[2025 Cherry Blossom Season] Taiwan, Hsinchu | 2-Day Tour from Hsinchu: Smangus Hiking, Zhenxibao Church & Junjianyan Suspension Bridge | 25% Off on HSR Ticket Add-on | KKday x HSR Combo

We have a great time - 2 days 1 night at Smangus. The hike to the giant trees is a must do and to enjoy the 芬多精. We stay in 雅屋民宿 and the room is very large for the 3 of us. Dinner and Breakfast at 雅屋民宿 are plentiful and very delicious. Our driver 小流氓 is very knowledgeable and caring. We enjoy the short trip and will definitely come back again.

Temperature was cold in the highland, but was also sunny with no rain. The hiking trail to the big trees was quite manageable for beginners. A very refreshing getaway on the whole with friendly tour guide.

The tour guide was very helpful and quick to respond to our questions and requests. It’s clear that they have years of experience in what they are doing. Very happy to sign up this tour and hope to see more international visitors to Taiwan.

I really like this tour. The tour guide and driver are very friendly and enthusiastic. I will choose other tours of KKDAY again.

The following is my personal experience and impressions (2025/2/23-24). I started looking for Simakus itineraries on kkday in mid-October last year. I looked at many hotels and the comments of seniors and finally decided to order Xiong Maji (and found that many people mentioned Xiao Liumang and Elena Team). After ordering, I was looking forward to whether I could experience it myself. Fortunately, I followed them. Also, because I had read most of the comments in advance, I had a basic idea of the subsequent itinerary arrangements. I had a very good impression of our tour leader, Little Rascal. As soon as we got on the bus on the first day, he reminded us in a humorous way that we should take motion sickness medicine in advance. On the way to Simakus, he also explained to us the origin of Jianshi Township, the history of Dayan (Atayal people), and even that Monalu was not a hero. During the commentary process, I was also responsible for driving and reporting the condition of the cars (turtle, hot wheels, goat!!!..., etc.). The communication between these teams added a lot of fun to the ride and I couldn't help but admire the little gangster leader. When we arrived at Simakus (the weather was bad, it was raining), the tour guide informed us halfway and at the Frog Rock parking lot (the last FamilyMart) that it was raining on the mountain and those who didn't bring a raincoat could buy one first to make it more convenient for walking on the trail (this was quite thoughtful). We had about four and a half hours to walk among the giant trees, take photos, etc. Because there are no street lights on many sections of the road from Simakus to Simakus (no typo), and it has rained, for everyone's safety and to avoid traffic jams, it is no problem to set off early when the mountain is open to go down (the tribe's schedule is different from ours on the plain). The itinerary for the second day was more leisurely as everyone mentioned in the comments, so that everyone did not have to walk for two consecutive days. After all, everyone's physical strength is different (the itinerary planning is also different). But the leader Xiao Liugang explained to everyone very carefully about the building materials of Zhenxibao Church, the meaning of the murals (inheritance), the shooting of the sun at the banquet, the flame symbol, and how to distinguish between yellow cypress and red cypress and the identification of the age of the trees. He explained everything in detail so that everyone could have a more in-depth tour instead of just rushing through it. I almost forgot that our little gangster leader was taking photos for everyone seriously, from the usual photos of the church to the difficult ones of reflections in the water. I felt tired just by watching the photo poses. Finally, I have to emphasize that this is a package tour, not a private customized tour!! Because it is a package tour, not everyone will be satisfied, but I personally think it is not bad (after all, I can't walk too many trails XD). Everyone has different needs, you can do more homework and read everyone's comments to find the trip that suits you best.

The overall itinerary and time planning were very comfortable, the experience was very good, and I would like to participate again next time. The tour guide was humorous and interesting, and the explanations of the cultural landscapes along the way were also very interesting. I gained a lot in terms of both the scenery and cultural knowledge. But it is suggested that the lunch box for the day of hiking can be adjusted. It would be better to add more salty food or sandwiches. The other meals were all very fresh and delicious. Even though we didn't get to see the expected cherry blossoms during the Cherry Blossom Festival due to weather conditions, overall, I would recommend this trip to friends who want to go to Simakus. The different natural landscapes are still very beautiful.

The tour guide, Brother Jiang, and the other two brothers are very familiar with the culture of the Simakus and Zhenxibao tribes. The tour guide is very professional and has a sense of humor, making the trip full of joy and knowledge. The minibus drove very steadily and at a moderate speed, so even though it was a mountain road, it didn't feel bumpy. Highly recommended! The Ririchun B&B is comfortable, the proprietress is friendly, the meals are very local, but the amount of meat is a bit insufficient.

The tour guide, Brother Jiang, and the other two brothers are very familiar with the culture of the Simakus and Zhenxibao tribes. The tour guide is very professional and has a sense of humor, making the trip full of joy and knowledge. The minibus drove very steadily and at a moderate speed, so even though it was a mountain road, it didn't feel bumpy. Highly recommended! The Ririchun B&B is comfortable, the proprietress is friendly, and the meals are very local, but the portions are a bit insufficient.

The journey is really long, but seeing the sacred trees and the scenery is worth it. You can also see different scenery on rainy days. Misty forest

The car is very stable and does not cause motion sickness. The time adjustment is very good. The in-depth introduction is very attentive.