Nantou Road Trip: Xitou, Sun Link Sea & Jiji — 1-Day and 2-Day Itineraries from Taichung HSR, Drive Times, Parking and Flower Seasons

Nantou Road Trip: Xitou, Sun Link Sea & Jiji — 1-Day and 2-Day Itineraries from Taichung HSR, Drive Times, Parking and Flower Seasons

Most visitors to Nantou (南投) head straight for Sun Moon Lake or Cingjing. An hour or so south of Taichung, though, there's a quieter loop that's easy to miss: the cedar forest and bamboo bridge of Xitou (溪頭) in Lugu, the mountain flower gardens of Sun Link Sea (杉林溪) in Zhushan, and the railway towns of Jiji (集集) and Checheng (車埕). These places sit between mountain roads and small towns with only a handful of buses a day, which is exactly why a rental car works so well here. This guide covers picking up a car at Taichung HSR Station, a two-day plan and two day trips, drive times we checked on Google Maps, parking and mountain-road conditions at Xitou and Sun Link Sea, the Sun Link Sea flower calendar, and how to beat weekend traffic. For Sun Moon Lake and the high-mountain drive to Cingjing and Hehuanshan, see our separate guides (Sun Moon Lake self-drive guide, Cingjing & Hehuanshan self-drive guide).

Xitou's signature view: the bamboo bridge over University Pond (Unsplash; photographer's location Neihu Village, Lugu, Nantou). The park says renovation work on the bridge is expected to finish in mid-October — keep clear of the work area

Why drive? Buses to this area are thin on the ground

According to Sun Link Sea's official website, bus 6277 between Xitou and Sun Link Sea stopped running on 1 September 2026 (Tuesday). The replacement, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 6883B (Taichung – Taichung HSR – Xitou – Sun Link Sea), runs only three times a day to Sun Link Sea, and seat reservations on that section are for overnight guests; day-trippers queue for leftover seats. Xitou has more buses, but getting on to Jiji or Checheng means changing lines.

The Jiji side is similar: the Green Tunnel is on the road between Mingjian and Jiji, Jiji Station is in the town centre, and Checheng is at the end of the Jiji branch line in Shuili. They're close together but not on one bus line. With a car you can be at Xitou when it opens at 7 am, linger at Sun Link Sea if the flowers are good, and stop at a temple on the way back without watching the clock.

Pickup: Taichung HSR Station first, Taichung Railway Station as a back-up

If you're arriving by high-speed rail from Taipei or Kaohsiung, pick up at Taichung HSR Station (高鐵台中站, in Wuri) and your navigation app will take you onto National Freeway 3 heading south. If you're already staying in central Taichung, Taichung Railway Station is the alternative. The two work differently:

New to self-service pickup? Read our self-service pickup and return guide. For walking directions and step-by-step pickup at the HSR station, see the Taichung HSR car rental guide; for the city branch, see the Taichung Railway Station pickup guide. Coming from abroad? Check whether you need an International Driving Permit in our IDP guide for Taiwan before you book.

Drive times at a glance

Times are Google Maps estimates for a weekday 9 am start (Wednesday 30 September 2026) and a weekend 8 am start (Saturday 3 October 2026; return legs mid-afternoon), using the fastest route. Actual times depend on traffic and holiday weekends are slower: at midday on Sunday 27 September 2026, during the Mid-Autumn long weekend, Taichung HSR to Xitou showed 1 h 21–31 min and to Sun Link Sea 1 h 57 min. Tip: type the Chinese names into your navigation app to avoid picking the wrong place.

Xitou (溪頭): University Pond, the sacred tree and the canopy walk

Xitou Nature Education Area is run by National Taiwan University's Experimental Forest. The official driving route: leave National Freeway 3 at Zhushan Interchange (竹山交流道), head towards Zhushan without entering the town, then take Route 151 through Lugu to Xitou. From the south, exit at Nanyun Interchange (南雲交流道), take Provincial Highway 3 towards Zhushan and join Route 151.

Highlights

• University Pond (大學池): the arched bamboo bridge is Xitou's most photographed spot. On 30 August 2026 (Sunday) the park announced that bridge renovation is expected to finish in mid-October, so in October you may not get the full bridge in your photos.
• Xitou Sacred Tree (神木): according to Taiwan's Tourism Administration, a red cypress more than 2,800 years old and 46 metres tall.
• Sky Walk (空中走廊): an elevated walkway through the cedar canopy, about 180 m long and 22.6 m above the ground at its highest point.
• Bamboo and ginkgo groves: there are plenty of trails, so choose by fitness. The park's electric buggies give priority to people with limited mobility, older visitors and pregnant women (8 am – 5 pm).

