[Hsinchu Luliaokeng, Taiwan] “Tung flower” blossom

It’s getting hotter in Taiwan while the summer begins, but a “snow falling” by the blossom of “Tung flower” that might help you cool down in this tropical forest. 

It will be an unique experience to join Tung blossom festival. We are familiar with cherry blossom, people gathering around the cherry trees and look above for flowers like this:
 
And we are also familiar with Cosmos blossom, people can stand beside the flowers like this:

Or for most of the garden plants such as Tulip, people look down to enjoy the sea of flowers like this:

However for Tung flowers, you might need to lie on stomach to have a closer look or photo with them, that’s the reason why we call it “snow in May” because of their mass amount and quickly falling down on the ground. 
 

Tung flowers grow on top of the tung oil tree with average height in 8~10 meters, so it will be a little hard for people to take picture with them, especially in the tropic forest they growth. Yet as the compliment from Japanese which honor the glory but short life of flower blossom, Tung flowers only have 48 hours from blooming to withering compare to 7 days for cherry flowers. The flowers are already start to fall from the beginning of Tung blossom show, and it is keep falling so fast that all the foot print of tourists will be covered in seconds. 

In spite of frequently thundershowers recently (2012/April), the blossom festival still goes well in Luliaokeng, Hsinchu. The meaning of Luliaokeng is “hunting lodge for deers”, the forest here is quiet and full of tung oil tree, tourists are able to “listen” to this blossom from the dropping sound of flowers touch down the dirt.  

A local point out to me it takes around 30 minutes to finish all the trial, but it also exists a branch trail in 10 minutes long for lazy tourists. The trail has been weeded periodically, most of the road is stable but covered with slippery moss. Tourists also need to take care of some trials already lost part of the roadbed.

In a distant view,tung oil tree with white flowers are spreading here and there among the mountains. The similar view can be found all along the routes and free ways in Taiwan.


 

Another famous spot in Luliaokeng is the “Wetland Farm”. Recently it has been modified as an outdoor photography studio for commercial wedding photos.
 

The Wetland Farm is located at the top of the mountain. Tourists can reach here by driving from road near the “STATS ChipPAC Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation”. The outdoor studio is only for contracted wedding photo company, however the hospitable owner of this land will show welcome if you can keep the land clean and leave with nothing but photos.

Location information: GPS N24°44’26.3”, E121°08’01.6”
Taxi or rental car will be the best choice. The place is located in a rural mountain. The google map information below shows how to get there by taking train and bus from Hsinchu high speed railway station. The train goes every 30 minutes in weekend but in weekday it only has few trains per day. You will see the garden facility as picture below at the entrance of the trail. You can find various of more convenience place for tung flower blossom such as West Lake Resortopia, however Luliaokeng will be you choice if you prefer a place with less commercial activity.

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