If you’re at home up in the air and think you might enjoy the beautiful green East Rift Valley from the sky, then Luye is a spot not to be missed. Luye Highland is located to the north of the Longtian Community (龍田). It is a big grass slope which, at its highest point, is 350 meters high. Because of the sharp difference in altitude between the bottom and top of the slope, it is a great place for activities in the air. From June to August every year, the Taiwan Balloon Festival is held on this highland, attracting flyers and tourists from all over the world. It doesn’t matter whether you are appreciating the plain protected by mountain ranges, or on the highland enjoying the many colored strange balloons racing to the sky, you will definitely find the view memorable. Every year during the Taiwan Balloon Festival, those people who want to have a ride in a hot air balloon need to arrive very early in the morning to wait in the queue. This is the only place in Taiwan where hot air balloons are legally permitted, hence its popularity. Tourists love to sit in a hot air balloon and fly across the rift valley below, gazing at the east coast in the distance and waiting for the sun to slowly rise in the early summer morning. Something that needs a special reminder is that hot air balloons are very sensitive to heat and quick changes in temperature, meaning that you need to fly in the early morning or the evening.
Besides hot air balloons, Luye Highland is also the perfect place for paragliding. Because of the unique geography of the highland, hot air will naturally rise in the summertime, so paragliders find they can stay in the sky for longer here than elsewhere. If you are not well-prepared for flying, then go to the tourist center and buy a fresh fruit ice pop (春一枝冰棒) instead. Sit on the green grass to enjoy the beautiful view greeting your eyes, and the yummy taste of the ice-cream sweetening your mouth!
