Go to the main content section Anchor point

New Taipei City Travel

Water Source Tea Fragrance・Pinglin Low-Carbon Journey

Anchor point
Picking Tea at the Xinfeng Tea Plantation
Category :
Outdoor excursion
Travel days :
1 day
適合對象 :
Public

推薦路線

Day

      Introduction

      Anchor point
      As global carbon reduction gains momentum, the tourism industry works to lower emissions across all tour elements. From choosing meeting points and transportation methods, to incorporating environmental education and selecting eco-friendly restaurants, professional institutions now calculate carbon footprints using international standards. Unavoidable emissions are offset through purchasing Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) certified carbon credits, achieving genuine low-carbon tourism.

      Pinglin, renowned for producing Paochung tea, pioneered Taiwan's low-carbon tourism movement. Starting from Pinglin Suspension Bridge, the route follows Beishi River to the Taipei Water Management Branch Environmental Education Center to discover wastewater purification processes. At midday, visitors enjoy creative cuisine featuring local tea at Just Pinglin eco-restaurant on Pinglin Old Street. The afternoon continues at Xinfeng Tea plantation in Pinglin's hills, where young farmers share their lives devoted to tea.
      The Fifth-Generation Owner of Xinfeng Tea Giving an Introduction at the Plantation

      The journey begins at Pinglin Suspension Bridge. Spanning approximately 60 meters across Beishi River, this bridge connects fish-watching trails on both riverbanks. Led by a guide, visitors observe Taiwan shovel-jaw carp (a.k.a. "underwater fireflies"), and the river's rich aquatic ecosystem. The Beishi River watershed falls within the Taipei Water Conservatiopn Area. Policies such as river closure for fish protection and sediment barrier installations are implemented to safeguard water resources for the Taipei-New Taipei metropolitan area and extend Feitsui Reservoir's lifespan.
      Pinglin Suspension Bridge
      Guide Introducing the History of the Taipei Water Conservation Area's Establishment

      At the fish-watching trail's end, behind flood walls stands Pinglin Wastewater Treatment Plant—one of two major treatment plants under the Taipei Water Management Branch and an environmental education venue. Designated in 1984, the Taipei Water Conservation Area spans five districts: Wulai, Shuangxi, Pinglin, Xindian, and Shiding. It’s Taiwan's only protected zone established in accordance with the Urban Planning Act, with merely 1% being low-density residential areas.
      Pinglin Wastewater Treatment Plant

      Inside the Environmental Education Learning Center, visitors gain insight into Taiwan's water resource management and observe the treatment plant's three-stage process—physical, biological, and chemical purification that ensures discharge quality. Visitors collect water samples themselves, comparing influent and effluent quality for an intuitive understanding of purification's importance.
      Wastewater Treatment Sedimentation Tank
      Influent Water Quality Testing
      Comparison of Influent and Effluent Water Quality

      At noon, visit Just Pinglin eco-restaurant at the entrance to Pinglin Old Street. Inside this stone-slab heritage building, savor dishes crafted with local tea—black tea braised pork rice, salmon ochazuke, and various tea snacks. A young man from Beigang and a young lady from Guanziling chose to settle in Pinglin, New Taipei, conveying the town's atmosphere and energy to travelers through cuisine, fine tea, curated items, and exhibitions.
      Pinglin Old Street and Pinglin District Office
      Just Pinglin—Tea Ochazuke (Tea on Rice)
      Just Pinglin—Black Tea Braised Pork Rice

      After enjoying refined tea cuisine, explore Pinglin Old Street with a guide. Stretching approximately 200 meters, the old street features teapot installation art and uniform green signage. Paper shops, tofu stalls, grocery stores, and tea merchants line the way. Street vendors use Pinglin's famous Paochung tea to create innovative treats—tea cakes, tea steamed buns, tea nougat, and camellia oil thin noodles.
      Signage and Teapot Decorations on Pinglin Old Street
      Pinglin Old Street—Fuzhang Store (or Fuchang Shop)