Entry and parking

• Opening hours: open every day; entry from 7 am, last entry 5 pm. Tickets are as posted by the park.
• Parking: three paid car parks, all run by a contractor and open day and night. Number plates are read automatically at the entrance and you pay at a self-service machine before leaving. Car Park 1 takes coaches, cars and motorcycles; Car Parks 2 and 3 are for cars only. Current charges are on the park's website.
• Full on weekends: Xitou gets busy at weekends, and Zhushan police run a "car park full" diversion at Xitou (CNA, 3 July 2026, Friday). Arrive early — see the traffic section below.
• Watch out for macaques: the park warns of recent incidents of monkeys snatching belongings. Keep food and bags secured and don't eat as you walk.

Monster Village (松林町妖怪村) beside the Xitou entrance, lined with red lanterns — a handy stop for lunch and souvenirs (Unsplash; photographer's location Xitou Nature Education Area)

After the forest, Monster Village next to the entrance is an easy place for lunch. Route 151 back down towards Zhushan passes through Lugu (鹿谷), where the tea museum and bird park below are close by.

Sun Link Sea (杉林溪): the road up, parking and getting around

Sun Link Sea Forest and Nature Resort lies deeper in the mountains beyond Xitou, at about 1,600 m according to the Tourism Administration. The official route: Zhushan Interchange → towards Zhushan (skip the town) → Route 151 via Lugu → past Xitou → the Sun Link Sea road (Tou-95) for about 17 km. It's about 33–35 minutes from Xitou on a winding mountain road, and the park reminds visitors that it's cool at this altitude, so bring a jacket.

Forest trail at Sun Link Sea, with sunlight breaking through the tall trees (Unsplash; photographer's location Sun Link Sea Forest and Nature Resort)

Tickets, parking and getting around (park website, September 2026)

• Opening hours: the park is open 07:00–21:00; shops and facilities follow on-site notices.
• Bring cash for the ticket booth: driving up, you'll pass a ticket booth on the Xitou–Sun Link Sea road. The park says the signal there is poor, so card payment isn't available — have New Taiwan dollars in cash for your entry tickets. Prices are as posted by the park.
• Parking: charged per day; the car park provides a space only, so keep valuables with you. Camper vans have been banned since 1 June 2020 (Monday), and sleeping in cars, camping and cooking in the car park are not allowed.
• You can't drive to Songlong Rock Waterfall (松瀧岩瀑布): private vehicles aren't allowed on the shuttle road to the falls, and the park's buggy service is currently suspended (notice dated 9 March 2026, Monday). The park lists Songlong Rock and the 99 Suspension Bridge as about 3 km from the main building, so plan to walk.
• The park's easy one-day walk: Visitor Centre → Anhe Bridge → Ginkgo Lake → Qinglong Fern Trail (about 40 min) → Qinglong Waterfall → back the same way → 88 Suspension Bridge → Shijingji potholes → Shijingji Trail (about 15 min) → Fude Temple → Visitor Centre.

Sun Link Sea flower calendar: when to see peonies and hydrangeas

The park publishes a year-round flower calendar; the table below is taken from its "flower seasons" page. Blooms vary with the weather each year, so check the park's latest announcements before you go.

Hydrangeas are Sun Link Sea's summer highlight (Unsplash; illustrative, not taken at Sun Link Sea)

Planning around autumn leaves or cherry blossoms? See our Taiwan autumn maple road trip and Taiwan cherry blossom road trip guides.

Jiji and Checheng: a green tunnel, a wooden station and a timber village

The Jiji side is the "railway route" — gentler than the mountains and good for older relatives.

• Jiji Green Tunnel (集集綠色隧道): according to the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration, a 4.5 km road between Mingjian and Jiji lined with camphor trees planted in 1940; Jiji Line trains run alongside. It's a normal road, so don't stop on the carriageway or hard shoulder for photos — park somewhere safe first.
• Jiji Station (集集車站): built in 1930 of cypress wood, damaged in the 1999 Chi-Chi (921) earthquake and rebuilt with its Japanese-era wooden look (Tourism Administration; Nantou County travel site).
• Wuchang Temple (武昌宮): the original temple collapsed in the 921 earthquake and has been left as it fell, a striking earthquake memorial (Nantou County travel site).
• Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (生物多樣性研究所): a government research institute for native and rare species, with indoor and outdoor exhibits that work well for families; check its website for opening days.
• Checheng Station and recreation area (車埕): the terminus of the Jiji branch line, rebuilt with plenty of timber after the 921 earthquake under the Scenic Area Administration. Nearby are the Checheng Wood Industry Exhibition Hall (opened June 2008), the log pond and a railway display area; the Administration lists accessible and family parking spaces and EV chargers here. Check each venue's own website for opening hours.

Parking tip: around Jiji Station the streets are narrow and busy at weekends, so follow the parking signs rather than stopping outside the station. If you'd like to ride a stretch of the Jiji Line, check train times with Taiwan Railway.

