Baihe (白河), in the northeast corner of Tainan, is Taiwan's biggest lotus-growing area, with about 182 hectares of lotus fields. From May into June the fields are in flower, and the district holds a lotus season with food, markets and music. The same district holds Guanziling, Taiwan's only mud hot spring, in its hills, so a day here can mix flowers, lotus seed dishes and a soak.
Plan it right
- When: May and June for the flowers. The lotus season events ran from late May to late July in 2026.
- Get there: a car or scooter is easiest, as the fields are spread out. On weekends and holidays the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 33 stops at Baihe.
- Pair it with: a mud bath at Guanziling. → Guanziling
- In spring: the kapok trees on the Linchupi Kapok Road flower in March.
Lotus season
Tainan's Agriculture Bureau says the lotus blooms from May to June each year. The 2026 Baihe Lotus Season (白河蓮花季) opened on May 23 at Machouhou Guandi Hall (馬稠後關帝廳) and its events ran into late July: a feast in the lotus fields, a farm produce market, farm experiences, a sketching contest and a music market. The Baihe District Office announces each year's dates on its website and Facebook page, and the 2027 dates are not out yet.
Summer in Tainan is hot, so go early in the day and bring water and a hat.
Where to see the lotus
For a lot of lotus in one place, the city points to Lotus Park (蓮花公園). The best view is from the pavilion in the middle of the lotus pond, where the flowers surround you. The park has walking paths, a car park and toilets, and it's open all day. Nearby farms sell lotus seeds, and local restaurants serve lotus meals.
Kapok blossoms in spring
Lotus is the summer show. In spring, Baihe has another: the Linchupi Kapok Road (林初埤木棉花道), a straight country lane lined for a little over 200 metres with kapok trees that turn fiery red. Travel Tainan puts the bloom in March, and the news reports it as soon as it starts. Bloom dates vary, so check recent reports before you drive out.
The lane is only about two cars wide and farm vehicles use it, so park off the road and walk in. It's open all day and free. Mind your head: the heavy flowers drop straight down.
What to eat
Baihe is known for its lotus seeds (蓮子), lotus root (蓮藕) and lotus root powder (蓮藕粉). In season you'll find lotus seed dishes and whole lotus meals (蓮餐) at local restaurants, alongside the district's local snacks. Small places keep their own hours, so check Google Maps before you go.
Baihe grows fruit too, including lychees, in season in May and June. → Tainan fruit by season
The lotus bike path
The city's cycling list includes the Baihe Lotus path (白河蓮鄉自行車道), about 42 km, which passes the lotus information center, Lotus Park and Xiaonanhai (小南海). You don't need to ride all of it. YouBike stations now reach Baihe too, which makes a short loop easy, but in summer heat, ride in the morning. → Cycling in Tainan
Dasian Temple
On the slopes below Guanziling, backed by Mt. Zhentou (枕頭山), Dasian Temple (大仙寺) was founded in 1701, and locals call it the "old temple". Its main hall dates from 1915, in the Japanese era, and was modeled on Todai-ji in Nara, so from a distance it looks like a Japanese temple. Travel Tainan says it is one of only two temples in Taiwan that keep a Japanese-style tiled roof. Inside are painted dragon columns by Li Han-qing and, behind the main altar, a large mural by the Tainan master painter Pan Li-shui. It's a municipal heritage site and an active Buddhist temple, so keep your voice down. Open daily, 06:00 to 17:00, and it fits easily into a day at Guanziling.
Guanziling next door
Up in Baihe's hills is Guanziling (關子嶺), the only mud hot spring in Taiwan, with grey-black water and the Water-Fire Cave, where a flame burns on top of spring water. A hot soak is best in the cooler months, so in lotus season the Water-Fire Cave and the old hot-spring street may suit you better than the bath. → Guanziling day trip · Dongshan coffee
The rice villages next door
West of Baihe, Houbi is rice country: the old street at Jingliao, the village behind the documentary Wumile, Taisugar's little sugar trains at Wushulin and, each spring, the Taiwan International Orchid Show. Shuttle 33 stops at Jingliao and Houbi Station on its way to Baihe. → The rice villages next door in Houbi
Getting there
By shuttle bus: the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 33 (Guanziling line, 關子嶺線) runs from Chiayi HSR Station via Baihe Station (白河站) and Houbi Station to Guanziling. The official shuttle site lists it as running on weekends and holidays; check the timetable before you go.
By car or scooter: the easiest way, since the lotus fields, Lotus Park and Guanziling are spread across the district. → Scooters and cars
Good to know
- Flowers: May to June
- Kapok Road: flowers in March; open all day, free
- Dasian Temple: daily, 06:00 to 17:00
- Lotus Park: open all day, free, with a car park and toilets
- Getting there: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 33 to Baihe Station, or your own wheels
Sources
The lotus area, bloom months and 2026 season from the Tainan Agriculture Bureau (Baihe Lotus Season, May 2026) and the Liberty Times. Lotus Park from Travel Tainan. The kapok road from Travel Tainan's Linchupi Kapok Road page, and Dasian Temple from its English and Chinese pages. The bike path from the Tainan Transportation Bureau open data. The shuttle from Taiwan Tourist Shuttle and the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Checked October 2026.