A Dongshan countryside guide
Sanqi Beauty Trail: rice seasons, Fengzun Temple parking and photo stops
Sanqi is not golden all year. Check the farming season, start at Fengzun Temple, and stay on public farm roads for views of the S-curves, rice fields and mountains.
Last updated June 20, 2026
Know this before your first visit
- Official name
- Dongshan Sanqi Beauty Trail, also known as Yilan's Brown Boulevard.
- Scenery
- Field colour follows the rice cycle and is not golden year-round.
- Time to allow
- Allow about 30–45 minutes for a photo stop or 60–90 minutes for a walk or short ride.
- Navigation
- For general parking and toilets, navigate to Fengzun Temple first and follow signs on arrival.
- Access
- The official listing says open all day, but daylight visits are safer and more useful.
- Setting
- These are working rural roads. Stay on roads, yield to farm vehicles and keep out of fields and bunds.
Crop conditions, events and traffic controls can change. Check recent notices and signs before entering the area.
What the seasons can look like
Treat field colour as farming progress, not a fixed calendar. Planting, weather and harvest dates all change the view.
Green rice in spring
After planting and during early growth, expect reflective paddies, pale seedlings and increasingly deep green leaves.
Turning yellow and gold
This is usually concentrated from late spring into early summer, but timing changes with planting, weather and harvest.
After harvest
Fields may show straw, bare soil, fallow ground or event setup—a different landscape from golden rice.
Painted rice is annual and temporary
It appears only when announced for that year, normally until harvest; the design and location can also change.
Choose one of two simple visits
30–45 minutes photo walk
Best for a short stop, a first visit or a group that prefers minimal walking.
- Park at Fengzun Temple first
- Check signs and farming movements
- Use a clearly open, safe viewpoint
- Take a short walk along public roads
- Turn back according to daylight and energy
60–90 minutes walk or short ride
See the scale of the roads, fields and mountains without treating farmland as a recreation area.
- Start at Fengzun Temple
- Move slowly along public farm roads
- View the S-curves from safe positions
- Keep out of fields and leave room for farm vehicles
- Turn back for weather, daylight or tiredness
For a longer Dongshan River ride, use the dedicated cycling guide instead of counting that mileage as part of Sanqi. Read the Dongshan River bike guide
Some years include bookable water activities. Check that year's notice for dates, ages, prices and water conditions.
Three reliable viewpoints
Open field views near Fengzun Temple
The temple is an easy landmark. Nearby elevated viewing space helps you understand the fields and road before choosing how far to go.
Good for an overview; skip stairs if they do not suit your group.
The public S-curving farm road
The official introduction describes about 2 kilometers with 9 S-curves. Keep the road clear while taking photos.
Shoot from a safe road edge and do not linger in the middle of a bend.
Roadside rice fields and mountains
The open plain layers farm roads, paddies, villages and distant mountains; its colours change with the crop cycle.
Use public roads or clearly open space; do not step into a field for an angle.
Navigation, parking and location
The attraction location and recommended parking landmark use different addresses. Distinguishing them makes a first visit easier.
Official Sanqi Beauty Trail location
No. 395, Sande Road, Dongshan Township, Yilan County. This POI is not a parking entrance or the centre of every S-curve.
Fengzun Temple navigation point
No. 77, Sanfeng Road, Dongshan Township, Yilan County. The current walking route between the two POIs is about 170 meters or 2 minutes; follow signs on arrival.
Parking and toilets
The official Fengzun Temple listing includes parking and toilets. Do not assume every farm road allows parking or reuse temporary event rules.
A simple first-visit order
- 1
Arrive at Fengzun Temple
- 2
Check signs and farming restrictions
- 3
Walk or ride a short section of public road
- 4
Return to Fengzun Temple
Field etiquette, families and weather
Remember that this is a working farming area
Photogenic paddies are also private land and active production space. Farming and safety come before photos.
- Stay on public roads
- Do not enter rice fields
- Do not use field bunds as paths
- Do not touch rice plants
- Yield to farm vehicles
- Take all rubbish away
People and weather
- Keep children close beside roads.
- Older visitors, strollers and people with limited mobility can use level roadside views and skip stairs.
- In summer, bring sun protection and water and watch for afternoon storms; shorten the visit on wet roads.
Drone use requires separate checks of aviation rules, restricted airspace, private land and event controls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sanqi Beauty Trail golden all year?
No. Field colour changes through planting, growth, ripening and harvest. Gold usually lasts only for a period before harvest.
Is painted rice available all year?
No. It is installed only when announced for a given year and normally lasts until harvest; the design and location may change.
How can I check the current field view?
Check recent Yilan tourism, Dongshan Township or event notices. Without a recent authoritative update, do not assume a particular colour.
Should I navigate to Sanqi or Fengzun Temple?
Use Sanqi to view the attraction location. For a first drive, navigate to Fengzun Temple and then follow local signs on foot.
Are there parking and toilets?
The official Fengzun Temple listing includes both. Availability, capacity and access depend on the site; never treat a farm road as a parking bay.
Is there an admission fee?
Sanqi is a public rural road and the Dongshan tourism page lists free entry. Rentals, events and other services are separate.
Does it suit children, older people or bicycles?
Short walks and rides are possible, but farm vehicles still use the road. Supervise children and choose level areas for limited mobility.
Can I enter the fields or walk on bunds?
No, unless a section is explicitly opened on site. Stay on public roads and open facilities; do not enter fields, use bunds or touch rice.
Nearby plans and places to stay
Dongshan River Bike Trail
For a longer riverside ride, check the dedicated guide for distance and connections.
Read the full guideDongshan River Ecoark
Pair field photography with a separate riverside walk for a relaxed outing.
Read the full guideMeihua Lake
Add a lake loop or cycle only if weather and energy allow.
Read the full guideTake Dongshan slowly
Keep seasonal fields in a flexible plan
Rice conditions are not a scheduled show. Keep an alternative stop so harvest or rain does not force the day.