Worth a stop in Zhushan and Lugu: Zinan Temple, tea country, a bird park

• Zinan Temple (紫南宮), Zhushan: a famous Earth God temple where worshippers "borrow" lucky money. Its website lists opening hours of 07:00–21:00 and several large car parks; exit Freeway 3 at Zhushan Interchange and follow the signs. During the first 15 days of Lunar New Year traffic is at its worst and the temple recommends public transport plus its shuttle from Zhushan Interchange.
• Lugu Farmers' Association Tea Culture Museum: Lugu is the home of Dongding (凍頂) oolong tea. The museum has exhibits and a tea classroom, and you can buy tea to take home (Nantou County travel site). About 18–22 minutes from Xitou.
• Fonghuanggu Bird and Ecology Park: part of the National Museum of Natural Science; open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays and Lunar New Year's Eve.

Lugu is oolong tea country, and tea terraces line the hillsides (Unsplash; taken in Taiwan's mountains, illustrative — not Lugu itself)

Note: the Zhushan Sky Ladder suspension bridge (竹山天梯) is closed for disaster repairs, according to the Nantou County Scenic Area Administration, with a reopening date to be announced.

Itineraries: two day trips and a two-day loop

Day trip A — Forest route: Xitou, Lugu tea country, Zinan Temple

• 07:00 Pick up at Taichung HSR Station (bookable online 00:00–23:55, so early pickup is fine).
• Around 08:15 Arrive at Xitou (about 1 h – 1 h 30 min). Early arrival means easier parking at weekends.
• Morning 3–4 hours in the park: University Pond, the sacred tree, the Sky Walk, the ginkgo grove.
• Lunch Monster Village by the entrance, or Lugu town.
• Afternoon Lugu Tea Culture Museum (18–22 min), or Fonghuanggu Bird Park (26–30 min, closed Mondays).
• Heading back Zinan Temple (35–50 min from Xitou), then Taichung HSR (35–55 min).

Day trip B — Railway route: Jiji Green Tunnel, Jiji town, Checheng

• 09:00 Pick up at Taichung HSR Station; about 35–55 min to the Jiji Green Tunnel.
• Morning Green Tunnel → Jiji Station (7–8 min); Jiji Station and Wuchang Temple, plus the Biodiversity Research Institute with kids (check its opening days).
• Lunch in Jiji town.
• Afternoon Jiji Station → Checheng Station (16–22 min): the wood industry hall, log pond and railway displays.
• Heading back Checheng → Taichung HSR (55–85 min). With time to spare, detour from Jiji to Zinan Temple (12–14 min) before Checheng.

Two days — Jiji railway towns, a night near Xitou, Sun Link Sea (our pick)

• Day 1 morning: pick up at Taichung HSR → Jiji Green Tunnel (35–55 min) → Jiji Station and Wuchang Temple.
• Day 1 afternoon: Jiji → Checheng (16–22 min). In the evening, drive to Xitou/Lugu for the night (50–60 min). The park itself has lodging (the Xitou Education Center and Xitou Youth Activity Center), and there are hotels and guesthouses outside.
• Day 2 early: be at the Xitou gate when it opens at 7 am — the big advantage of staying nearby is beating the morning rush.
• Day 2 midday: Xitou → Sun Link Sea (33–35 min); lunch, then the park's easy walk or the seasonal flowers.
• Day 2 afternoon: head down before dark. Sun Link Sea → Taichung HSR takes about 1 h 30 min – 2 h; via Zinan Temple, allow 1 h 5–25 min to the temple and 35–55 min on to the station.

In peony season (March–April) or hydrangea season (May–August), give Sun Link Sea more time on Day 2. Travelling with children? See our family road-trip routes.

Weekend traffic: when to leave and how to avoid the jams

• Xitou can fill up by mid-morning: during the 2020 Dragon Boat holiday (Liberty Times, 26 June 2020, Friday) the car parks were full by around 9 am and traffic backed up for as much as 20 km. In summer 2026 police again ran a full-car-park diversion at Xitou (CNA, 3 July 2026, Friday). At weekends, leave Taichung HSR before 7 am, or stay nearby the night before.
• Known bottlenecks: the Highway Bureau's second maintenance office has listed Provincial Highway 3 between Mingjian and Zhushan interchanges, and between Zhushan Interchange and the Route 151A Baojia section, among Nantou's congestion points (MOTC 168 road safety portal, 13 February 2018, Tuesday).
• Official diversion advice: from Xitou back north, take Route 151A to Provincial Highway 3, then Freeway 3 at Zhushan Interchange; heading south, take Route 151 to Highway 3 southbound and join Freeway 3 at Nanyun Interchange.
• Summer is peak at Sun Link Sea: the park says June–September is busy, with up to 8,000–10,000 visitors a day in July and August (CNA, 3 July 2026, Friday).
• Zinan Temple at Lunar New Year: the temple warns of heavy traffic during the first 15 days of the lunar year.
• Check live conditions: Nantou County's real-time traffic site, the Highway Bureau's road reports and the Freeway Bureau's 1968 app. Holiday traffic plans are announced by Nantou police and the Freeway Bureau.

