SL01
Chilai Food & Agriculture Education+Slow City Fenglin Rambling
Shoufeng Township:
A land area about 218km2, accommodates a population of above 17,000. There’re 15 villages in Shoufeng, and the population density is about 82 persons/km2. The characteristics of this township are Amis & Sakizaya culture, sugar canes, mulberries, bananas, watermelons, pomelos, nephrites, black jade, golden clam, and organic & friendly farms.
Fenglin Town:
Fenglin is the first town in Taiwan to be certified as Slow City by the Cittaslow International. The land area is about 120km2 , and population is about 10,000 people, and the population density is about 89 people per km2.What’s special in here includes Amis culture, Japanese immigrant village culture, Hakka culture, Tobacco Barn culture, Hyakkiyakou Night (Goblins Night), rice, soy milk, peanuts, peeled peppers, presidential melon, cinnamon, Shansu, various farming experiences and DIY.
Tour Highlights
- Chi-Lai Green Land Organic Farm: Food & Agriculture Education and Experiencing
- Slow City Historical Street Storytelling & Tranditional Handcrafts By Mothers in Community
Chi-Lai Green Land in located in Shoufeng Township, which was originally a 60 hectares gravel wasteland. With the cherish for the land, they’ve begun with friendly farming and included the consideration of organic farming, for 8 years till now. High-quality water source from the Central Mountains, entrained to the soil rich in trace elements, and organic fruit & vegetables are how this place is built up. The organic fruits and vegetables grown are currently on the market with the cooperation of the Hualien Farmers’ Association, providing local children’s nutrition lunches, and selling them in the northern fresh market. The bitter gourds and favorites of the consumers: Cruciferous vegetables are mainly sold at present, promoting a total production of about 60~70 thousand kgs in a month. They also grow melon vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, cantaloupe, cantaloupe, dragon fruit, papaya, and so on, providing the consumers a more diverse farming education and experiences.
Since Fenglin has been internationally certified as first Slow City in Taiwan in 2014. It is committed to promote the peaceful scenery of the East Rift Valley and the leisure activities of Fenglin Guest House. There is a guided tour of the history of the historical street in the itinerary, so that visitors can know more about the cultural assets of the slow city of Fenglin Town.
In the itinerary, we will be heading to the “Star Car Rental Shop”, a complex shop with a unique installation of a barber shop and bicycle rental, to learn about the owner’s interesting story. And “Shoutien Temple” which was the religion center of Fenglin Area in the early days, the statues of gods and temple was destroyed under the imperialization movement during the Japanese colonization. After the war, it was rebuilt with the great effort of the local people raising funds.
“Mingxin Ice Shop” has a history of 50 years, and is part of the summer childhood memories of people in Fenglin. Besides its various flavored, rich and smooth ice cream, the hot sells go to triple bean shaved ice and lemon juice. The lemon is juiced with the skin, the slight bitterness blended with sweetness of the condensed milk, and it becomes the most refreshing drink in summer. The “Pickup Bean House” was a winehouse during the Japanese colonization period. After the transformation by the team of the establisher, Ren-Shou Cheng, they’ve retained the appearance of the old Japanese house, and it has become a store selling community crafts and agricultural products. The most popular of the store are tofu and tofu made from eco-friendly soybeans. The taste is soft and mellow, which is the favorite of local mothers. It has become a must-buy product when you come to the Pickup Bean House.
Madam Bi-Xia (Mama Bi-Xia), who is nearly 80 years old, is a well-known cooking expert in the local area. Whether it is traditional Hakka cuisine, handmade soy sauce, fermented bean curd, all kinds of dark brewed products and rice cake, there’s nothing she can’t make. With this skill, Mama Bi-xia hopes that more people like the traditional ancient taste and the inherited skill of fermentation process of the dark brew.
Her son, Mr. Ming-Tang Hsu, gave up his position of the manager of a steel factory, to take care of the elders in his family. He took up the farming tools and put himself into farming. He chose his own unique friendly farming technique to farm this land, growing rice, black indica, red quinoa, ten stone soybeans and black beans with yellow in the Torii Farm, and “Huagumi (Rice from Hualien Valley)” is used as the brand of their own crops. On this land, in addition to not spraying pesticides and applying chemical fertilizers, the sunflower soil purification and retention well deep-water culvert irrigation methods are implemented at the end of each autumn. Through the Food and Agriculture Education including experiencing planting and harvesting activities for nearby Elementary & Secondary School and community, they’ve promote the ideas to let more people know the connection between people and land and crops.
l Session
We suggest a half-day trip,
GROUP SIZE:
min. 12 people, max. 25 people are permitted per booking.
※Confirmation of departure will be notified 3 days before trip (may be affected by number of participants and others)
※The organizer may cancel, postpone, alter places/activities under any consideration of weather.
l Charges
We collect “Handling Charge” according to number of participant. Other charges (eg. material, instructor, transportation, tour guide, meal & insurances) will be reimbursed with receipts & invoices.
12－18 people: NT$500/person
19－25 people: NT$400/person
CHARGES FOR A FULL ENGLISH TOUR GUIDE WILL BE DIFFERENT.
Handling charges including costs of contacting operators (such as paperwork, telecommunication) and field trips with students etc.
Any operators/alliance/personal members or tourists that willing to participate in our tours, it means to understand and accept the rules of declaration of expenses and other related procedures of TCU.
l Dress code & Requirements
Long sleeve, trousers/pants, cap, mosquito repellent, sneakers, rain gear, light outerwear, water bottle
l Itinerary Description
Assemble & Dismiss Point: TzuChi University or Hualien Station
Itinerary｜TCU(Please fill up your water bottle & use the restroom)Pre-departure note→Get on transport→Pinghe Village→Fenglin Town→TCU(Dismiss)
l Highlights
#LocalStories｜Slow City Historical Street Storytelling
Storyteller：
Local Community Culture & History Worker
Fenglin Town Tourism Development Association
03-8760530
#ExperienceInCommunity｜Fermented Bean curd Making
Host：
Torii Ricestore
#ExperienceInCommunity｜Food & Agriculture Education and Experience in Farm
Host：
Chi-Lai Green Land Organic Farm
03-8663311
Information of related cooperative operator members:
【Friends of the Community】&【Master&Artisan】
l Transportation
A suitable and comfy vehicle will be provided according to the number of people. Transportation charges may have variation due to pandemic regulation(number of passenger allowed).
We only hire local drivers with us. With their great experience and familiarity in Hualien, let’s travel around the countryside with ease, and experience thoroughly in farming & handcrafts.
l Charges include
1.Instructor fee
2.Material fee
3.Transportation (inc. passenger insurance)
4.Travel insurance,NT$2M (inc. medical coverage, NT$200K)
5. Miscellaneous
6.Meal fee
We truly appreciate your contribution.
Because of you choosing to join us, we get to help AT LEAST:
ONE to TWO local drivers
ONE organization/person who strive to protect local culture & history
ONE association/workshop that put great effort in community recreation
ONE courageous non-profit organization which supports local underprivileged groups
As well as their workers, partners, and families,
Enable them to keep up the right job because of your support.
l Advance Reservation In Group
We cordially invite families, merchants, associations & organizations, customize and book a trip in advance. Options of a Full or Half-day tour is provided, with transportation service at specific locations.
