Siraya National Scenic Area Headquarters

Guantian Dist. is in the heart of Tainan City, and has long since made a name for itself nationwide as Taiwan's top producer of water chestnuts. Every September and October is the peak season for water chestnuts in Taiwan, and all over Guantian you'll see farmers out collecting their harvest, rowing their boats out or wearing full-body wet weather gear out amidst the fields, turning leaf after leaf to collect chestnuts in a demonstration of pastoral elegance. The sight of the farmers' boats in the fields has become renowned as one of the must-see sights of southern Taiwan. Every year, this old-fashioned location on the banks of Hulupi is home to the Guantian Water Chestnut Festival, bringing together the local chestnut industry and cultural activities, including lion dances, dragon dances, concerts, special sales and tasting sessions for water chestnuts, opportunities to go water chestnut picking, and folk art performances. The overall festival is vibrant and bustling; sample the delicacy that is local water chestnuts, enjoy the sights and scents of Guantian, investigate the local Aboriginal culture, plant some chestnuts of your own—it's an entirely satisfying, utterly romantic experience. If you want to experience the unique water chestnut-oriented style of Guantian, why not make the most of the opportunity this festival presents?