Xinwei Forest Park, formerly the Japanese-era "Xinwei Nursery," is in Xinwei Village, Shanlin District, Kaohsiung City—the gateway to Maolin National Scenic Area. The park covers about 30 hectares and plants over 1100 mahogany trees forming a green tunnel of about 2 km. The two-level observation deck offers distant views of the Central Mountain Range tail ridge and Laonong Creek valley. For guests staying at Hanyuan B&B , this is a mountain-town secret suitable for half-day or full-day trips. You can transfer to Maolin, Shanping, and Shiba Luohan Mountain in Maolin National Scenic Area. From Hanyuan B&B, it takes about 25 至 30 minutes by car—an important gateway for Kaohsiung mountain-town trips.
Xinwei Forest Park's history dates to the Japanese-era Showa period. The Japanese government promoted Taiwan's forestry development, establishing the "Xinwei Nursery" in Xinwei Village, Qishan County, Kaohsiung Prefecture in the 1920 s, specializing in cultivating acacia, mahogany, camphor, and cedar seedlings for Taiwan's reforestation and afforestation programs. At its peak, dozens of professional forestry engineers were stationed, making it one of the most important seedling cultivation bases in southern Taiwan during the Japanese era.
After the war, the Xinwei Nursery was taken over by the Forestry Bureau, continuing its role for southern afforestation. However, in the 1980 s, with Taiwan's forestry policy transformation and widespread imported timber, the nursery's role gradually diminished. In 1991 , the Forestry Bureau transformed the nursery into "Xinwei Forest Park," introducing ornamental species like mahogany, sweet gum, and green maple, adding observation decks, visitor centers, and ecological trails for leisure and recreation.
2001 When Maolin National Scenic Area was established, Xinwei Forest Park became the gateway, managed by the Tourism Bureau's Maolin National Scenic Area Administration. The park's 1100 mahogany trees have grown for over 50 years. Every year during leaf-fall season, leaves turn yellow-brown and cover the avenue, creating the "Mahogany Leaf-Fall Avenue"—one of southern Taiwan's most popular autumn-winter photography spots and a designated wedding photo location.
Beyond mahogany, the park preserves Japanese-era nursery platforms, Forestry Bureau dormitories, fire lookout towers, and other historical buildings. The "Old Nursery Office Building" has been renovated as the visitor center, displaying Forestry Bureau-era old photos, afforestation tools, and seedling cultivation explanations. Visitors can learn Taiwan's forestry evolution from the Japanese era through these historical contexts, feeling the forestry cultural memory this land carries.
Notably, mahogany promotion in Taiwan dates to the Japanese-era afforestation policy. Japanese forestry scientists considered mahogany fast-growing, hard-textured, and beautifully grained, suitable for furniture and building materials, so they introduced it from Central America for widespread planting in Taiwan. Xinwei Nursery was one of the main seedling bases, still witnessing this century-long forestry exchange history.
In the development context of Maolin National Scenic Area, Xinwei Forest Park plays a "welcome gateway" role. The Administration completed a major park renovation in 2010 , repaving trails, improving observation deck accessibility, and establishing the "Mahogany Story Museum," introducing how this Central American tree took root in Taiwan and became Xinwei's most iconic landscape.
Xinwei Forest Park is in Xinwei Village, Shanlin District, Kaohsiung City. Though administratively in Shanlin District, it borders Meinong District and is commonly considered an extension of Meinong mountain town. From Hanyuan B&B it takes about 25 至 30 minutes by car—an excellent choice for half-day or full-day trips.
From Hanyuan B&B Recommended route:
Xinwei Forest Park is open daily from 08:00 至 to 17:30, closed only on Lunar New Year's Eve. The entire park is free. We recommend reserving 2 至 3 hours to complete the Mahogany Avenue, climb the two-level observation deck, and tour the visitor center. For deeper Maolin National Scenic Area trips, reserve a full day. The park also offers bicycle rentals—cycling through the Mahogany Avenue is a popular way to explore.
Xinwei Forest Park's highlights include "Mahogany Avenue," "Two-Level Observation Deck," and "Visitor Center." We recommend the following route:
Stop 1: Mahogany Avenue (stay 30 至 40 min)). From the park entrance, the famous Mahogany Avenue greets you first. This avenue is about 2 km long and about 12 meters wide, with over 1100 trees aged 50 years or more. Every 3 至 5 in spring, fresh green leaves sprout. In 至 11 in autumn-winter, leaves turn golden and brown, covering the avenue—the most beautiful mahogany-shaded avenue in Taiwan.
Stop 2: Two-Level Observation Deck (stay 30 至 40 min)). After walking Mahogany Avenue, climb the two-level observation deck. The deck has upper and lower levels with elevators and accessibility—suitable for seniors and wheelchair users. At the top you can 360 -degree panoramic views: west overlooking Laonong Creek valley and distant Liugui and Jiaxian mountains; east the Central Mountain Range tail ridge of the Yushan system; north Xinwei Bridge and South Cross-Island Highway mountain scenery.
Stop 3: Maolin National Scenic Area Visitor Center (stay 20 至 30 min)). The park has a Maolin National Scenic Area Visitor Center offering complete Greater Kaohsiung mountain-town tourism information, including Shiba Luohan Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanping Forest Recreation Area, Longtou Mountain Recreation Area, and Duona Hot Spring. The center also has a sales department selling indigenous crafts, Maolin coffee, local produce, and souvenirs.
