• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Taiwanese Secrets Travel Guide

  • About
  • Contact Me
  • What’s New
  • Facebook
  • Pizza Rock
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • What’s New
  • About Taiwan
    • Facts About Taiwan
    • Culture
      • Ancient Chinese Things
      • Taiwanese Culture
      • Language
      • Martial Arts
      • Music
    • Festivals
    • Food
      • Snacks & Fast Food Guide
  • Travel Info
    • 17 Best Road Trips in Taiwan
    • Accommodation
    • Transportation
      • Transport in Taiwan
      • High Speed Rail
      • Train
      • Bus
      • Rent a Car
      • Scooter & Motorcycle
      • Hitchhiking
    • Hiking Guide
    • Scooter / Motorcycle Travel
    • Surfing in Taiwan
    • Nightlife in Taiwan
    • Important Links!
  • Taipei
    • Introduction to Taipei
    • Best Area to Stay in Taipei
    • Getting Around
      • MRT (metro) Guide
    • Attractions
      • Dihua Street
      • Museums, Memorials, Historical Buildings
      • Taipei 101
      • Temples
    • Shopping in Taipei
  • North
    • Hsinchu
    • Keelung
    • Jiufen
    • Long Dong
    • Pinglin
    • Taian Hot Spring
    • Taoyuan
    • Wulai
    • Yangmingshan National Park
  • East
    • Chenggong
    • Donghe
    • Douli
    • Dulan
    • Hualien
    • Fulong
    • Highway 11
    • Jiaoxi
    • Taroko Gorge
      • Hiking in Taroko
      • Taroko Camping
      • Taipei to Taroko
    • Taitung
    • Tianxiang
    • Yilan
  • Central
    • Alishan
    • Baguashan
    • Changhua
    • Cingjing Farm
    • Mt. Hehuan (Hehuanshan)
    • Huisun Forest
    • Lugang
    • Nantou County
    • Sun Moon Lake
    • Taichung City
      • Attractions | Things to Do
      • Cafes
      • Getting There and Away
      • Hiking
      • Nightlife
      • Parks and Canals | Walking Guide
      • Restaurants
    • Zhongxing New Village
  • South
    • Chiayi
    • Donggang
    • Kaohsiung
    • Kenting
      • Best of Kenting
      • Restaurants and Cafes
      • Baisha Beach
      • Fengchuisha
      • Hengchun
      • Houwan (Back Bay)
      • Jialeshui
      • Manzhou
      • Nightlife
      • Nanwan (South Bay)
      • Sail Rock
      • Snorkeling in Kenting
      • Surfing in Kenting
      • Taipei to Kenting
      • Pizza Rock Kenting
      • Wild East Guesthouse
      • Xiaowan (Little Bay)
      • Wanlitong
    • Maolin
    • Tainan
  • Islands
    • Green Island (Ludao)
    • Kinmen Island
    • Matsu Island
    • Orchid Island (Lanyu)
    • Penghu
    • Xiao Liuqiu (Lamay Island)
  • Pictures
    • Hualien Gallery
    • Chinese Dragons Gallery
    • Dangki | Jitong
    • Faces of Taiwan | Portraits
  • About
    • Contact Me

Manzhou Travel Guide

Table of Contents

  • The laid-back side of Kenting National Park
  • Who goes to Manzhou?
  • Orientation
  • Things to do in Manzhou / Attractions
    • Kentington Resort Swimming Pool
    • Qikong Waterfall 七孔瀑布
    • Jialeshui 佳樂水
  • Restaurants / Food / Drinks
    • Fruit Juice Bar
    • Nice Cafe in Manzhou?
  • Accommodation in Manzhou
  • Get Directions
    • Related Articles
    • Return to Homepage

The laid-back side of Kenting National Park

Manzhou is a place for people who enjoy solitude, quitness, the fauna, and beautiful landscapes. Welcome to one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan!

manzhou fields kenting
Fields and mountains in Manzhou
manzhou kenting national park taiwan
View of Manzhou Town from the sky

Manzhou is a beautiful countryside township in the north-eastern part of Kenting National Park. I know this area very well because that’s where Ruby and I live part-time. In the summer of 2017, I decided I’d had enough of living in the nasty pollution of Taichung, and got a house here, in a tiny community called Binlang, mid-way between Manzhou village and Jiupeng, along the East Coast.

jialeshui kenting beach 佳樂水
Jialeshui and road #26 viewed from above Longpan Park
taiwan house countryside
My “basecamp” in Binlang, Kenting National Park

Moving to the southern part of Taiwan has been the best decision of my life! I really, really love the slow-paced, relaxed lifestyle down here. And there is SO MUCH stuff to do in this area. It’s a true paradise for nature lovers!

binlang house in manzhou
My “office” on the balcony where I work on this website
taiwanese monkey macaque
Riding or walking around Manzhou, you’ll probably stumble upon some Taiwanese macaque. They are not aggressive, and will most likely run away in the jungle as soon as they see you.

