‘Mingshan Forest Resort’, also known as the ‘Monster Village Theme Hotel’, is situated in the country’s largest forest cultivation area, adjacent to the Xitou Nature Education Area. Xitou is the source of the Beishi River within Lugu Township and is one of the experimental forests managed by the College of Biological Resources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University. Due to the influence of the terrain and environment, it has formed a unique atmospheric landscape, shrouded in mist and fog throughout the year. The climate is cool, and the surrounding area is filled with coniferous forests, bamboo groves, ginkgo groves and red cypress trees, creating a spooky, ghostly atmosphere that perfectly suits the setting of the Monster Village. In addition to providing convenient access for visitors to explore the Monster Village, the surrounding area boasts numerous natural attractions, making it the perfect choice for those who enjoy exploring the countryside. Guests can also choose from various cycling routes to visit nearby attractions such as Sanlinxi, Shima Park, the Changyuan Canal Ecological Trail and Neihu Forest Primary School.
Hotel Appearance and Facilities
The ‘Monster Village’ covers an area of approximately 7,800 ping. Surrounded by the sounds of birdsong and the scent of flowers, it blends seamlessly with the forest, offering a rich blend of local folk culture and Japanese-style charm. Upon entering the welcome hall, visitors are greeted by numerous portraits and decorations of yokai, as well as information about Yokai Village. The most intriguing feature is the smiling yokai clock hanging above the reception desk, whilst the art exhibition area displays a collection of sculptures of deities and Buddhas. Hotel guests are provided with complimentary admission tickets to Matsubayashi Town Yokai Village. Throughout the village, you will encounter ‘villagers’ dressed in traditional Japanese attire and a variety of whimsical, quirky yokai statues. In the evening, red lanterns are lit, allowing overnight guests to experience an unforgettable atmosphere of the supernatural.
Monster Village features a wide range of attractions suitable for guests of all ages. These include a children’s playroom, gardens, an arcade, private KTV rooms, a tea-tasting area, a spa, swimming facilities and a FamilyMart convenience store, as well as speciality shops selling local souvenirs and gifts, stalls selling local snacks, a shopping street and folk cultural performances. and on weekends, street performers put on live shows.
Room Facilities and Hygiene
‘Monster Village’ features over 20 forest cottages, each with its own unique style. Even in the corridors on the guest floors, one can already spot numerous thoughtfully designed monster-themed decorations. This time, we stayed in Room 2203, an escape room-themed room called ‘The Mystery of the Night Forest’. Guests must solve a series of puzzles to unlock the treasure chest inside the room. It’s great fun but not easy; I’ve heard that so far, only one person has managed to solve it before 7 am.
The rooms at ‘Monster Village’ are simply furnished but thoughtfully designed, with every detail in keeping with the Monster Forest theme—children are sure to love it. The rooms are spacious, comprising a living area, bedroom and bathroom, with the walls adorned with charming monster motifs.
The main light in the living room is shaped like a cloud, whilst the sofa resembles a wooden camping cabin; it’s a bit narrow, making it more suitable for children, and there are some wooden-style cushions inside.
There is a small hammock next to the sofa. The facilities are comprehensive: free Wi-Fi, a large flat-screen TV and an electric kettle are all provided as standard. However, in addition to the usual instant coffee, guests are offered the local speciality ‘Banzan Yokei Soup’, and the hotel uses ‘reverse osmosis mountain spring water’ that is safe to drink straight from the tap. The mugs and coasters on the coffee table are printed with cute yokai designs, and a specially designed ‘Yokai Newsletter’ is provided to keep guests up to date with the latest hotel news.
The bedroom has two comfortable, large beds. As the theme is ‘night’, the lighting is rather subdued, with only two spotlights on the wall to set the mood.
The bathroom has a slightly industrial feel to it, with separate wet and dry areas and a shower cubicle. Although the shower gel and shampoo aren’t the sort of high-end imported brands, they’re made from pure, natural mugwort and have a lovely fragrance. The bath towels and other toiletries are even printed with yokai designs! If you fancy these thoughtfully designed yokai-themed items, do pop down to the boutique on the ground floor to pick some up.
The complimentary all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet features authentic Taiwanese cuisine.
Accessibility
Guests at ‘Monster Village’ can book the hotel shuttle service for a return journey between the ‘Monster Village’ themed hotel and Taichung Wuri High-Speed Rail Station; the journey takes approximately 1.5 hours each way. Alternatively, guests may take the High-Speed Rail and then transfer to the sightseeing shuttle bus, or take a direct coach to Xitou Station. The journey from the Zhushan Interchange on the Central Taiwan Expressway to Xitou takes just 30 minutes, and guests may park their cars within the park.
The hotel is just a ten-minute walk from the Xitou Nature Education Area. There are numerous nearby attractions: the Shanlinxi Recreation Area, featuring the picturesque University Pond, the Xitou Red Cypress Sacred Tree, and a 180-metre-long, seven-storey-high skywalk. You can also take an ecological stroll through the Forget-Worry Forest and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee. Alongside County Road 151, which leads to the Mingshan Forest Lodge, lies the beautiful Neihu Primary School, a small forest ecology school housed in a wooden Japanese-style building. You can also visit the Swan Lake Camellia Garden to admire the colourful camellias and take a stroll through the Moso bamboo grove.
Room Rates
Below are some of the room types and nightly rates for your reference.