      "UChung," established by local young tea farmers, offers a modern compound tea space on the old street, selling tea snacks, tea gift items, and tea celebration wine developed exclusively by Pinglin tea farmers. This bright space hosts tea ceremony experiences from time to time, promoting tea culture in ways that resonate with younger generations. At a corner of the old street, Pinglin Tea Cultural Museum, operated by the Pinglin Farmers' Association, visitors will learn about tea and camellia oil culture while exploring Pinglin's tea history and other industrial features. Stone heritage buildings constructed with herringbone and T-shaped patterns offer another visual highlight along the street.
      In-store Slogan at UChung
      In-store Slogan at UChung
      Brewing Tea at UChung
      Pinglin Tea Cultural Museum
      Herringbone-Patterned Stone Wall

      Afternoon brings a journey to Pinglin's hills. Near Xiangong Temple, famous for sunrises and seas of clouds, sixth-generation young tea farmer Zhan Chengde of Xinfeng Tea guides visitors through verdant tea plantations to pick one bud with two leaves, then hand-craft and taste their own tea.
      Picking One Bud and Two Leaves at the Xinfeng Tea Plantation
      Xiangong Temple

      Xinfeng Tea is known for its "friend tea," aimed to convey warmth and authenticity. After picking tea leaves, participants personally stir-fry and knead them under the farmer's guidance to create their own green tea! Through the journey from a plantation to a cup, savor Pinglin tea town's distinctive flavor.
      Demonstration of Tea Processing by the Xinfeng Tea Owner
      Stir-Frying the Tea Leaves
      Kneading the Tea Leaves with Both Hands

