaoshan Coffee Recreational Area is located in Gukeng Township in west-central Taiwan's Yunlin County.

Taiwan's cultivation of coffee began in the second half of the 19th century. During the Japanese colonial occupation (1895-1945), the Japanese planted approximately 75 hectares of coffee trees in Gukeng's Hebaoshan area. Hebaoshan is therefore also known as "Kafeishan", or Coffee Mountain. ("Kafei" is the sound of coffee in Chinese, while "shan" means mountain.)

With an altitude of 300 meters, Hebaoshan is located in the subtropical zone and composed of sandy soil that drains water well. It is ideal for growing coffee trees. Most of the coffee trees cultivated here are the Arabic Linn from Africa.

There are a couple of scenic spots in the Hebaoshan Coffee Recreational Area. For example, the Hebaoshan Trail is a two-kilometer hiking track that features both wooden planks and stone steps. In April and May, when the Tung flowers are blooming, the trail is covered with small white flowers.

The nearby Shitou Park is another famous spot. It is the only park in Taiwan that features piled-up rocks. ("Shitou" in Chinese means rocks and stones.) In the upper area of the park is the Shitou Temple, where Maitreya (the Laughing Buddha) is worshipped. The temple displays statues of gods and goddesses that are made of natural stone. The incense burner itself is also made of a piece of real rock. In the lower area of the park is a large green lotus pond and several lovely wooden cottages, which provide lodging for worshippers. There are also other accommodation and recreation facilities to make the park an ideal place for family outing.