Explore Baolai during the Wintertime
Explore Baolai during the Wintertime
◎Written by Naru
◎English translation by Lin Yu-ciao
◎Photos by Cai Jia-wei, Yang Ren-lin
◎Photos courtesy of Mook
Winter is the best time to visit Liouguei District, particularly Baolai, a village in the district that is nestled in the lush green scenic mountain region. Winter is the best time of the year to come to enjoy Baolai's Hot Springs, as it is a great way to stay warm and get rid of everyday stress. The area also boasts other natural attractions such as Sinwei Forest Park and Maolin's Purple Butterfly Valley. It is certainly a haven for nature lovers, as much as it is for city slickers that need to get away and enjoy some relaxation from the daily hustle and bustle.
The tributary of the Laonong River runs through Baoli and is a great place to take walks or go white-water rafting. Wintertime is also a great time to enjoy the Sakura flowers in full bloom. Visitors can stroll along Baoli's many nature trails and enjoy its seasonal flora and fauna.
Maolin National Scenic Area is also about an hour away and is known for its "Purple Butterfly Valley." This natural wonder allows visitors to get a chance to see butterflies up close. Throughout the winter months, hundreds of thousands of purple crow butterflies migrate to the Maolin Valley and stay until the end of February or beginning of March, when they return to the north once again. The best time of day to see them is before noon when they are out in full force, floating gracefully among the seasonal flora and fauna.
Another place to visit on the way to Baolai is Sinwei Forest Park, where tall mahogany trees line the roads. In the winter, the leaves fall from the trees, creating a spectacular and mysterious landscape. There are also 40 towering and rugged hills that stand alongside a unique geological site known as Eighteen Arhats Mountain. This has formed over hundreds of years from rain erosion, and at a distance, it resembles the eighteen Arhats that are fabled to be the area's guardians.
The town of Baolai offers a wide variety of agricultural products that include delicious Taiwanese mangoes and Liouguei native mountain tea. Near the entrance of the Southern Cross-Island Highway is the Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space. The venue was set up to promote local products including the signature kiln-baked bread stuffed with local fruits, etc. You can also savor Liouguei’s native mountain tea; the tea shines the color of amber and is rich in flavor and fruity aroma, producing a sweet and long-lasting aftertaste.
Baolai is surrounded by lush green forests and unique flora and fauna and winter is the best time to relax in its hot springs. Come and enjoy its surrounding natural environment and sample its local products. On the way, you can see thousands of butterflies and marvel at its unique landscape such as Eighteen Arhats Mountain. Everyone needs to find some time to take a break from their busy lives, and Baolai is a great place to come during the wintertime.
冬遊寶來 樂陶陶
◎文／Naru
冬季來到藏身群山峻嶺、座落溪谷中的高雄六龜寶來溫泉區，暖熱的溫泉洗去冬日涼意，還能順道前往新威森林公園造訪唯美的「金色大道」，到紫蝶幽谷與蝶共舞，亦或沿途品嚐各種豐饒農產。
往南橫方向深入寶來山區，眼前綠意逐漸濃密，荖濃溪谷之間的稜脈延伸至視線盡頭，蔥鬱綠景彷彿無窮無盡，又或可見燦然盛開的櫻花、花旗木搖曳花枝。豐富壯麗的自然景觀，以及冬季的冰涼空氣都讓人通體舒暢。
茂林國家風景區以國際級的「紫蝶幽谷」生態馳名，每逢冬季便會有數十萬計的紫斑蝶，飛往茂林山谷聚集越冬，至2月底3月初北返前結束。觀賞紫斑蝶最佳時間為正午前，在花叢草藤間曼妙飛舞，令人讚嘆。
新威森林公園有一條桃花心木大道，每逢秋冬之際橙黃色的落葉在地面鋪成一片絨毯，仿若一條金色大道，沿之輕步慢行，美不勝收。
從新威森林公園往寶來溫泉區途中，會經過40餘座直立崎嶇的山丘，「十八羅漢山」的礫岩山峰受雨水沖刷，呈現各種姿態和造型，像是十八羅漢般栩栩如生。
再往山行，來到寶來溫泉鄉。寶來溫泉位在荖濃溪谷的支流旁，汨汨湧出的天然溫泉終年不歇，泡在氤氳湯泉溫泉水中，洗去寒氣，留宿一宿，享受怡然自得的山居歲月。
寶來盛產臺灣芒果以及原生山茶，在鄰近南迴公路入口，檨仔腳文化共享空間是當地居民的創生基地，窯烤麵包加入在地水果，每一口都吃得到滿滿餡料。細細品茗六龜山茶，茶湯呈現琥珀色、風味濃郁帶有果香的六龜山茶，滋味回甘。
寶山滿山的綠意盎然，探訪生態、造訪溫泉鄉，讓人感到充盈靜好。
閱讀中文版：
寶來冬旅行 生態與湯泉的和諧秘境
https://takao.kcg.gov.tw/article/693