Shangrila Leisure Farm in northeastern Taiwan’s Yilan County is a popular ecotourism destination, offering accommodation set in a natural landscape together with ecological and cultural activities. This income stream for locals also preserves wildlife habitats and species.
Since opening in 1988, Shangrila has attracted domestic and overseas visitors. Its chair, Chang Ching-lai, who took over the land from his father, is dubbed “the godfather of Taiwan’s leisure farms” for spearheading the concept and offering economic opportunity to agricultural communities around such facilities.
Chang offers free training programs in hospitality management to young people as an incentive to return to their hometowns and tread a path to career development. His projects have resulted in other leisure farms across Taiwan, each with its distinguishing characteristics, revitalizing local economies.
Surrounded by lush green hills and mountains, Shangrila features European-style villas with panoramic views of rivers and valleys. As the surroundings are rural, the farm is home to diverse plant and animal species.
Apart from guided nature tours, Shangrila holds a variety of cultural activities for both adults and children, such as learning how to spin traditional wooden tops, making glutinous rice balls, puppet theater shows and DIY craft classes. The farm was also among the first group of tourism businesses to receive halal certification in 2011, to attract international Muslim tourists.
Currently, Shangrila’s largest overseas visitor demographic hails from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Steven Yeo from Singapore has visited Taiwan seven times and is never bored because he thoroughly enjoys the food, hospitality and scenery.
“After a jam-packed itinerary across Taiwan, we took it slowly by spending the last day at Shangrila Leisure Farm, and it turned out to be my favorite place,” said Yeo of his eight-day April trip. “The whole ambience was relaxing. I found peace of mind in the green, open environment.” The Singaporean added that Taiwan has great natural resources, and leisure farms are a strong attraction for those who, like him, have lived in cities all their lives.
According to Chang, the concept of spending leisure time in the country is trending strongly upwards. “I have full confidence that ecotourism will become mainstream, and we’ll capture a bigger slice of the global tourism market due to our commitment to the environment, ecosystem, culture and education,” the chair said.
The farm holds evening activities for both adults and children, such as learning how to spin traditional tops.
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(This article is adapted from Natural Getaways in July/August Issue 2023 of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)