Mudan Township is located in the southern part of Taiwan, in the mountains of Pingtung County. Mudan makes for a nice, short day-trip from Kenting.
Mudan is famous for nothing. It’s not really talked about in travel guides, and you won’t hear about it either from other travelers. That’s because there’s not much to do there, and so most people just drive by without even stopping for a pee. That’s exactly why I love this place – there’s nobody here!
Well actually, there’s another reason why we (my friends and I) love Mudan: the river!
There’s a reservoir here, which is called, you guessed right: Mudan Reservoir. At the back of the reservoir, at the source (north), there is a very pretty and clean river where locals go swimming in the summer months, when the water level is higher.
To get to the river, you must take a forest road, which is located about 400 meters past the bridge, on the western side of the reservoir.
From the main road (#199) it takes about 20 minutes by car or scooter to get to a spot where you can park. Along the way, you’ll get breathtaking views over the reservoir. The comment I’ve heard the most when bringing friends here is: “It doesn’t look like it’s in Taiwan, this could be in Canada.”
There’s a couple of flat spots along the river where you could set up a tent or get a BBQ going, but beware that flash floods are always a possibility after a big rain.
Always make sure to check the weather before heading to any river in Taiwan, and postpone your trip if rain is on the forecast.
Bring Chaco-type sandals, or river-tracing footwear, to be able to walk safely in or along the river. Some rocks are unstable or slippery, and flip-flops are a bad idea.