Stop 4: Ecological Trail and Mahogany Seedling Area (stay 20 至 30 min)). The park's rear preserves part of the original nursery, cultivating various native species. Visitors can stroll the wooden boardwalk to learn about Taiwan's native plants and forestry history. This is also a natural classroom for school field trips, with information boards and touch experience areas. Both sides of the trail have "Tree QR Code Information Boards" that can be scanned with a phone to learn species traits and ecology.
Stop 5: Mahogany Leaf-Fall Memorial Trail (stay 10 至 15 min)). At the end of Mahogany Avenue, there is a special wood-chip trail. In autumn-winter, leaf accumulation can reach 10 + cm thick, making a rustling sound when stepped on—a favorite family experience. The trail has wooden benches and information boards on both sides for rest and photos.
Stop 6: Seasonal Dawn Redwood Forest. Near the two-level observation deck, there is a seasonal dawn redwood forest. Every 12 to next year 1 , leaves turn orange-red, combined with distant mountain scenery, creating a northern-country scene rare in southern Taiwan—a secret hotspot among photographers.
Xinwei Forest Park is beautiful in all seasons, each with different scenery. In 至 3 (winter), Mahogany Avenue enters leaf-fall season, with yellow-brown leaves covering the avenue and sunlight through bare branches—photographers' favorite for "winter light and shadow." In 至 5 (spring), mahogany sprouts fresh green buds, combined with blooming pink and yellow Tabebuia in the park, presenting a colorful spring scene.
6 至 8 (summer), the park's elevation is slightly higher than Meinong town, with temperatures about 2 至 3 degrees cooler—a perfect summer escape. The ecological trails offer abundant wildlife: rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, Taiwan blue magpies, five-colored birds—a treasure for parent-child nature observation. In 至 11 (autumn), sweet gum and green maple begin to yellow and red, complementing Mahogany Avenue—Xinwei Forest Park's most beautiful season.
12 (winter), though cooler, this is southern Taiwan's purple crow butterfly northward migration season. The park trails occasionally show flocks of purple crow butterflies flying, combined with distant Central Mountain Range snow scenery (Hehuan Mountain, Yushan)—a rare ecological sight. Ecology and photography lovers visiting during this period will enjoy the richest visual feast.
Mahogany Avenue is also a designated wedding photo location. Every 11 to next year 2 月的落葉季節，金黃色落葉鋪滿大道的畫面，被譽為「南台灣最浪漫的婚紗場景」。園區內也常見攝影愛好者帶腳架前來取景，建議清晨 6 至 8 or dusk 16 至 18 for the softest, dreamiest light.
For night ecology, the original forest behind the park is an excellent firefly watching spot. Every 4 至 5 during the firefly season, walking the wooden boardwalk reveals flocks of Taiwanese mountain fireflies and black-winged fireflies dancing against the starry sky—a beautiful midsummer night scene. The park offers limited night tours during firefly season—book in advance.
Additionally, Xinwei Forest Park is an important bird habitat. Five-colored birds, Taiwan blue magpies, black bulbuls, and light-vented bulbuls are common residents; in autumn-winter, you can observe temperate migratory birds and raptors. The two-level observation deck's wide views often show crested serpent eagles and crested goshawks circling—a must-visit private spot for birders.
If you're coming from Hanyuan B&B For a two-day trip, combine Xinwei Forest Park with the following attractions:
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.
For deeper Maolin National Scenic Area trips, contact us through Hanyuan B&B to book local guides and shuttles. A common 3-day-2-night itinerary: Day 1 visit Yuanxiang Yuan Paper Umbrella Village and Meinong Lake; Day 2 full day at Xinwei Forest Park, Shanping Forest Recreation Area, and Longtou Mountain; Day 3 morning at Shiba Luohan Mountain Nature Reserve, afternoon Hakka afternoon tea at Hanyuan B&B before returning.
Xinwei Forest Park is free for the entire area, open daily from 08:00 至 to 17:30, closed only on Lunar New Year's Eve. The park has a free parking lot accommodating about 50 small cars.
From Hanyuan B&B by car, take Highway 28 then connect to 181 Line, drive approx. 25 至 30 minutes. Or take Kaohsiung Bus "Meinong-Shanlin Line" to "Xinwei Nursery Station," then walk about 5 minutes.
Mahogany is beautiful in all seasons. In 至 5 (spring), new leaves are fresh green; in 至 11 (autumn-winter), leaves turn yellow-brown. Every 3 during the Mahogany Leaf-Fall Season, the avenue is cleaned—the famous "Mahogany Leaf-Fall Season" attracts many photographers.
Park trails are flat with accessibility. The two-level observation deck has elevators—suitable for seniors and wheelchair users. Children's play area and pavilions make it family-friendly.
Yes. The park has Maolin National Scenic Area Administration holiday shuttles to Shiba Luohan Mountain Nature Reserve, Shanping Forest Recreation Area, Duona Hot Spring, etc. Book in advance at the visitor center or check schedules.
The visitor center has a light meal cafe with coffee, tea, and light snacks. For full meals, head to nearby Shanlin town or Hanyuan B&B for meals; it takes about 15 至 20 min.