Meinong Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village is on Zhongxing Road Section 1, Meinong District, Kaohsiung City—one of Taiwan's most complete and iconic oil-paper umbrella industry tourism factories, managed by the third-generation head of the renowned local "Guang Jin Sheng" paper umbrella workshop. The park fully preserves the traditional umbrella-making process inherited from Cantonese masters during the Japanese era, from bamboo cutting, rib forming, cotton paper gluing, to tung oil glazing—all handmade to create colorful oil-paper umbrellas. For guests staying at Hanyuan B&B , this is the top choice to learn Meinong Hakka handcraft, personally experience DIY umbrella painting, choose the most representative Hakka souvenirs, and an all-indoor attraction suitable for rainy or sunny days. From Hanyuan B&B, it takes only about 5 minutes by car—an essential stop for planning a Meinong Hakka cultural tour.
Meinong paper umbrella industry origins date to the Japanese-era Taisho period. Meinong had easy access to bamboo and Hakka immigrants brought traditional handcraft foundations. The Japanese government developed local specialty industries and specifically hired professional masters from Canton, China, to Taiwan to teach oil-paper umbrella making. The first-generation founder Mr. Lin Xiang established "Guang Jin Sheng" paper umbrella workshop on Zhongxing Road in Meinong in the 1920 s, following ancient methods from bamboo selection, rib splitting, canopy cutting, to tung oil glazing, and developing subtropical-climate, waterproof, durable Hakka oil-paper umbrellas. These practical and craft-valuable umbrellas are more than sun and rain shields—they carry the spirit of Hakka ancestors' thrift and handcraft tradition.
1960 至 1980 年代是Meinong Paper umbrella 的全盛時期，全盛時期整個Meinong 有超過二十家Paper umbrella 工廠，年產量可達數十萬把，除供應台灣本島市場外，更外銷至日本、東南亞and北美華人地區。日本市場尤其喜愛Meinong oil-paper umbrellas，常作為茶道空間、神社祭典and和風餐廳的裝飾道具。然而 1990 s, with the popularization of Western and plastic umbrellas and traditional masters' retirement, Meinong's paper umbrella industry nearly disappeared. Until 2000 , the second and third-generation operators transformed Guang Jin Sheng into "Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village," combining tourism tours, DIY experiences, and souvenir sales, sustaining this century-old craft.
The current third-generation manager Lin and his wife grew up among paper umbrellas. After inheriting the family business, they actively promoted industry culturalization. Beyond fully opening the factory for visits, they built a paper umbrella museum and planned DIY painting classrooms, and cooperated with Meinong local communities and schools to launch paper umbrella culture festivals and oil-paper umbrella art exhibitions. Dozens of colorful oil-paper umbrella installations hung at the park entrance have become the most iconic landmark of Meinong Zhongxing Road and a popular photo wall. Recently, the park has collaborated with cultural-creative brands to launch paper umbrella lanterns, umbrella-shaped piggy banks, Hakka floral cloth umbrellas and other lifestyle products, bringing this century-old craft into modern home life.
In cultural preservation, Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village also plays a role in promoting Hakka cultural education. The park regularly cooperates with Meinong local elementary and junior high schools to organize "One-Day Apprentice" field trip activities, letting the next generation personally experience bamboo splitting, threading, paper gluing, and other traditional techniques. It also hosts cultural exchange groups from Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, making Meinong oil-paper umbrellas an important name card for Taiwan's international cultural tourism exchange. This combination of industry, tourism, and education makes Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village a successful example of traditional factory transformation in Taiwan.
Notably, paper umbrellas have rich symbolic meaning in traditional Hakka culture. Early Hakka women's dowries often included a red oil-paper umbrella, symbolizing "branching out" and "many descendants"; at newborn babies' one-month celebrations, grandmothers gifted paper umbrellas to bless children to "grow up safely." These customs can still be seen in older Meinong residents' weddings and ceremonies today, making paper umbrellas transcend practical craft to become cultural carriers of Hakka collective memory.
Meinong Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village is at Zhongxing Road Section 1, Meinong District, Kaohsiung City 135 號，緊鄰Meinong Town Center核心，From Hanyuan B&B Driving only takes about 5 至 7 -minute drive. The park has a free parking lot accommodating about 20 cars and several large tour buses—convenient for self-driving visitors. Nearby are Meinong Hakka Cultural Museum, Yong'an Old Street, Meinong Lake and other famous attractions, allowing you to plan a complete Hakka cultural tour.
From Hanyuan B&B Recommended route:
The park is open daily from 09:00 至 to 17:00, year-round (except Lunar New Year's Eve). We recommend allocating 2 至 3 hours to fully visit the factory tour, DIY experience, and souvenir shopping. If combined with Meinong Lake、Xinwei Forest Park for a day trip, use "morning paper umbrella DIY → Hakka restaurant for lunch → afternoon Meinong Lake loop → evening Xinwei Nursery" sequential route. Drivers can use nearby Meinong public parking lots and walk to attractions, avoiding downtown parking hassles.
Meinong Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village's highlights include "Factory Tour," "DIY Painting Experience," and "Souvenir Shopping"—we recommend this route:
Stop 1: Paper Umbrella Museum (stay 20 min)). Upon entering the park, the Paper Umbrella History Museum greets you first. The museum displays Japanese-era umbrella-making tools, first-generation master manuscripts, oil-paper umbrella samples from various eras, and exquisite Japanese export umbrella replicas. Through old photos and masters' oral histories, visitors can clearly understand how an oil-paper umbrella transforms from bamboo to artwork. The museum also has multimedia interactive devices; touch screens reveal details of bamboo splitting, cotton paper gluing, and tung oil glazing.
