12hrs – Chiayi Meteor Garden Classic Tour From Taipei

The main draw here is simple: you get to walk through real Meteor Garden filming locations at National Chung Cheng University, then spend time among flowers at Zhong She Flower Garden. I like the drama connection and the chance to see the campus locations instead of only watching them on screen. I also like that the tour adds a garden and a mall lunch stop, so the day is not built around one theme alone.

The catch is the long 12-hour day. The listed visits add up to about four hours, so a large share of the outing is spent getting to and from the stops. That makes this a good choice for serious Meteor Garden fans, but a less compelling pick if you want a relaxed Taipei sightseeing day.

Key points to know before booking

• National Chung Cheng University: Visit the red-brick stadium, College of Liberal Arts, campus fountain, locker area, and library locations linked with Meteor Garden.
• Zhong She Flower Garden: Spend one hour among large flower displays, with admission included.
• Lihpao Outlet Mall: Take a one-hour lunch break, with food and shopping paid separately.
• Named guides: Allan and Johnny have received especially warm praise for attentive help, friendly energy, and keeping the long day moving.
• Small group size: The maximum is 25 people, with an English or Chinese-speaking guide.
• Taipei departure: Meet at Taipei Main Station, exit M3, at 9:00 a.m., then return to the same meeting point.

Why Meteor Garden fans will enjoy this day

Meteor Garden is the heart of this outing. Rather than treating the drama as a vague theme, the tour takes you to National Chung Cheng University, the campus used as the school setting. You can retrace scenes around the red-brick stadium, College of Liberal Arts, fountain, locker area, and library.

That matters if you watched the series closely. A campus visit gives the story a physical setting. You can look at the spaces where Shan Cai and Dao Ming Si’s story unfolded and compare the real setting with the scenes you remember. The appeal is personal and visual, not academic.

I would not book this simply because you like Taiwan dramas in general. The experience is built around one specific show and its romantic storyline. If Meteor Garden was one of your reasons for visiting Taiwan, the stop at the university may be the part of your trip you remember most.

The tour uses an English or Chinese-speaking guide. The available feedback gives two names worth noting: Allan is praised for attentive care, professionalism, and good teamwork with the driver, while Johnny is described as friendly, cheerful, and helpful at the filming sites. Guide assignments can vary, but the format gives you support beyond simply being dropped at campus.

National Chung Cheng University and its filming locations

The university visit lasts about two hours and is the main event. You will see several campus areas connected with the show, including the red-brick stadium, College of Liberal Arts, campus fountain, locker area, and library.

Two hours is a useful amount of time here. A quick photo stop would feel thin for fans who want to identify several locations. This longer visit gives you room to walk between points, take pictures, and let the guide connect the places with the drama.

The university is also a real working campus, not a purpose-built film set. That gives the visit a more authentic feel, but it also means you should not expect every scene to look exactly as it did on television. Buildings, signs, people, weather, and campus activity can change the appearance of a location.

The guide is important at this stop. Without context, a fountain or locker area may look ordinary. With the drama connection explained, the same place becomes meaningful. If you are not familiar with Meteor Garden, the campus will still offer a scenic college setting, but you may get much less from the visit than a dedicated fan.

Bring a phone or camera with enough battery. The tour is designed around recognizable locations and photographs. Since the full day includes several stops, you will want to keep your camera ready without relying on a last-minute search for a charging point.

One hour at Zhong She Flower Garden

Zhong She Flower Garden gives the day a change of mood. After the drama locations, you get one hour among flower displays and open garden scenery. Admission is included, so there is no separate garden ticket to arrange.

This is the most photo-focused portion of the tour. You can expect plenty of opportunities for colorful pictures, family snapshots, and simple garden walks. The setting works well for people who enjoy flowers even if they have no special interest in the television series.

The honest point is that flower gardens vary greatly by season and personal taste. One person may find the displays beautiful, while another may feel the garden is less impressive than other flower parks they have visited. The one-hour limit helps keep the stop from taking over the whole day, but it also means you will not have unlimited time for a slow visit.

I like this addition because it prevents the trip from becoming a single-purpose pilgrimage. You get an outdoor stop with a different visual style, and the ticket is already covered in the tour price. Still, I would treat the garden as a pleasant extra rather than the reason to book.

Lunch and shopping at Lihpao Outlet Mall

The stop at Lihpao Outlet Mall lasts 60 minutes, and lunch is at your own expense. This is a practical pause in the middle of a long day. You can choose your own food instead of being tied to a fixed restaurant or group menu.

The mall setting gives you options, but the supplied information does not name specific restaurants or tell you what meal choices will be available. Plan on using your own money for food, drinks, and any shopping. The tour price covers the garden entrance, not your lunch.

