Day trip to Alisan and mountain-grown tea.

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October 14, 2024

With young adults all heading of to their universities and part-time work, we headed off to the mountain region famous for Taiwan’s tea, in Alishan, about 3 hours northeast of Kaoshiung.

The four of us piled into the family car and headed north through the city and then onto Route #1 heading north. A few more connections and 2 hours later, we stopped for a rest stop part way up the mountain. The stop featured a small temple as well as typical touristy offerings. We stretched our legs.

A rest stop on the way to the tea plantation featured bathrooms, a temple and some businesses hawking food and tourist items

Now the roads became more difficult with tight switchbacks and narrow roads until arriving at the tea plantation that Alice and family have had a long relationship. There we were welcomed by the owners and offered a tour followed by a demonstration of making several varieties of tea, tasting and enjoying various snacks with the tea.

A beautiful tea set gives us a foretaste of our experience at the tea farm
Alice gets a tour of the tea plantation by the family’s son. His grandfather founded the tea plantation.
The rich fields of tea, where it rains 9 months of the year. In the mide left structure, a roof for drying the tea.
The tea extends into the distance framed by rugged mountains.
Learning about the tea and how to grow it.
A careful explanation of the rationale for tea-making technique.

Varieties of tea are prepared to exacting standards.

After about two hours at the tea farm, we packed up purchased tea for the next year and directed ourselves further up the mountain, to a tourist area commemorating the earlier logging industry in the region. There we visited a very nice restaurant for lunch.

An ancient railroad serviced the steam engines helping to carry away valuable lumber.
Alice and I hiked up onto the mountain while it rained. The cedar trees gave off a wonderful scent and reminded us of our hike in Japan.
Alice stops on a bridge on the mountain trail system.
We stop to admire a 1000 year old tree, that is said to look like a Formosan sika deer. I thought it looked more like a giraffe 🙂

On the way back down the mountain, we stopped to purchase prized mountain vegetable varieties.

Alice buys vegetables.

We continued on down the mountain with endless switchbacks. After an hour, Alice took over driving for her sister. As we entered the city, we avoided the worst of the evening rush hour. We stopped to get some take out noodles for some fast food.

The lights of Kaoshiung blaze as we pass through the city’s thoroughfares.

Post script: As Alice and I hiked onto the mountain, we came upon a group of Taiwanese hikers seeking a dry spot in a shelter. There was some instant comradery over the shared passion for hiking. As we chatted their burning questions came out, Will we vote by mail? Are we sure to vote? They were clearly concerned by the election and wished that they could add their voice to the momentous election.

5 thoughts on “Day trip to Alisan and mountain-grown tea.”

  2. Thomas B Hoeksema Sr

    The verdant tea fields and mountainsides are beauteous. Yet, what gives me most delight this morning are the women’s hats. Splendid!

    1. ebouwens

      The hats are the traditional picking hats, to protect the skin, but they have such wonderful fabrics!

  3. grbocceman

    What an interesting day you had. The photos are beautiful. The logging history must have been interesting. I assume it was done with greater care than happened in the US. Did they describe the methods used? I am guessing they avoided clearcutting. Will be eager to talk with you about it.

    Greg

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