A Pink Autumn Poem in Changhua: The Blooming Beauty of Beidou’s Floss-Silk Trees
Beidou Riverside Park is a popular spot for viewing floss-silk trees, where two rows of which bloom along the river bank from September to November. The delicate pink color makes the place full of Japanese atmosphere, and brings out the most classic romantic scene in the park together with the yellow or red landscape bridges. After the leisure time of flower viewing, it is recommended to visit the Beidou Old Street not far away to taste not only ba wan, cabbage rice and other delicacies, but also the unique cilantro coffee to challenge the limits of your taste buds. In addition, a hidden great spot of the floss-silk trees is highly recommended, where is plenty of floss-silk trees on the roadside next to the Xiangtian Elementary School in Erlin. Rows and rows of floss-silk trees with low-hanging branches seem to dye the road pink, and the scene in full bloom resembles a Japanese drama.
Additionally, the pink floss-silk tree walkway at Xiangtian Elementary School in Erlin is famed as a “Pink Waterfall,” making it a popular destination for social media influencers and photography lovers seeking the perfect shot.
The pink floss-silk tree, a member of the Bombacoideae family like the red silk-cotton tree (Bombax ceiba), can reach heights of 8 to 15 meters. Its trunk is covered in distinctive conical spines, and when in bloom, it presents a striking spectacle. Large pink blossoms densely cluster along its branches, creating a vivid contrast against the blue sky and white clouds—like an elegant beauty standing tall upon the earth. Native to South America, the pink floss-silk tree is admired not only for its ornamental appeal but also as a symbol of strength and resilience.
In Beidou, Hebin Street leads directly to Beidou Riverside Park. Since its establishment in 1997, the park’s pink floss-silk trees have flourished over two to three decades of careful cultivation and pruning. Now lush and full, their branches cascade gracefully along the riverbank, with fallen blossoms drifting gently downstream—evoking the enchanting image of a cherry blossom-lined waterway. The park stretches along the Dongluo River between Qixing Bridge (七星橋) and Beidou Bridge (北斗橋), where a large number of pink floss-silk trees have been planted, forming one of its most poetic and distinctive features. In a clever nod to the “Big Dipper” constellation—known as “Beidou Qixing” in Chinese—the park features a series of bridges named after its stars, including Phecda Bridge (天璣橋), Dubhe Bridge (天樞橋), Megrez Bridge (天權橋), and Merak Bridge (天璇橋). Each bridge showcases its own unique design and color palette, adding visual variety and playful charm to the riverside landscape.
Stretching 1.5 kilometers along the riverbank, the floss-silk tree walkway is lined with hundreds of flowering trees whose petals drift gently in the autumn breeze, carpeting the ground in soft shades of pink. Strolling along the path is a poetic and dreamlike visual feast, accompanied by the gentle murmur of flowing water and a romantic scene painted by delicate blossoms. Bridges along the way offer perfect spots to pause, take in panoramic views, and capture memorable photos.
The entire riverside greenway is lined with trees and shrubs such as kassod trees, Taiwan golden rain trees, and golden shower trees, blending harmoniously with adjacent vegetable gardens and pastoral scenery to create a picturesque scene. A short walk leads to Beidou Old Street, where visitors can savor renowned local delicacies like the famous Beidou ba wan (meatballs), offering a perfect finale to the flower-viewing journey.
