About this activity
| Operation Day | May (Tue to Sun) |
| Departure | 8:00AM; Pick up from hotel |
| Duration | 10 hrs |
| Group Size | Private Tour; Price varies depending on size of the group |
| Language | English |
Overview
The Hakka Tung Blossom Festival is one of Taiwan’s premier flower festivals, occurring from March to May. The tung trees were planted by the Hakka people around their settlements, and to this day, the Tung flower endures as a symbol of Hakka culture in Taiwan. Every April, when the tung blossoms are in full bloom, Taiwan’s hillsides and mountainsides appear to be covered with white freckles, which the local Taiwanese call April Snow.
This tour will use tung blossom viewing as a jumping off point to introduce and explore the culture and lifestyles of Taiwan’s Hakka people. The tour visits two tung blossom viewing spots: the gentle and relaxing Siyuexue Tung Blossom Trail, and the picturesque Emei Lake tung trees. The tour also visits Sanyi Old Street, an artistic street known as Taiwan’s capital of woodcarving and Beipu Old Street, famous for its ancient architecture, Hakka cuisine, and hospitable Hakka culture.
Highlight
- Appreciate the charm and gentle beauty of tung blossoms along the Siyuexue Tung Blossom Trail
- Savor the beauty of tung blossoms and the picturesque landscape around Emei Lake
- Admire the masterfully carved woodworks in the Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum and Sanyi Old Street
- Enjoy the fun of making your own Hakka Lei Cha (ground tea) in Beipu Old Street
Description
Your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel (within downtown Taipei), and then head off to Miaoli to start your journey of chasing May Snow.
The first stop will be the relaxing Siyuexue (meaning “April Snow”) Tung Blossom Trail. Walk along the paths marveling at the tung trees, acacia trees, and camphor trees planted on both sides. During the flowering season, the path is covered with the fallen petals of tung flowers, resembling a blanket of snow on the ground. Finish climbing the trail to reach a large tea plantation and be rewarded with expansive views of the surrounding area.
Then head out to Sanyi, a small town well-known for wood carving art. In Sanyi, half of the residents make a living from woodcarving. Just like Yingge Old Street, Sanyi also has an old historic district dedicated to this traditional craft. While walking through Sanyi Old Street, be sure to enjoy the various scents of natural woods and their essential oils which emanate from each shop.
The Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum is the only public museum in Taiwan dedicated to the art of woodcarving. The museum’s diverse display includes Chinese sculptures, master artworks, and contemporary woodcarvings. At the museum, you will learn about the history and development of Taiwan’s traditional wood carving industry.
After the museum, you will visit the ecologically rich Emei Lake, also known as Dapu Reservoir. It is the first reservoir designed and built by Taiwanese people. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to witness spring gusts triggering a release of falling tung petals.
The last stop on our tour, Beipu Old Street, is a traditional Hakka town with well-preserved historic architecture and plenty of Hakka culture. Beipu is filled with historic sites, rural cafes, and restaurants featuring Hakka cooking and local delicacies. You will even have a chance to make your own traditional Hakka ground tea—”Lei Cha”. Lei Cha was a food with which guests were greeted in the past.
In the early evening, your tour guide will escort you back to your hotel, you can use the rest of the day to explore the city by yourself.
<< READ LESS >>Inclusions
- Professional licensed tour guide
- Local transfer by air-conditioned vehicle
- Hakka Lei Cha making experience
- Local general liabilities insurance
Exclusions
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Remarks
- Tour commentary will be provided in English (other languages can be quoted on request).
- Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- The sequence and time of stay of tour stops may be adjusted according to the traffic/weather conditions.
- If the tour has to be canceled due to bad weather, in this case, we will contact you no later than the evening before the excursion day by email or SMS.
- Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes earlier than the pick-up time.
- Ensure you carry enough cash with you to cover your expenses for meals, beverages, souvenirs, tips, etc. Convenience stores and most of the eateries in Taiwan don’t accept credit cards as a form of payment.
Rescheduling, Cancelations and Refunds
If you need to cancel or reschedule the activity for any reason, please contact us via email at info@getmetotaiwan.com. If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch.
Cancelations made 8 days or more prior to time of departure – 100% of tour price refunded.
Cancelations made 5-7 days prior to time of departure – 50% of tour price refunded.
Cancelations made 4 days or less prior to time of departure – no refunds will be given.
Please be aware Taiwan Time is (UTC +8 CST)
