Qingjing Farm, also known as Cingjing Farm or 清境農場 (Qīng jìng nóngchǎng), is probably one of the most well-known attractions in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, and with good reason.
Originally a resettlement location for Chinese veterans and guerrilla fighters, JingQing Veteran Farm was also the first established mountain farm in the area. To support this endeavour, the farm actually had to import sheep from Australia to provide for wool and meat, later introducing cattle and turkeys too.
Though there are no longer any cattle or turkeys at Qingjing Farm, it is still one of Nantou’s best, as well as one of its largest, travel spots. Comprised of 3 main areas atop an entire mountain side and 10 different trails, the farm offers attractions for all ages.
Make it your next travel destination today!
Features of Qingjing Farm
Although Qingjing Farm suffered fairly significant damage from the 921 earthquake in 1999 and later Typhoon Bilis in 2000, the attraction itself has largely remained unchanged since. With the Green Green Grasslands, Guashan Pastoral Area, Small Swiss Garden, and more, there are so many things to do at Cingjing Farm!
1. Green Green Grassland
Perhaps the most well-known feature of Qingjing Farm, the Green Green Grassland lets visitors get up-close-and-personal with fluffy sheep friends, all while exploring stunning natural views.
As the first feature of Qingjing Farm to open to the public in 1990, the Green Green Grasslands has continuously been a favorite of visitors. With vending machines dotted across the area selling sheep feed, this is the perfect chance snap a picture!
Attractions in Green Green Grassland
- Sheep Shearing Show
Started in 1997, the Sheep Shearing Show is a must-see for any visitor to Qingjing Farm. Held at 9:30am and 2:30pm on holidays and weekends, visitors can watch how sheep are herded into a pen by sheepdogs, and learn how sheep are sheared. Each show lasts for 30 mins.
2. Guanshan Pastoral Area
Known as ‘the dancing horse’, Qingjing Farm’s Guanshan Area is home to Taiwan’s only Lipizzaner horses, of which there are about 11,000 in the world. Prized for its gray hair, the horse is known for its strength and linkage to the Habsburg monarchy.
Attractions in Guanshan Pastoral Area
- Equestrian Riding and Acrobat Show (Horse Show)
Found in the Horsemanship Show Stage at Guanshan Pastoral Area, the horse show is honestly one of the best, if not the best, features at Cingjing Farm. With riders from Mongolia, the show is the perfect combination of recklessness and skill, and is truly a pleasure to watch.
We recommend not getting as close as you can to the front. In the event that a horse decides to take a dump mid performance, people in the front will be in the splash zone. Don’t let that be you.
Shows are performed Mon-Fri at 10:45am and 3:45pm, lasting for 30 minutes each.
- Horse Riding
Within the enclosure near the cafe in Guanshan Pastoral Area, children have the chance to experience horse riding (accompanied by instructors) and other horse-related activities. Please be aware that bookings must be made in advance to access the enclosure.
Packages for horse riding experiences can be found at the farm’s website and later within this post.
- Cafe
Throughout most of the farm experience it’s you stalking the sheep, but outside on the cafe’s porch the tables will turn. Soak up the summer breeze with an ice cream on your right and a sheep on your left.
Aside from an assortment of cold delights, the cafe also sells a variety of sheep-themed souvenirs.
Access to Guanshan Pastoral Area
Visitors can enter Guanshan Pastures via the Green Green Grassland entrance, as long as they remember to stamp their hand before exiting the area. There is also an entrance to Guanshan Pastoral Area across the road from the Sky Walk, but parking there is a little tricky.
If you have time, stop by the ice cream stall right outside the entrance to Guanshan Pastoral Area. They sell delicious cow milk/sheep milk lollies for only $10 a piece – a bargain and a delight!
3. Small Swiss Garden
Located below Guanshan Pastoral Area is the Small Swiss Garden. Due to its abundance of flowers, with graceful views of the mountains and fields, the area has been likened to Switzerland – hence the name. Accompanied by European-styled structures and windmills, it is the farm’s only feature to close as late as 9pm. The Qingjing Farm Hotel is also nearby.
Open hours: 9am to 9pm
Attractions in Small Swiss Garden
- Water Fountain Display
The water fountain display at Small Swiss Garden may be simple in concept, but coupled with the flowers and lights that bring the garden to life, it creates for a thrilling experience. See it in action every hour from 9:30am to 9:30pm.
4. Qingjing Farm Trails
There are a total of 10 trails in the Qingjing Farm complex, including the external Sky Walk. All trails are fairly mild and require no hiking experience, with the average walking time for each individual trail below 1hr.
- Sky Walk 高空步道
Located just outside Qingjing Farm is the Sky Walk, giving you views of the surrounding mountains and valley. Though fairly sweltering at mid-day, during the late afternoon the path promises amazing sunset views for visitors. Tickets are available at Klook, starting at only $50 a person.
Other Things to Do at Qingjing Farm
DIY Activities
- DIY Sheep Charm
Make your own sheep charm out of real wool! With the chance to make either a black or white sheep, this is a fun activity that is sure to get the family creative. Please be aware that the activity is fairly difficult, so it is recommended for junior high school age and above.
Click on the image below to find out more!
