The pale pink blossoms of the cassia barkeriana, interwoven with hot pink calyxes, have earned it the nickname "Pink Shower Tree." With a blooming period of 45 days, it has recently become a popular attraction for flower viewing. The pink shower trees in Ershui are located in the Yuanquan section of the Ershui Bikeway, adjacent to the railroad track of the Taiwan Railways Jiji Line, and are comparable to the cherry blossoms along the Alishan railroad track. During the blooming season, a large number of tourists come to admire the flowers, waiting for the breathtaking sight when the small train meets the blooming flowers on the bend.
Flowering period: about the end of March to mid-April (daily flowering period and flowering conditions depend on the climate)
The cassia barkeriana is native to Thailand and Southeast Asia. Also known as the Thai Sakura, it belongs to the Family Caesalpiniaceae and the genus Cassia, similar to its close relatives, such as the Golden Shower Tree and Siamese Senna. Its full blooms, in pale pink and hot pink colors, depict a showy and amazing picture.
The pink shower trees in Ershui are in the Yuanquan section of County Road 152 in Ershui Township, Changhua County. From the Yuanquan Train Station (源泉車站) heading east to the Yuanquan Police Station, approximately 500 meters, there are about 60 trees in total. They bloom magnificently every March and April, forming a dreamy sea of flowers. This section is adjacent to the railroad track of the Taiwan Railways Jiji Line, with an S-shaped bend, making it a prime spot for flower viewers to wait and watch the train enter the flowery scene.
The railroad track adjacent to the bikeway has a tourist train running between Changhua Ershui and Nantou Checheng every hour, earning it the name "Ershui Pink Shower Tree Railway (二水花旗木鐵道)," and has become a flower viewing hotspot. The cassia barkeriana is resistant to sunlight and rain and has a long blooming period, attracting many tourists every year. The bikeway's railings have the Jiji train schedule posted, making it easy to plan the best times to enjoy the scenery. The train takes 1 to 2 minutes from the Yuanquan Train Station to reach the prime bend.
In addition to the bikeway where tourists stand under the flowers to get a close-up view of the train cornering, another highly recommended viewing spot by netizens is the cement open space behind the big rock on the opposite side of the Yuanquan Police Station. This spot offers a panoramic view that encompasses paddy fields, tracks, trains, and a row of pink shower trees.
Photography／邱家增
Photography／邱家增
Ershui Township is the origin of the Babao Irrigation Canal (八堡圳) and home to the unique 'Water Running Festival (跑水節)'. Ershui is also the starting point of the Taiwan Railways Jiji Line, boasting rich cultural and natural landscapes. The Ershui Bikeway starts from Ershui Train Station and features abundant scenic spots along the way, including Yuanquan Train Station, Mr. Lin Temple, Ershui Pink Shower Tree Railway, Yuanquan Police Station, Formosan Rock Macaque Reserve, and the source of the Babao Irrigation Canal, spanning approximately 7 kilometers in parallel with the railway.
Photography／Instagram @molly888666
Photography／Instagram @molly888666
In addition, tourists can enjoy local culinary delights such as Da Ming Fried Noodles (火燒麵), pan-fried buns (水煎包), and Sishen soup (four herbals soup, 四神湯) in the famous Ershui Old Street, which is renowned for its stone-carved ink slabs. During the flowering season, there is a farmers’ market selling agricultural products and various snacks along the County Road 152 and weekend concerts are held at the square next to the Yuanquan Police Station.
To admire the flowers, tourists can drive with the navigation set to 'Ershui Pink Shower Tree Railway', and free parking spaces are available along the way. For the ones who travel by train, get off at Tianzhong or Ershui Train Station and transfer to the Jiji Line towards Checheng, with a destination of Yuanquan Train Station in about 1.5 hours, then walk for about 15 minutes. Bicycles are available for rent in front of Ershui Train Station. It takes about 16 minutes to ride along the Ershui Bikeway to the Yuanquan Police Station. Additionally, “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Tianzhong Zhushan Route (Taiwan Tourist Shuttle－跑水求財線)” is another option to reach the flower viewing spot directly by getting off at the Yuanquan Police Station.