One hour is enough for a straightforward meal if you move promptly. It is not a long shopping visit. If you want to browse carefully, eat slowly, and shop, you may need to choose between those activities.

This stop may be less exciting than the university for fans, but it serves a useful purpose. A long day needs a break, and having a mall stop can be more comfortable than eating at a rushed roadside location. Keep an eye on the meeting time, since the group must continue to the next part of the route.

What the $72 price really covers

At $72 per person, the price is reasonable if you value organized transport, a guide, the flower garden admission, and the Meteor Garden campus visit. The package also includes insurance and a mobile ticket, which keeps the booking process simple.

The value depends heavily on your interest in the drama. For a committed fan, the university access and guided visit can justify the cost. You are paying not just for entry, but for a full-day route from Taipei that would be harder to arrange on your own.

For a casual viewer, the calculation is different. Zhong She Flower Garden and Lihpao Outlet Mall are included in the schedule, but the flower ticket is the only listed attraction admission included. Food, drinks, and personal spending are extra. If your main goal is general sightseeing, you may prefer a tour with more varied attractions and less emphasis on one television series.

The group limit of 25 is a useful middle ground. It is not a private tour, but it is also not an enormous coach group. Your experience may depend on the particular departure and guide, especially during the campus walk and photo stops.

The reality of a 12-hour schedule from Taipei

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. at Taipei Main Station, exit M3, in Zhongzheng District. It ends back at the same meeting point. The return arrangement is convenient, especially if you are staying in Taipei and want a clear start and finish without arranging separate transport.

Although the tour is described as lasting about 12 hours, the listed stop times total about four hours: one hour at Zhong She Flower Garden, one hour at Lihpao Outlet Mall, and two hours at National Chung Cheng University. The remaining time is needed for travel and group movement between Taipei and the stops.

That is the central practical consideration. You should expect a full day, not a short afternoon excursion. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and keep your plans for the evening light. Food and drinks are not included, so bring money for the lunch stop and personal purchases.

The route also means weather matters. The experience requires good weather, particularly because the garden and campus visits take place outdoors. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the same type of alternative or refund applies.

Confirmation is provided at booking. Since the tour is often reserved around 20 days ahead, booking earlier is sensible if your Taiwan dates are fixed, especially if the Meteor Garden visit is a major reason for coming.

Who this tour suits best

This is a strong match for:

• Dedicated Meteor Garden fans who want to see the campus locations in person
• Visitors who prefer a planned day trip over arranging distant stops themselves
• People who enjoy photo opportunities in gardens and on college grounds
• Siblings, couples, or friends looking for a themed shared experience
• Anyone comfortable spending most of a day on a guided outing from Taipei

It is less suitable if you want to stay close to Taipei, avoid a long day, or choose every stop yourself. It may also disappoint you if you expect the flower garden to be the main attraction or if you have never seen Meteor Garden and do not care about its filming locations.

The tour is open to most people, and the provider states that most participants can take part. Still, the schedule involves outdoor walking and a long day away from the city. If you have specific mobility or stamina concerns, check with the provider before booking because detailed accessibility information is not provided.

Small details that can improve the day

Meet at Taipei Main Station, M3, with enough time to find the exact point before the 9:00 a.m. start. Taipei Main Station is large, so arriving at the station itself is not the same as being ready at the meeting point.

Keep your mobile ticket easy to access. An English or Chinese-speaking guide leads the group, and the maximum group size is 25. Staying near the guide matters at the university, where the value comes from reaching the specific filming locations rather than wandering around on your own.

Bring money for lunch, drinks, and personal purchases. The flower garden ticket is included, but the mall stop is not. A phone with good battery life is useful for the campus and garden photographs.

The cancellation terms are generous if your plans change early. You receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book this Meteor Garden day trip?

Book it if National Chung Cheng University is high on your Taiwan wish list. The two-hour campus visit, recognizable filming locations, and guide support give fans a direct connection to the story. Allan and Johnny are names associated with friendly, attentive guiding, though the assigned guide may differ.

Think twice if you are only mildly curious about the show. The 12-hour schedule includes a lot of travel, and the garden and mall stops are pleasant additions rather than major destination highlights. At $72, the tour is fair value for a fan who wants the route handled for them, but less convincing as a general-purpose day trip from Taipei.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Taipei Main Station, M3, in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point at Taipei Main Station.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately 12 hours.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English or Chinese-speaking guide, admission to Zhong She Flower Garden, insurance, and a mobile ticket.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at Lihpao Outlet Mall is at your own expense, and food and drinks are not included.

What Meteor Garden locations will I see?

At National Chung Cheng University, the tour visits locations such as the red-brick stadium, College of Liberal Arts, campus fountain, locker area, and library.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may also result in an alternative date or a full refund.