Traveling to Mr. Brown Avenue 伯朗大道 in Chishang 池上, Taitung 台東

A Day Trip To Chishang

For such a small island, Taiwan has a bit of everything. From the emerald rice paddies of Brown Avenue in Taitung to the lively markets and urban sprawl of Taipei. You can travel from the heart of a city out to some of the most remote mountain tops in just a matter of hours.

Situated on the coast, Taitung is like many of the major commercial hubs in Taiwan. Immaculate city streets become filled with the steam from food stalls that line the night markets. Temples peak out from behind concrete flats and draped power lines. Lively bars and restaurants keep the city lit well into the wee hours of the morning.

No matter how much the energy of the city will inspire you to wander the back alleys and explore the deep recesses of each and every neighborhood. You will soon be longing for the countryside. Unlike Taipei or Kaohsiung, Taitung is a major city with the soul of a village. A mere 15-minute train ride will take you to the heart of Taiwan’s farmland. The most famous of these rural villages being Chishang (池上).

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How To Get To Chishang From Taitung

Being such a small country with a model train system, doing a day trip from Taitung to Chishang is much easier than you would think. From Taitung, the cheapest ticket will cost you only 61 NTD (2 USD) for a 45-minute ride to Chishang. After watching the lush rice paddies and low rolling mountains pass by your window, you will finally have the chance to venture out into the fields yourself.

The second you step foot outside of the train station, you will find tons of bicycle shops lining the streets. From your typical 2-wheelers to the comical 4 person bikes, you will have your choice as to how to go about exploring Chishang. Your average bicycle, however, should cost no more than 100 NTD (3.30 USD) for a day. Being home to some of the best bike trails in all of Taiwan, rental a cycle is the preferred way to explore the countryside.

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Cycling Through The Paddies

Although the rice fields of Chishang are probably the most famous paddies on the entire island of Taiwan, it is easy to forget that these farms are so much more than just a charming backdrop for tourists. With its vast stretches of flat land and water trickling through the fields, Chishang is known throughout Taiwan for its delicious and quality rice.

While riding down the winding roads in the countryside, your concrete path literally cuts through an ocean of green stalks. As the wind blows through the air, it creates waves through the emerald sea. It is common that you will find local farmers hard at work tending to their fields while you are busy trying to capture these unexplainable moments on film. But the beauty of Chishang is best experienced without the hindrance of a camera.

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Where To Go In Chishang

After you have secured your bicycle and you begin pedaling down the road. You may be wondering where exactly you will be heading. The main attraction in Chishang is the rice fields, but you obviously don’t want to be left cycling in circles. There are several spots in the surrounding countryside you will want to be sure to check out while on your cycling tour. But like most trips, the journey is more important than the destination.

Nearby the town of Chirshang, you will find Xiangfu Temple (鄉福德宮). A Daoist temple completely surrounded by rice fields. Another popular spot is the Dapo Pond (大坡池), but this glorified hole filled with water is not what brought you to Chishang. Directly south of the town you will come across some the most breathtaking views in all of Taiwan. These breathtaking scenes are best found at the iconic Mr. Brown Avenue.

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Mr. Brown Avanue

Being a paradise on earth, with the kinds ambiance which makes you feel as if the green fields and winding paths are leading you to the pearly gates of heaven. The name: Mr. Brown Avanue, seems very unfitting for this idyllic sanctuary. But if it wasn’t for the Mr. Brown coffee company, you probably would have never heard of Chishang and its gorgeous rice paddies.

Decades ago,  Mr. Brown Coffee brought Chishang into the spotlight with a series of commercials shot in the rice paddies. Taiwanese born Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro further brought fame to the farmland with his own commercial. Since then, thousands of tourists have made the pilgrimage to Brown Boulevard to follow in the footsteps of the actor. There is even a small coffee pot placed under a tree, immortalizing Mr. Brown’s presence in Chishang. 

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An Escape To The Country

As beautiful as riding through the rice fields is, there is not much to keep you in Chishang for more than one day. Even staying overnight may be overkill for this small village nestled into the countryside. Despite being well on the tourist trail in Taiwan, you will be able to pedal your way from the tour groups cycling down the winding roads in herds. The only place where you will truly feel the crowds is the mass of people surrounding Takeshi Kaneshiro’s coffee pot.

While over-tourism and commercialism continues to sink its teeth in nearly every corner of the Chinese mainland, Taiwan has managed to maintain a sense of what makes places like Chishang and Mr. Brown Boulavard magical. Peace and tranquility is something that can be easily lost with crowds and money. But for now and hopefully forever, the only sounds that can be heard among the rice paddies is the wind singing through the green fields.