Building: Main Building
Deluxe Double Room (2 single beds) NT$5,600 (HK$1,426)
Triple Room (2 double beds) NT$6,200 (HK$1,580)
Quadruple room (two double beds) NT$6,800 (HK$1,732)
Themed rooms
Twin Room (2 single beds) NT$6,200 (HK$1,580)
Triple Room (2 double beds) NT$7,200 (HK$1,833)
Quadruple room (two double beds) NT$8,200 (HK$2,088)
Mountain View 4-person Room (2 double beds)/6-person Room (3 double beds) NT$9,200 (HK$2,342)
Property type: Forest Villa Area
Qingxi Pavilion
1 x Twin Room – 1 double bed (2nd floor) no living room (semi-detached log cabin) NT$5,600 (HK$1,426)
1 x 4-person room – 2 double beds (2nd floor) no living room (semi-detached log cabin) NT$6,800 (HK$1,732)
2 twin-bed rooms*2 – 2 single beds (2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1st floor) NT$11,200 (HK$2,852)
Hongbin Guesthouse: 1 x 4-person room (1st floor) + 2 x 4-person rooms (2nd floor) – two double beds, no living room (joined log cabins) NT$6,800 per room (HKD 1,731)
2 twin-bed rooms*2 – 2 single beds (2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1st floor) NT$11,200 per room (HKD 2,852)
‘Dilu Pavilion’ or ‘Tanxi Cottage’ – 1 double room* (1 bedroom, 1 living room) – NT$6,200 per unit (HKD 1,578)
Youchao Villa – Triple Room (1 double bed and 1 single bed, 1 bedroom and 1 living room) (2 villas available) NT$6,800 per villa (HK$1,731)
Long Cui Zhai – 2 twin-bed rooms*2 – 2 single beds (2 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$11,200 (HK$2,852)
Changhuai Lu: 1 x twin room + 1 x triple room – 2 children / 1 adult and 1 child (2 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$11,800 (HKD 3,004)
The Wind-Facing Pavilion
1 x twin room + 1 x quadruple room – 1 double bed or 2 single beds (2 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$12,400 (HK$3,158)
Jiying Inn: 1 twin room + 2 quad rooms – 1 double bed / 2 single beds (3 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$19,200 (HKD 4,894)
Xiaofeng Pavilion – 3 x 4-person rooms (3 bedrooms, 1 living room) – 2 double beds NT$20,400 (HK$5,193)
Yongyue Lou – 1 double room* (1 bedroom, 1 living room) NT$7,200 (HK$1,833)
1 x 4-person room – 2 double beds (1 bedroom, 1 living room) NT$9,200 (HK$2,343)
Cuiyuan No. 1 – 2 double rooms* – 1 double bed (1st floor) NT$7,200 per room (HK$1,833)
1 x 4-person room – 2 double beds (1 bedroom, 1 living room, 2nd floor) NT$9,200 (HK$2,343)
Cuiyuan Double Room: 2 rooms for 4 people each – 2 double beds (1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1st floor) NT$9,200 per room (HK$2,343)
1 x 4-person room – 2 double beds (1 bedroom, 1 living room, 2nd floor) NT$9,200 (HK$2,343)
Forget-the-World Retreat: 2 x 3-person rooms – 1 double bed and 1 single bed (2 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$16,400 (HK$4,175)
Xitou Hotel: 2 four-person rooms – 2 double beds (2 bedrooms, 1 living room) NT$18,400 (HK$4,685)
1 x 4-person room – 2 double beds (1 bedroom, 1 living room) NT$9,200 (HK$2,343)
*All prices above are exclusive of tax; room rates are based on the standard number of guests and include breakfast vouchers.
‘Monster Village Theme Hotel’
Address: No. 2-3, Xingchan Road, Neihu Village, Lugu Township, Nantou County, Taiwan, Xitou Nature Education Park
Tel: +886 4 9261 2121
Website: www.mingshan.com.tw/
Traffic :
Shuttle bus service between the Yao-Kai Village Theme Hotel (lobby) and Taichung Wuri High-Speed Rail Station (Exit 6). Departs from the hotel at 11:30 and from Taichung Wuri High-Speed Rail Station at 13:00.(Guests must complete their booking arrangements at the time of reservation; the journey takes approximately 1.5 hours)
High-speed rail:
Alight at Taichung High-Speed Rail Station. Upon exiting the station, take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Xitou Line. (Full fare: NT$141.50; Concessionary fare: NT$91)
Passenger transport:
Yuanlin Bus Service – You can reach your destination by taking a bus bound for Shanlinxi from Taichung, Nantou or Zhushan.
U-Bus: Take a bus bound for Zhushan from the Minquan West Road station in Taipei and alight at Xitou station.
By car:
Heading north: Zhongli-Ershih-Gaoshan Expressway → Exit at Zhushan Interchange → Take Provincial Highway 3 towards Zhushan → At Yanping, join County Road 151 → Mingshan Forest Lodge
Heading south: Zhongshan Expressway → Exit at Wangtian Interchange → Follow Provincial Highway 14 → At Fenyuan and Caotun, join Provincial Highway 3 → Caotun → Nangang Industrial Park → Nantou → Minjian → Minzhu Bridge → Head towards Zhushan → At Yanping, join County Road 151 → Mingshan Forest Lodge
Taiwan Tour 2.0 Acknowledgement: (Public Sector, Eva Airways, Taiwan Tour allies)
Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau, Taiwan Tourism Bureau International Section, Tourism Bureau Hong Kong Office, TAT Shanghai Office, Nantou County Government, Eva Airways, Taiwan High Speed Rail, Chia-Chi International Travel Service, Seng Han Travel Service, Taipei City Hotel, Beitou Atami Hotel, Jingsawa Hotel in Sun Moon Lake, Hetian Hotel in Penghu, Hipton Digital Co. Clear Mountain Villa, Nantou County Tourism Industry Alliance Association, Nantou County Hotel Association, Nantou County B&B Tourism Association, Nantou County Chingjing Tourism Association, Nantou County Taiji Beauty Land Development Association, Nantou County Taomee Leisure Agricultural Area Promotion Association.
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