Miao-li Tourist Traps

We went zipping up for a day trip and went to a destination called ShangTianHu that V had read about on the net. She was telling me it was lake trail that took about 1 hour to circle around the lake. We walked the trail in about 10 minutes over some muddy boards. Perhaps we did the wrong trail. It was quite an overdeveloped feeling and to call the pond we circled around a lake is a bit of a stretch... false advertising on the net. It DOES have potential but the feeling I got as we passed by food vendors and beeboxes next to the trail was it was a scam... I guess it could have been worse (I have seen worse) but still I was disappointed. Yes there was the old people yelling KTV, bored kids hawking night marketty ball games and target practice stuff with bad 80's english music pounding across the slew. We ate our convienience store bought noodles outdoors and avoided the rotting dangerous looking tables. My pictures dont show any of that. It could be nice, if you can get past the obvious clearcut scars up on the mountain above the lake and all the noise pollution and stray dogs. Perhaps in 5 years if the management there gets their stuff together they will sanitize it a bit better and I will WANT to do the other trail that was there, perhaps I went to the wrong 'lake' and was off base completely but there was no signs for what was up the hill trail and from the information we had from the net there was 2 trails, a woods trail and the 'lake' trail. (which i already complained about) We decided to take a pass on the woods trail and to get back on the road. It is a beautiful area, but the aborigines who run the place need to learn a few things about how to make money without gouging out their souls.

So the best parts of our day actually happened on the road as opposed to the destination. Sigh another trap. But it wasnt TOO bad. I have seen worse places in Taiwan and in other parts of asia, (Thailand in parts can be worse than what we saw Sat.)

Anyways the ride up and down was better than the destination.

Unique Suggestions: Bring your own food.
Find somewhere quiet away from the stalls.
Bring a blanket to sit on.
Consider trying the 'woods' trail which I didnt see. perhaps its a better hike than the 'lake'
The pond is beautiful and the scenery is great from certain angles. You can see the scars of clearcuts in the mountain side above but to the credit of the people there it IS replanted or has some kind of tall grass that is attractive within it.
Drive yourself. I never would take a tour bus in Taiwan if i can help it. Scooting or driving your own car is preferable (scooting is easier to park but less comfy)

Fun Alternatives: Go pick strawberries in Da Hu. Or drink tea at a teahouse you see on the way, or visit a hotspring! There is a trail on the way in called Si-Tan that may be worth checking out...