Stop 2: Umbrella Factory Tour (stay 30 至 40 min)). Next, enter the adjacent factory area where senior masters work on "bamboo splitting," "rib carving," "threading," "paper gluing," and "tung oil application." Each technique relies on decades of experience—for example, bamboo splitting requires uniform cutting along the bamboo fiber direction, paper gluing requires uniform persimmon lacquer between cotton paper and ribs, and tung oil must be applied 3-5 times for waterproof effect. Tour guides explain each technique's key points and let visitors touch bamboo and cotton paper.
Stop 3: DIY Painting Classroom (stay 30 至 60 min)). The park's most popular experience. Visitors can choose their favorite umbrella style (from mini to large standing umbrellas); masters demonstrate using acrylic and waterproof paints on the umbrella. Painting themes range from traditional florals, Hakka indigo patterns, to modern abstract. Teachers help with composition and color—even those with no painting experience can create unique souvenirs. Masters apply waterproof paint after; visitors can take the finished product home after 30 minutes.
Stop 4: Souvenir Sales Area (stay 20 至 30 min)). The park's rear has a souvenir sales area, selling small keychain umbrellas, mini souvenir umbrellas, standing umbrellas, umbrella lanterns, Hakka floral cloth umbrellas. The most popular is the "Hakka Indigo Floral Cloth Umbrella," using traditional indigo floral cloth instead of cotton paper, integrating Meinong Hakka cultural elements—perfect for gifts.
Stop 5: Outdoor Umbrella Wall Photo Area (stay 10 至 15 min)). Before leaving, don't forget the "Colorful Oil-Paper Umbrella Installation Art Wall" on Zhongxing Road for photo check-ins. The wall has dozens of different-colored paper umbrellas in staggered arrangement—perfect background in any weather. The park entrance also has a large standing umbrella-style sign, a popular spot for wedding and family photos.
Though indoor, Meinong Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village has seasonal highlights year-round. In spring 3 至 5 , the Meinong Plain outside the park is in flower sea season. Walking from the paper umbrella village to nearby Meinong Lake, you can enjoy cosmos flower seas and lake reflections—the most romantic visiting season. In summer 6 至 8 , the park has air conditioning, plus DIY classroom serves cool grass tea—best escape from the sun.
Autumn-winter 9 至 12 months are another golden period. The Meinong Plain's paddy fields are in harvest, with golden rice waves complementing the colorful oil-paper umbrellas on Zhongxing Road—photographers' favorite. Every 11 to 12 during Meinong White Radish Season and Hakka Culture Festival, the park launches limited "Radish Umbrella" and "Tung Blossom Umbrella" seasonal patterns—great collector's items.
Beyond visual and handcraft experiences, the park actively promotes "Hear the Paper Umbrella" oral culture activities. Weekend afternoons, the second-generation master personally shares Japanese-era apprentice experiences at the museum, demonstrating paper umbrella fashion shows with Hakka Bagu background music—one of the few venues experiencing Hakka traditional craft and music combination, beloved by cultural depth travelers. The park's rear also has a "Paper Umbrella Story Wall" with colorful oil-paper umbrellas displaying Hakka proverbs and blessings—a popular photo wall.
During lantern and festival periods, Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village often cooperates with Meinong local communities to host "Paper Umbrella Lantern Festival" on Zhongxing Road. At night, hundreds of paper umbrella lanterns light up simultaneously, with live Hakka Bagu music, transforming the entire Zhongxing Road into a romantic light corridor—a limited night event you shouldn't miss. Check the park's official Facebook page before departure for the latest seasonal exhibitions and DIY limited themes.
If you're coming from Hanyuan B&B For a two-day Meinong trip, combine Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village with:
Want to see all top Meinong attractions at once? See Hanyuan B&B Nearby Attractions Overview— covering all 12 nearby attractions with maps, helping you plan the richest Hakka mountain-town trip.
We recommend visitors Hanyuan B&B book a two-day in-depth itinerary: Day 1 morning arrive and visit Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village DIY paper umbrellas; noon Hakka ban tiao and Lei Cha at Yong'an Old Street; afternoon bike around Meinong Lake. Day 2 morning visit Xinwei Forest Park for Mahogany Avenue; noon local cuisine at Shanlin; afternoon Liugui/Maolin or return. This route combines Hakka culture, countryside scenery, and mountain-town exploration—the best way to deeply experience Meinong and Maolin National Scenic Area.
Meinong Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Cultural Village is free to enter; factory tour is also free. DIY painting an umbrella costs vary by size and pattern complexity, around NT$ 250 至 600 —call in advance to ensure materials are prepared.
Basic painting experience takes about 30 至 60 minutes with master teaching; children years and older can participate. For traditional full-process experience, it takes 2 至 3 hours; we recommend 12 years and older.
From Hanyuan B&B, take Highway 28 highway into Meinong town, then Zhongxing Road Section 1; it takes about 5 至 7 minutes. Free parking is available at the park.
Paper umbrellas are Meinong's most representative Hakka souvenir, from small pendants to large standing umbrellas. Avoid direct sunlight and humidity; wipe dust with a dry cloth. Proper care maintains color for over 10 years. Request a care manual from the park after purchase.
The park accepts groups of 15 or more for guided tours; please contact 3 days in advance via phone or Facebook fan page. Group tours include factory tour, DIY painting experience, and souvenir shopping—total about 2 hours. A popular choice for school field trips and corporate cultural visits.