Hsinchu County’s Qalang Smangus achieves outstanding results yet again! Qalang Smangus distinguished itself among 191 sightseeing spots nationwide in the 2nd Tourism Spotlight Awards of the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, where it was not only selected as one of the Top 30 Tourism Spotlights in Taiwan, but was even awarded the highest honor: Best International Recommendation. This shows that the charm of this indigenous village has caught the attention of international tourists. Additionally, Emei Lake was also selected as one of the Tourism 100 Spotlights for 2026 to 2027, making it the new hot search term for Hsinchu County tourism.
The award ceremony was held by the Tourism Administration, MOTC. Chang Chi-Ming, Deputy Director of the Hsinchu County Transportation Department, represented the county in receiving the award. He expressed that Qalang Smangus blends Atayal culture, giant tree clusters, and the sustainable spirit of a tribal village. It is a secret tribal boundary with a combination of natural splendor and rich culture seldom seen in Taiwan. In recent years, Emei Lake has combined the renovated lakeside trail system with the popularity of green energy yachts, becoming a popular scenic spot sought out by visitors for its slow pace.
Located in Jinashi Township, Qalang Smangus is often called “God’s Village”. It has trails winding through groves of divine trees and the atmosphere of a secluded mountain forest, making it a sacred place in the hearts of many mountaineering and hiking enthusiasts. In recent years, the village has promoted sustainable tourism and cultural guided tours, allowing tourists to understand the Atayal culture and natural ecology in-depth, revealing the village’s resilience and innovation in tourism. Emei Lake, meanwhile, is famous for its majestic lake and mountain vistas and lakeside trail system. The lakeside Maitreya bronze statue, Fuxing Old Street, and cafes encircling the lake collectively form an image of “slow travel” tourism.
The Transportation Department pointed out that the Hsinchu County Government has actively promoted tourism brands in recent years, with Hsinchu Hiking and Hsinchu Travel as the two core axes connecting mountain forests with local flavor. This year, Hiking Hsinchu adopted the theme of “Pipi Lion’s Exploration Team”, selecting ten mission paths countywide and specially arranging for the sightseeing highlight Qalang Smangus to serve as the year’s “hidden mission” challenge objective, enabling hiking enthusiasts to observe the beauty of this mountain forest. Meanwhile, Hsinchu Travel adopted the concept of “Launch a Journey with Flavor”. In 2025, four brand new itineraries were recommended in Wufeng, Beipu, Zhubei, and Hengshan, which were combined with lodging subsidies to encourage tourists to extend their one-day tours into overnight experiences.
The Transportation Department emphasized that future tourism marketing will continue to promote Tourism 100 Spotlights and focus on sustainable development and co-prosperity of local culture. Through a tourism design integrating the natural environment, Hakka heritage, and aboriginal culture, Hsinchu aims to create a tourism experience with both recreational and educational meaning so that every time tourists come to Hsinchu County, it becomes a meaningful dialogue with the land.