Go Green on Route 168! Camp Under the Stars, Explore Hutoupi, and Uncover Mountain Hideaways by Taiwan Tourist Shuttle
Posted Date:2026-06-01
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Introduce
Visitors to Tainan City are often eager to sample the city’s authentic street food, tucked away in its maze of alleys and historic neighborhoods. Increasingly, however, travelers are venturing into the greener side of Tainan. The city’s mountain region has emerged as an ideal choice for those seeking an immersive experience through lakeside scenery and forested hideaways. Mayor Huang Wei-che has placed particular emphasis on tourism development across the Xinhua mountain corridor, with a special focus on No. 168 South Highway. For locals, the number 168 carries a fortunate meaning. Pronounced yī liù bā, it sounds similar to yī lù fā (一路發), a phrase that means “prosperity all the way.” Fittingly, the route connects some of the area’s most distinctive landscapes and attractions. As low-carbon travel continues to gain momentum in recent years, the city is recommending a new two-day, one-night low-carbon getaway that combines camping at Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area with public transportation. Available year-round on both weekdays and weekends, the itinerary offers a refreshing escape to the greener side of Tainan, blending sustainable travel with local culture and authentic charm.
Lin Guo-hua, Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, suggested starting the day at Xinshi Railway Station and boarding the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle’s 168 Hutoupi Old Street Route (Route 168) to the historic Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area, where visitors can set up camp and create their own lakeside retreat, surrounded by the area’s rich ecology and dynamic recreational experiences. Around midday, a leisurely walk along the lakeside promenade leads to the scenic area’s main entrance, where visitors can catch Route 168 to Xinhua Old Street. Lined with Baroque-style architecture, the century-old street invites visitors to sample local specialties, linger over an afternoon coffee, and soak up its distinctive history and local character. As evening falls, the shuttle returns to Hutoupi, where the lake glows in the fading light. Back at the campsite, visitors can gather around a barbecue, prepare dinner outdoors, and end the day beneath a sky full of stars, drifting off to the gentle chorus of insects in the surrounding landscape.
After a restful night by the lake, visitors can greet the new day with views of a soft morning mist blanketing the water before setting out on foot to Xinhua Forest Area NCHU, home to the largest stand of big-leaf mahogany trees in Taiwan, for a refreshing morning of immersion in the forest. Together, Xinhua Forest Area NCHU and Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area form the twin green treasures of the Xinhua mountain region, linked by a close ecological relationship. The forest’s dense vegetation serves as the most important watershed for Hutoupi Reservoir. During periods of drought in earlier years, groundwater stored beneath the forest helped sustain the reservoir through dry seasons, allowing it to continue playing its vital role in regulating irrigation water supplies.
After bathing in the purifying forest air rich in phytoncides, visitors can return to Hutoupi for a leisurely ride on an electric boat or swan boat and take in the lake from a different perspective. Another option is to hop aboard Route 168 to DaKeng Leisure Farm, where close encounters with animals and nature await. Visitors can also stop by Wang Jia Smoked Lamb, a restaurant recognized in the Michelin Guide selection, to sample one of the area’s best-known local specialties. Before packing up camp and heading home, visitors looking to pick up local products will find a convenient one-stop shopping area inside Hutoupi’s gift shop, curating a wide selection of authentic specialties from along No. 168 South Highway. From local treats to regional products, it offers an easy way to take a taste of Xinhua's mountain-town character home. A visit to Xinhua Fruit and Vegetable Market is also well worth the stop, with freshly delivered seasonal fruits available straight from local growers.