      The "Water Source Tea Fragrance・Pinglin Low-Carbon Journey" meets the Ministry of Environment's "Green Tourism" standards and appears on the "Green Lifestyle" information platform. Carbon footprint calculations show this tour produces 11.5 kg CO2e per person, reducing emissions by 5.6 kilograms compared to typical self-driving tourism.
      Tea Tasting Moment
      Previous
      Liulanglu Sightseeing Hiking Trail – Romantic wandering and strolling in Jiufen.
      Tamsui Kavalan Trails refer generally to the major traffic route from Tamsui Sub-Prefecture to Kavalan Sub-Prefecture of the Qing Dynasty. “Liulanglu Sightseeing Hiking Trail” was previously a push car railway from Ruifang to Jiufen with a total distance of approximately 1.6km, making it suitable for hiking beginners’ debut route to experience Tamsui Kavalan Trails. After leaving Ruifang Train Station, go straight for approximately 100m and you will spot Ruifang Food Court, which offers historic pork thick soup, Taiwanese pork chop rice… It is a gourmet center with 25 years of history! After renovation, the dining environment has become more comfortable; with the air conditioning, you won’t get all sweaty while you eat. There is such an amazing selection of tasty food in Ruifang; before leaving the Trail, it is recommended to visit on your way home the famous dessert shop in the area – Misty Cake, and bring home a golden puff made of sweet potato, a local specialty, as a reward for your workout! There are cooling and refreshing lush greens along Liulanglu Sightseeing Hiking Trail. Once reaching Liulangtou Observation Deck at the top, visitors can have a bird’s eye view of the splendid sceneries in Badouzi, Keelung and Ruifang. Stepping outside the Trail and you will be in Jiufen! Many people may not know that there is actually a Jiufen Gold Ore Museum, which is different from the widely known Gold Museum. It was founded by an old miner Mr. Tseng Shui-chih and has a display of various kinds of mining tools; visitors will also have the opportunity to experience gold panning here! Let us bring you the mountain town’s night view of Jiufen Old Street as the ending of your journey – enjoy the mountain town sceneries that grow more and more strikingly beautiful at night!
      Next
      Art Realm New Taipei: Sanxia Slow One-Day Tour
      New Taipei City advances low-carbon tourism by emphasizing transportation, meals, and attractions, working to reduce travel emissions. Professional institutions calculate carbon footprints, and VCS-certified carbon credits are purchased to achieve sustainability. The Sanxia low-carbon tour begins at the environmental education site of Lujiaoxi Constructed Wetland, continues to TINA Kitchen eco-restaurant for healthy seasonal meals, proceeds to New Taipei City Art Museum for an art experience, and concludes with a guided walk through Sanxia Old Street to appreciate local cultural heritage.Spanning 16 hectares, Lujiaoxi Constructed Wetland sits at the confluence of Dahan River and its tributary Lujiao River. Once a landfill, the site was renovated by the New Taipei City High Riverbank Construction Management Office into a constructed wetland, becoming New Taipei's first on-site wastewater treatment facility certified by the Environmental Protection Administration .Using aquatic plants and natural purification methods, Lujiaoxi Wetland effectively improves Dahan River’s water quality through sedimentation, filtration, and biological absorption. The wetland attracts numerous bird species and amphibians, creating an excellent ecotourism destination. Environmental volunteers guide visitors through wetland plants—giant elephant’s ear, shell ginger, paper mulberry, fountain grass, flute reed, wild sugarcane, and silvergrass, and ecology.TINA Kitchen, near Yingge Ceramics Museum, embraces the "farm to table" philosophy, offering 16 main course options plus an extensive self-service bar featuring fresh vegetable salads, dessert breads, and various hot and cold teas and coffee—balancing flavor with health. The "Organic Yam" brand maintains its commitment to 'organic agriculture + organic food processing + organic living,' extending into organic bakeries and natural soap workshops, practicing environmentally conscious, organic lifestyles.New Taipei City Art Museum sits in Yingge, renowned for ceramic craftsmanship. Designed by architect Kris Yao, the silver-white structure takes inspiration from riverside reeds, expressing wind-swept movement through staggered vertical lines. Incorporating green building principles, the museum uses expansive glass to draw natural light inside while balancing ventilation and insulation, creating comfortable viewing conditions. The extensive outdoor grounds provide habitat for numerous Taiwan-endemic species, establishing the museum as a significant New Taipei landmark combining aesthetics with environmental consciousness.Follow the Can Culture, Art & Nature on a guided walk through Sanxia Old Street. This 260-meter street winds S-shaped along Sanxia River. In earlier times, a light railway transported tea and coal from Sanxia's hills. Most existing street houses date back a century. Continuous red-brick arcades and baroque archways create Sanxia Old Street's distinctive character. Examining the facades reveals intricate decorative styles—each building's gable and nameplate designs contain unique architectural language, made more vivid through the guide's commentary.Built in 1769, Sanxia Qingshui Zushi Temple underwent reconstruction led by art master Li, Mei-shu, incorporating works by craftsmen from various schools and contemporary artists. It's acclaimed as the "Oriental Art Palace." The guide leads visitors through the temple's elaborate caisson ceilings, vibrant cut-and-paste decorations, and exquisitely carved stone pillars.The Can’s Haksip Village sits beside Sanxia Old Street. Originally Alin Hospital founded in 1947, it transformed into a local revitalization hub starting in 2017, earning recognition as one of the Ministry of Culture's Top 100 Cultural Bases. Haksip Village takes its name from Taiwanese for "collective learning," connecting craft artisans, specialty food merchants, community schools, and corporate partners to build community support networks.The village hosts Hidekawa Fermentation Workshop and Tofu House, Sanyi Metalworking, Shike Studio, and Grass Book House. Hidekawa uses non-GMO domestic soybeans contract-farmed from the Jianan Plain to produce tofu products and miso, reducing food miles. Sanyi Metalworking and Shike Studio preserve and advance traditional crafts while offering hands-on experiences in metalworking, wood carving, and gold hammering techniques. Experience Haksip’s collaborative spirit in the village, and try Hidekawa’s tofu ice cream combining Sanxia Biluochun tea with domestic soybeans—tea and bean fragrances intertwining as the tour concludes.The "Art Realm New Taipei: Sanxia Slow One-Day Tour" meets the Ministry of Environment's "Green Tourism" standards and appears on the "Green Lifestyle” information platform. Carbon footprint calculations show this tour produces 10.2 kg CO2e per person.
      Read more
      Back to the top of page
      小客帶路