Mountain driving tips

• Taiwan drives on the right: if you're used to the left, take the first few curves slowly. Our guide to Taiwan's traffic rules covers speed limits and scooters.
• Routes 151 and Tou-95 are twisty: slow down before bends and keep right when passing oncoming cars on narrow sections; take extra care in a seven- to nine-seater.
• Use a low gear downhill: on the long descent from Sun Link Sea, let the engine help instead of riding the brakes.
• Headlights in fog: fog is common in the mountains, so slow down, keep your distance and try to be down before dark.
• Fuel up before the climb: Xitou to Sun Link Sea is 17 km of mountain road, so top up in Zhushan or Lugu first. Every GoodCars car comes with a dedicated fuel card, so you don't pay for fuel yourself at the pump.
• After typhoons or heavy rain: trails and facilities may close; check the Xitou and Sun Link Sea websites.

For general parking rules and apps, see our parking in Taiwan guide.

How pricing works: rental + mileage fee + fuel card

• Rental: depends on car type and dates; see live prices for each station on the booking page.
• Mileage fee: charged by the kilometres you actually drive, with no limit on distance. Taichung HSR to Sun Link Sea is about 86 km one way, and you simply pay for the distance you cover.
• Dedicated fuel card: fuel is included in the mileage fee — you don't pay for fuel yourself, and you don't need to refill before returning the car. If you forget the card and pay at the pump, keep the receipt and it can be offset against the mileage fee.
• ETC: every car has an eTag, and Freeway 3 tolls are settled when you return the car. See our Taiwan ETC toll guide.
• GO Worry-Free Protection Plan: for extra peace of mind on mountain roads, you can add the GO Worry-Free Protection Plan when booking to reduce the amount you'd be liable for if the car is damaged; see the website for what it does and doesn't cover.

For how the mileage fee works, see the mileage fee page and our mileage fee explainer.

FAQ

Q1. How long is the drive from Taichung HSR to Xitou, Sun Link Sea and Jiji?

Based on Google Maps weekday and weekend-morning estimates: Xitou about 1 h – 1 h 30 min, Sun Link Sea about 1 h 30 min – 2 h, Jiji Station about 40–60 min and Checheng about 50–85 min, depending on traffic; holidays are slower. Xitou to Sun Link Sea is 17.5 km, about 33–35 minutes.

Q2. Can I do Xitou and Sun Link Sea in one day?

Yes, but it's a rush. Enter Xitou at 7 am for 2–3 hours, drive up to Sun Link Sea for lunch and head down before dark. To take it slowly and add Jiji or Checheng, two days is much more comfortable.

Q3. When are the flowers out at Sun Link Sea?

According to the park's calendar: cherry blossoms February–March, peonies March–April, wisteria in April, Taiwan rhododendron mid-April to May, hydrangeas May–August, and maples and ginkgo October–November. Blooms vary by year and the Flower Centre and cabin area are being rebuilt, so check the park's latest notices.

Q4. Do I need an International Driving Permit?

Most visitors need their home licence plus an IDP, but the rules depend on the country that issued your licence. Check our IDP guide and our Taiwan car rental guide for foreign visitors before you book.

Q5. Can I pick up late at night or early in the morning? Can I return to a different station?

Taichung HSR Station is self-service in the car park and bookable online 00:00–23:55, with payment completed online as part of the booking. Taichung Railway Station can be booked for 09:00–21:00; for pickup or return outside business hours, call the branch in advance and we'll arrange it (+886 4-2201-0077). Whether a one-way rental between stations can be booked, and any extra charge, is shown on the booking page — see our one-way rental guide.

Q6. Do I need to refill before returning the car?

No. GoodCars cars come with a dedicated fuel card and fuel is included in the mileage fee, so there's no need to refill before you return. We do suggest topping up in Zhushan or Lugu before driving up to Sun Link Sea.

Q7. Which car should I rent, and will staff speak English?

For 2–4 people, a five-seater (the website lists New Vios, New Yaris, Yaris Cross and New Colt Plus); for 5 or more, or lots of luggage, a seven- to nine-seater (Wish, M7 Turbo ECO Hyper, Staria, Starex, Touran). The cars actually available at each station are shown on the booking page; see the five-seater and seven- to nine-seater pages, and our child car seat guide if you're travelling with small children. Staff use translation apps, and some branches can assist in English; you can book everything on the English version of our website.