Who goes to Manzhou?

Not many people visit Manzhou and that’s a great thing if you ask me. This is the quiet part of Kenting National Park. No traffic jams, no problem parking your car, no lineups at restaurants, and best of all, no noise pollution! Prices are also much cheaper than in busy Kenting Village, Nanwan, and Baisha.

Manzhou drone shot taiwan
Drone view of Manzhou
My favorite guesthouse / B&B in Manzhou: Wild East! Take a look…

Orientation

Some people get confused, because Manzhou is both a township and a village. The township is a large area of Pingtung County which contains many small villages. One of those villages is called Manzhou. This village is the second biggest in the area after Hengchun.

Manzhou village
Manzhou village is surrounded by mountains. You can see the southern tip of Taiwan in the distance.

In central Manzhou, the main “downtown” part is at the big tree, next to 7-11. This is where you can find some of the best (and cheapest) food in all of Kenting National Park. Don’t expect anything fancy though… “Local” and unpretentious are the keyword here!

Manzhou town is 15 minutes away from Jialeshui, 15 minutes to Hengchun, and 25 minutes to Nanwan. It is a great spot to establish your basecamp, as it’s somewhat central and makes it convenient to visit different parts of Kenting National Park. But please let me repeat: there is nothing to do around here in terms of entertainment / nightlife / shopping.

manzhou village, pingtung county, taiwan
The big tree in “downtown” Manzhou. You can see the restaurants behind.
zhongshan harbor in manzhou
Zhongshan Harbor along the East Coast on Road 26

Things to do in Manzhou / Attractions

  • hike to waterfalls
  • chill by the pool at Kentington Resort
  • surf or chill on the beach at Jialeshui
  • walk around (or ride a jeep) on the Jiupeng sand dunes
  • visit Zhongshan Harbor with beautiful sea & mountain views
  • cycle or ride a scooter along country road 200
  • take pictures of very old houses / ancient Taiwanese architecture in Manzhou Village
  • visit aboriginal Paiwan villages
  • swim in the ocean!
  • eat at one of the excellent local restaurants
hiking in kenting
Manzhou, viewed from Buffalo Hill, one of the best spots to do a short hike.

Kentington Resort Swimming Pool

If you’re in the mood for a swim, but don’t fancy the ocean, there’s always the beautiful clovers-shaped swimming pool at Kentington Resort 小墾丁, at the northern end of Manzhou village. Access fee for the pool and lounge chairs is 100NT$ per person. You’re supposed to wear a swimming cap to enter the pool. This is one of the most popular spots in Kenting for kids, so it can sometimes be loud on weekends, especially during summer.

kenting manzhou swimming pool
Kentington Resort swimming pool

Qikong Waterfall 七孔瀑布

Qikong means 7 holes, so the best translation would be “7 Pools Waterfall”. As the name implies, you’ll pass 7 “pools” as you follow the stream. Depending on the season and the amount of rain that fell in the area in the previous days, the depth of the pools and the size of the waterfalls will vary.

The best pool is by far the first one, reached after about 20 minutes of light hiking from the parking lot – which cost 20NT$ per vehicle. You can jump in the pool from 4-5 feet high above in the jungle, like Tarzan, and there’s a nice spot by the lip of the fall where you can rest and contemplate the thick forest and listen to the birds. Watch out for snakes along this trail.

Qikong Waterfall Kenting
Hike to Qikong Waterfall
stars night sky taiwan
Watch the stars on a clear night.

Jialeshui 佳樂水

Jialeshui needs no introduction, but I’ll still tell you about it. Jialeshui is mostly popular with surfers, as its vast beach has some of the best waves on the island. For people who don’t surf, there’s other stuff to see and do as well, such as a nice suspended bridge, a waterfall, kayaking, as well as  restaurants, cafes, and B&Bs.

visit Jialeshui kenting taiwan
Go for a dip in the ocean at Jialeshui.
deep south east coast of taiwan
Witness local art along the blue coastline of the “deep southeast”.
Paiwan aboriginal tribal culture taiwan
Learn about the Paiwan aboriginal tribal culture.
taiwan old house
Check out the old houses in Manzhou Village
taiwan water buffalo
Water buffalo at Nanren Village by the East Coast
japanese shrine in gaoshi 高士
Gaoshi Shrine, lost in the mountains of Manzhou
Nanren Fishing Village in Jiupeng
Nanren Fishing Village

Restaurants / Food / Drinks

At the big tree, in downtown Manzhou, there’s a bunch of little local restaurants that offer traditional Chinese and Taiwanese dishes at very affordable prices. You can get anything from dumplings, beef noodle soup, seafood, big plates of veggies, and beer. Just walk around and see what’s on display. Unfortunately, few places have English menus.

There is a Vietnamese place around the corner, which has quite a few good dishes. My personal favorites are the Wonton soup, fried rice, and deep fried spring rolls.

