Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hakka heritage. In any case, it's everywhere now, and authentic or not, it's defin-
itely part of the Taiwan experience.
Lei chameans 'pounded tea', and that's exactly what you must do before you can
drink it. First you will be given a wooden pestle and a large porcelain bowl with a
small amount of green tea leaves, sesame seeds, nuts and grains in the bottom.
Using the pestle, grind the ingredients in the bowl to a fine mush. Your host will
then add hot water and dole out the 'tea' in cups. At this moment, or perhaps earli-
er, you will be given a small bowl of puffed rice. Add the rice to the drink and con-
sume it before the kernels get soggy.
If this sounds like your cup of your tea (and really, it is delicious), head to the tea-
houses around Beipu's Zhitian Temple, or further afield at Sanyi's Sheng Shing
train station (
Click here
)
, or Meinong.
Sunrise Hot Spring Hotel
HOT SPRING
MAP
(Rìchū Wēnquán Dùjià Fàndiàn; public pools unlimited time NT$450; 8am-10pm)
This wood-
and-stone multipool outdoor complex is designed to let you take in the mountain views
as you bathe. There are also private rooms for NT$1400 per hour.
Hiking
You should always check with locals about the conditions before heading out. This is a
rough area. Try to finish higher trails before mid-afternoon, as fog can obscure the views
and make it easy to get lost.
Shui Yun Waterfall
WATERFALL
MAP
(Shǔiyún Pùbù)
The path to this thundering waterfall goes along a river, through a forest
and up a canyon. The return trip takes three to four hours and there are several deep and
safe swimming holes for cooling off along the way.
Start at the car park at the end of County Rd 62 and follow the trail by the river for
1km until you reach a suspension bridge. Cross it and climb the stairs on the other side.
The trail now enters the forest and splits. Take the lower path (the upper leads to Hushan)
and at the river follow the left bank up the canyon until it narrows at a rock face. The
falls are just around the corner up a side channel.
Hushan
HIKING