- DIY Wool Felt Ring
Make your own wool felt keyring out of real wool! at Qingjing Farm! Available on Kkday for $240 per person.
- Half Day Little Jockey
Learn how to take care of horses and how to ride one in this 2 hour experience at Guanshan Pastoral Area. Available everyday at either 9am or 2pm, the activity teaches participants about the necessary grooming and feeding required to look after horses. You’ll also have the chance to climb on up and get some riding experience.
The experience also comes with a complimentary cowboy riding hat and a roundtrip shuttle bus from Qingjing Farm Hotel to Guanshan Pastoral Area.
Attractions near Qingjing Farm
Bowang New Village 清境博望新村
Not far from Qingjing Farm lies Bowang New Village, one of the villages created to resettle veterans arriving to the area in the 1960s. At an altitude of over 2000 meters, it is still a lived-in village with a population just below 100 people.
The village offers a peaceful contrast to the bustling of Qingjing Farm. As well as being a free attraction, Bowang New Village is also a worth a visit for its history and its food!
- Bowang New Village (Google Maps)
FamilyMart
Sat at 2052m above sea level, this Family Mart is situated on the highest point in the Qingjing area. It’s worth heading there for some cute pictures, if not for some snacks.
There’s also a 7-11 nearby with a sheep themed exterior, however it can’t lay claim to being at the highest point.
Sunrise Carpool
Qingjing Farm and its surrounding area doesn’t just make for stunning views during the day! Among the many things to do at Qingjing Farm, watching an unforgettable sunrise should definitely be one of them.
For just $390, the sunrise bus will swings by at 4am from Qingjing Farm Hotel, take you to the best spot to catch some views, and then head back at around 7:30am, just in time for breakfast.
Reserve your place on the bus at Kkday today!
How to get to Qingjing Farm
The main entrance to Qingjing Farm is via the Green Green Grasslands service center, which is noticeable from the road through its mock castle facade. This is the easiest entrance to access, and is the recommended one to use if you’re travelling by car or by bus.
Bus
From Taichung Station (accessible by TRA or HSR):
- Bus 6670 –> Puli Station 埔里 –> Nantou Bus 南投 6658, 6659, or 6664 –> Qingjing Farm 清境農場.
Shuttle Bus Services
- Bus to Qingjing Farm
For under $1,000, passengers from Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung can take a bus straight to Qingjing Farm. Please note that this price does not include transport back to pick-up location. For more information, please check the details at KKday.
- Shuttle Bus from Taichung to Qingjing Farm
Pick-up from three locations in Taichung (HSR, TRA, and Airport). Prices to Qingjing Farm range from $450-$600, and prices back to Taichung range from $450-$650. Find out more at Kkday.
- Round-trip Shuttle Bus from Taichung to Qingjing Farm
Day trip to Hehuan Mountain and Qingjing Farm from Taichung for only $1,599. You also have the option of going to Puli instead of Hehuan Mountain as well. Check availability here.
Car
If you’re driving by car, there are two parking lots available: one by the castle and one further up the road. Both are free. There is another parking lot before you reach the castle entrance (by the entrance to the Sky Walk and across the road from Guanshan Pastoral Area entrance), but this may be paid parking.
Address: Qingjing Farm, No. 170, Renhe Road, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, 546
Private Car Hire
- Round-trip Carpool from Taichung to Qingjing Farm
Day trip to Qingjing Farm with scheduled pick-up and drop-off from major hotels and/or HSR station) for $910 (there and back) from 9am to 6:30pm. Book now at Kkday.
- Private Car to Qingjing Farm (from anywhere in Taiwan)
For $2,300, a private car will pick you up from anywhere in Taiwan, including Taipei, New Taipei City, Yilan, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Pingdong, Hualien, and Taitung.
There are 3 vehicles to choose from, each with different seating arrangements, with the maximum car size being 9 people. Free cancellation is available for up to 2 days before your intended trip begins. If this sounds ideal for you, check KKday for more details on how to book.
Package Deals for Qingjing Farm
Transport & Ticket Deals
- Bus Travel from Taichung to Qingjing Farm (price incl. access to Farm)
Klook has a package deal for a day trip from Taichung to the farm, with transport (bus) and tickets included for $920 per person. The trip includes access to the Small Swiss Garden, as well as the Grasslands and Guashan Pastoral Area.
For those not wanting to drive the winding mountain roads, or look into the hassle of renting a car, we recommend choosing this package.
Ticket Information for Qingjing Farm
Is admission to Qingjing Farm free?
Unfortunately, no, admittance to Qingjing farm is not free. And, from what we can tell, there’s no discount for whether you book online or purchase a ticket in person.
Regardless, for each ticket price the visitor gets access to the Green Green Grassland and Guanshan Pastoral Area.
For those wanting to explore the Small Swiss Garden AND the Sky Walk, tickets can be purchased on Klook for just $135 in total.
Additional Information
For more information about Qingjing Farm, please visit their website (available in Chinese, English, Korean, Indonesian, and Thai).
For our readers not based in Taiwan who wish to experience Qingjing Farm, check out the sheep shearing show on Youtube. Please be advised that the audio is in Chinese and that there are not any subtitles.
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