If you feel adventurous, you should try stinky tofu at #14 Wenhua Road, 2 minutes away from the big tree by scooter. The stinky tofu here is one of the best I’ve ever had in my life. The individual hot pots are also super delicious and hard to beat value-wise. Whatever you eat here, make sure to wash it down with a can of Taiwan Beer!

Stinky tofu night with friends!

Fruit Juice Bar

Simply the best juice bar in the whole Kenting area! The fruit are not certified organic, but the owner lady told my wife (actually tells her every time) that her fruit are grown locally, some even on her own land, and they have absolutely no pesticide, zero chemical / GMO stuff done to them.

The juices are AMAZING! You can make your own mix or you can order what’s on the menu (Chinese only). She’ll ask you if you want to add ginger to your juice… I say go for it. It’s good for the liver! Enjoy!

This juice bar is just to the right (across the street) from the big tree when you come from 7-11.  Address: #2-1 Zhongzheng Road, Manzhou Township

Juice bar manzhou
Juice Bar in Manzhou, near the big tree

Nice Cafe in Manzhou?

Over the years, one topic that’s been coming back in conversations with local friends about Manzhou, was the lack of a proper cafe. Up until 2021, the only two places to get coffee around here were 7-11 and Family Mart. But then 2021 brought us a nice little surprise…

manzhou cafe
Manzhou’s best iced latte! Perfect on a hot summer day.

This cafe has no English name, but if you want to search it, just copy and paste this: 收假症候群. The Americano is not the strongest, but you can tell that beans have been roasted, stored, and brewed properly. The latte is sublime, and the iced latte is even better, especially on a steamy summer day.

cafe in manzhou

The space at 收假症候群 cafe is modern, clean, and conductive to long stretches of reading, studying, or working on your laptop. By far the #1 spot in Manzhou to sit and relax indoor. Food is supposed to be good, from what I’ve heard, but I’ve never had it as I usually cook home when I’m in the hood. Burgers and dessert is what’s on the menu here, apart from coffee, obviously. Awesome addition to the village. Great spot. Definitely recommended. Check it out. Find it here.


Accommodation in Manzhou

Hotels, guesthouses / B&B in Manzhou tend to not be as busy as their counterparts in Kenting Village and Hengchun, because they are further away from the nightlife that so many tourists expect to enjoy here. There are some very good options in both Manzhou village and Jialeshui.

My top pick in Manzhou is Wild East Guesthouse, an amazing rustic country house villa located in a quiet part of the national park. I have stayed there with my wife Ruby, and we had the most amazing experience! We had the whole place to ourselves and could use the living room, kitchen, front yard and hot tub without being disturbed. It’s the only such guesthouse in Kenting National Park where you can get the entire place, such a massive and comfortable space, to yourself, for such low price. Check it out and book it in advance if it’s still available.

Wild East Guesthouse Kenting Hot Tub
Wild East Guesthouse in Manzhou

Check hotel deals and make a reservation right from this site, use the following form:

Get Directions

Add Waypoint
show options hide options
Print directions Reset directions
Fetching directions......
Reset directions
Print directions

Related Articles

  • Travel from Taipei to Kenting
  • Surfing in Taiwan
  • Hengchun Travel Guide
  • Paiwan Aborigines of Taiwan
  • Sail Rock
  • Houwan (Back Bay)
  • Xiaowan (Little Bay)
  • Fengchuisha Viewpoint 
  • Mudan River

Return to Homepage

Filed Under: South Taiwan Tagged With: Kenting, Manzhou, Pingtung County

Back to Top

Primary Sidebar

Hello, I’m Ugo

ugo taiwanese secrets websiteI’m the weirdo behind this site. I’ve been living in Taiwan since 2000, so basically I’ve spent half my life here. I have a big passion for everything Formosa and I’ve been working on this website since 2008 to share the beauty of Taiwan with the world! Read more about me.

pizza rock taiwan logo
Read about my precious baby: Pizza Rock, a company I started in 2011.

Browse by Topic

Attraction Beaches Cafe Changhua Chiayi Cultural Destination Culture Directory Drinking Festival Food Guesthouse Hiking Hot-Spring Hotel Hsinchu Hualien Itinerary Kaohsiung Kenting Manzhou Miaoli Mountains Nantou National Park Nature New Taipei City Nightlife Orchid Island Outdoor Pingtung Pingtung County Restaurant Seaside Shopping Surfing Taichung Tainan Taipei Taitung Taoyuan Taroko Temple Transportation Yilan

Categories

  • Accommodation
  • Accommodation in Taipei
  • Ancient Chinese Things
  • Central Taiwan
  • Chinese Culture
  • East Taiwan
  • Facts About Taiwan
  • Living
  • North Taiwan
  • Pictures of Taiwan
  • Pizza Rock
  • South Taiwan
  • Studying Chinese
  • Taichung
  • Taipei
  • Taiwanese Culture
  • The Islands
  • Travel Info
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • Contact Me
  • Important Links!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright© 2023·Taiwanese Secrets

 

Loading Comments...