The Tourism Bureau also recommends two distinct detours for the return journey. Visitors who enjoy the quieter rhythms of the countryside may want to stop by Chang Farm, a welcoming rural retreat imbued with the heartfelt hospitality of the local community. The farm was once featured on a travel program hosted by well-known entertainer Hsu Hsiao-shun. Its owner is dedicated to restoring the rare white wax apple, a specialty of Xinhua, while also cultivating locally grown Taiwanese coffee. Spending an afternoon beneath the trees with a cup of tea or pour-over coffee embodies the very essence of slowing down and savoring the gentle pace of rural life. Families looking for an experience that is both fun and educational can stop by K.K. Orchard. Here, visitors can discover how the humble sweet potato is transformed into one of Taiwan’s most beloved snacks, then sample the attraction’s signature baked-and-frozen sweet potatoes and springy fried sweet potato balls fresh from the kitchen. The Tourism Bureau invites visitors to redefine their ways of traveling. Using Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area as a low-carbon base and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle as a gateway to the Xinhua mountain region, visitors can experience firsthand the easygoing charm of this idyllic two-day, one-night escape.
Lin Guo-hua, Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, suggested starting the day at Xinshi Railway Station and boarding the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle’s 168 Hutoupi Old Street Route (Route 168) to the historic Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area, where visitors can set up camp and create their own lakeside retreat, surrounded by the area’s rich ecology and dynamic recreational experiences. Around midday, a leisurely walk along the lakeside promenade leads to the scenic area’s main entrance, where visitors can catch Route 168 to Xinhua Old Street. Lined with Baroque-style architecture, the century-old street invites visitors to sample local specialties, linger over an afternoon coffee, and soak up its distinctive history and local character. As evening falls, the shuttle returns to Hutoupi, where the lake glows in the fading light. Back at the campsite, visitors can gather around a barbecue, prepare dinner outdoors, and end the day beneath a sky full of stars, drifting off to the gentle chorus of insects in the surrounding landscape.
After a restful night by the lake, visitors can greet the new day with views of a soft morning mist blanketing the water before setting out on foot to Xinhua Forest Area NCHU, home to the largest stand of big-leaf mahogany trees in Taiwan, for a refreshing morning of immersion in the forest. Together, Xinhua Forest Area NCHU and Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area form the twin green treasures of the Xinhua mountain region, linked by a close ecological relationship. The forest’s dense vegetation serves as the most important watershed for Hutoupi Reservoir. During periods of drought in earlier years, groundwater stored beneath the forest helped sustain the reservoir through dry seasons, allowing it to continue playing its vital role in regulating irrigation water supplies.
After bathing in the purifying forest air rich in phytoncides, visitors can return to Hutoupi for a leisurely ride on an electric boat or swan boat and take in the lake from a different perspective. Another option is to hop aboard Route 168 to DaKeng Leisure Farm, where close encounters with animals and nature await. Visitors can also stop by Wang Jia Smoked Lamb, a restaurant recognized in the Michelin Guide selection, to sample one of the area’s best-known local specialties. Before packing up camp and heading home, visitors looking to pick up local products will find a convenient one-stop shopping area inside Hutoupi’s gift shop, curating a wide selection of authentic specialties from along No. 168 South Highway. From local treats to regional products, it offers an easy way to take a taste of Xinhua's mountain-town character home. A visit to Xinhua Fruit and Vegetable Market is also well worth the stop, with freshly delivered seasonal fruits available straight from local growers.
The Tourism Bureau also recommends two distinct detours for the return journey. Visitors who enjoy the quieter rhythms of the countryside may want to stop by Chang Farm, a welcoming rural retreat imbued with the heartfelt hospitality of the local community. The farm was once featured on a travel program hosted by well-known entertainer Hsu Hsiao-shun. Its owner is dedicated to restoring the rare white wax apple, a specialty of Xinhua, while also cultivating locally grown Taiwanese coffee. Spending an afternoon beneath the trees with a cup of tea or pour-over coffee embodies the very essence of slowing down and savoring the gentle pace of rural life. Families looking for an experience that is both fun and educational can stop by K.K. Orchard. Here, visitors can discover how the humble sweet potato is transformed into one of Taiwan’s most beloved snacks, then sample the attraction’s signature baked-and-frozen sweet potatoes and springy fried sweet potato balls fresh from the kitchen. The Tourism Bureau invites visitors to redefine their ways of traveling. Using Hutoupi Reservoir Scenic Area as a low-carbon base and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle as a gateway to the Xinhua mountain region, visitors can experience firsthand the easygoing charm of this idyllic two-day, one-night escape.
