Huo Wangye or the Lord of Fire (火王爺). Because of its connection with the hot spring, much of the surrounding scenery has some relation to fire, including the time-honored and ever-popular Fire and Water Spring (水火同源). The spring, also known as Fire Water Cave(水火洞), constantly emits fire and water from the same hole, attracting tourists to come and observe the marvel for the last 300 years.
Main routes of the Guanziling Mountain Trail System are the Datong, Jiulong, Jilong, Fulong and Pillow Mountain Routes(大凍山線、九龍山線、雞籠山線、福龍山線以及枕頭山線). Datong Mountain, at 1241 above sea level, is the highest peak in Tainan, and one of Taiwan's small hundred peaks. Jiulong Mountain Route has a number of almost 90 degree inclines that hikers will need a rope to climb; a great experience for thrill seeking mountain climbers. Jilong Mountain Route is on the northwest side of Datong's main peak. It has a conical isolated peak resembling a chicken cage which give the peak its name, Jilong.
Built in 1798, Huoshan Biyun Temple (火山碧雲寺) remains much the same as it looked originally. The ancient temple has a mixed Minnan and Japanese architectural style and has a backdrop of the Pillow Mountain range, giving it a simple and elegant look. There is a hole in front of the temple that has a central role in a legendary story; it is said that just enough rice for the temple occupants to eat used to flow out of “rice gushing hole” every day. One day, a greedy monk wanted to have all the rice to himself and dug down into the hole, after which rice never came out again.
Located above Guanziling Hot Spring Area, Lingding Park was originally a golf course built by the Japanese in 1932, becoming a park much-loved by tourists after the end of the Japanese Colonial Time. The park has a very tranquil atmosphere, neatly trimmed grass, trees with the luxuriant foliage that offer shade and Osmanthus Path where the atmosphere is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus. The installation art of music score design “The Love of Guanziling” is a popular photo spot for tourists.
Guanziling Scenic Area is located in the eastern side of Baihe District and is a famous tourist attraction in Tainan, surrounded by Pillow Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Dajian Mountain, Jigong Mountain and other peaks, set in a tranquil valley surrounded by mountains. Other attractions of the scenic area include the Fire and Water Spring, Huoshan Biyun Temple, Dongshan Coffee, Hot Spring Old Street, Xianyun Bridge, Huo Wangye Temple, Lingding Park, Baoquan Bridge, and the old and new Haohan Trail, all of which are must-see attractions when visiting Guanziling.
Every spring, the media reports on the famous kapok tree road(木棉道). The fiery colored kapok blossom filling the entire street is particularly eye-catching, and the road was chosen as one of the 15 most beautiful flower streets in the world.
Liuchong River Hot Spring (六重溪溫泉) is close to Guanziling Hot Spring Area(關子嶺溫泉區). Although not as well-known as the latter, it still attracts many people. The water isn’t very hot at e mud hot spring water of Guanzilin about 35 Celsius and is similar to Guanzilin mud hot spring; the sodium bicarbonate spring water has a high mud content and bubbles. Due to the limited amount of spring water, Qian XiaYuan, a home stay, is the only authorized user. It is a tranquil hot spring heaven. The Liuchong River area was once the home of Pingpu Peoples.
When visiting Baihe, as well as viewing the beautiful pink lotus flowers, don’t ignore the pleasant scenes presented by the lush green fields and straight roads; one such scene is Zhumen Green Tunnel(竹門綠色隧道) on County Road 90 Southbound. The “Tunnel” is lined by tall mango trees planted during the Japanese Colonial Time, their dense foliage blocking out the sky, making the section of road seem like a tunnel. In summer, the shaded cool of Zhumen Green Tunnel offers welcome respite from the heat, the lush greenery having a soothing effect on tourists.
Kanding Fu-an Temple(崁頂福安宮) is the only Land God temple in Taiwan to enshrine the Land God of the Three Worlds (Heaven, the Earth and human world). Due to the belief in his power, more than 40,000 statues of the god Fu De Zheng Shen (Right God of Blessing and Virtue, God of Earth) are spread across Taiwan to share this power. Fu-an Temple ranks alongside Fu-an Temple in Checheng, Pingdong and New Taipei City’s Hongludi Land God Temple(屏東車城及新北市烘爐地土地公廟) in terms of popularity and number of believers.
Due to the fact that this lakeside area hosts Putuo Temple (普陀禪寺), enshrined Avalokiteshvara of the South China Sea (南海觀世音菩薩), this area has become known as Xiaonanhai (小南海), translating into English as Little South China Sea. The small Xiaonanhai Suspension Bridge (小南海吊橋) unifies the Temple with the Ecological Park, and helps create a 5 kilometer long pathway which can be walked or cycled.
