Water Source Tea Fragrance・Pinglin Low-Carbon Journey

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1685
Picking Tea at the Xinfeng Tea Plantation
Category :
Outdoor excursion
Travel days :
1 day
適合對象 :
Public

推薦路線

Day
    第一天

      Introduction

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      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
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      Day 1 Traffic Updates
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