Strolling through Lukang Old Town and enjoying tea by Sun Moon Lake with writer Phan Ý Yên

On the third day of the Amazing Tour - "Gently Touching the Spring in Taiwan," writer Phan Ý Yên and the members of the group had a delightful experience visiting Lukang Old Town and personally brewing traditional tea at a workshop by Sun Moon Lake.

Lukang Old Town, a place that preserves traditional culture.

Lukang Old Town, located in Lukang Township, Changhua County, Taiwan, welcomed the tour group on a crisp morning. It comprises three short streets: Dayou, Yaolin, and Putou. These streets are renowned for their well-preserved historical and cultural heritage, as well as their flavorful traditional cuisine, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.

Lukang Old Town was once a bustling port during the Qing Dynasty in the 1600s and continued to develop into a thriving commercial center until 1895, when the Japanese arrived. The name Lukang means "deer harbor," as it was the main port for exporting deer hides during the Dutch colonial period. But today, neither remains.

Lukang Old Town still retains its traditional Taiwanese architectural style. Intricate arches adorn the main entrances, along with red brick walls and paved streets. Adding to the charm are green mailboxes hanging outside. Many old houses are still used for local businesses, while some have been renovated but preserved as part of the remaining heritage.

One of Lukang's most famous destinations is the over 200-year-old alley known as the "chest-touch alley." The name comes from its narrow width, about 40-60 cm, just enough for one person to pass through; two people would inevitably bump into each other.

Located across the Taiwan Strait, Lukang's Old Town cuisine is renowned for its seafood dishes and ancient flavors, including thick soup with duck meatballs, fried shrimp, oyster omelets, fried shrimp balls, Yuzhenzhai cakes, phoenix cakes, mung bean cakes, beef tongue cookies, and steamed buns. Street food options include candied sweet potatoes and tea eggs.

In addition, traditional shops and stalls offering a wide variety of handicrafts, antique toys, paper lanterns, and more in a nostalgic setting will make a trip to Taiwan memorable.

Visiting Lukang Old Town without seeing the temples would be a missed opportunity. All the temples here were built a long time ago, bearing the distinct marks of time and ancient charm.

One of the temples you definitely shouldn't miss when you come here is Lukang Longshan Temple. The temple covers an area of ​​approximately 890 square meters.²Lukang Longshan Temple, built during the Ming Dynasty, is a place of worship dedicated to the Goddess Tian Hou. It boasts numerous cultural symbols. Its architecture clearly reflects an East Asian style, with carvings of dragons, carp, elephants, and yin-yang symbols on the roofs and pillars, creating a sense of solemnity and reverence for visitors.

Sun Moon Lake, visit a traditional tea factory.

Leaving Lukang Old Town, writer Phan Ý Yên and her companions continued their exploration of Taiwan, visiting an ancient tea factory by Sun Moon Lake. This is the largest lake in Taiwan, attracting approximately 6 million visitors annually. Originally, there were two lakes here, Sun Lake and Moon Lake, named after their shapes, with significantly lower water levels than today. During the period 1895-1945, the Japanese blocked the drainage of the basin to build a hydroelectric power plant, and simultaneously ran pipelines through the mountains to divert river water into the lake. From then on, the two lakes merged into one, covering an area of ​​7.93 meters.²It is on average 30 meters deep and more than 750 meters above sea level.

Writer Phan Ý Yên also shared her thoughts: "The location of the ancient tea factory at Nhật Nguyệt impressed me greatly. Partly because I am a big fan of tea and tea culture, and partly because I was impressed by the architecture and the tea production process that has been perfectly preserved over the years. It combines tradition with modernity, offering convenience while maintaining the excellent quality and flavor."

This area features a complex with a tea factory and a place to sample traditional Taiwanese teas. In 1917, the Japanese brought Indian assamica tea to Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake to compete with the British. They later found that the tea thrived due to the climate and altitude very similar to India. Today, this tea is known worldwide as a premium handcrafted black tea.

Visitors to the complex can enjoy local biscuits and Assam black tea. The most popular specialty is the subtly fragrant Ruby Tea (Tea #18), a special tea grown only around Sun Moon Lake. The old tea factory by Sun Moon Lake is a beautiful place to learn about the history of Taiwan's many famous teas. Visitors can learn about the tea production process and why the founders believed in organic tea farming, despite nearly closing down in 2003.

In addition, visitors can enjoy recreational activities around the lake such as boating and cycling. Furthermore, the cultural villages of the Thao people, the tenth indigenous group of Taiwan, are also a unique cultural attraction for tourists.

Stay tuned for more articles about the exciting Amazing Tour in Taiwan on Travellive orfanpageThis is the official Amazing Tour announcement!

Additional information:

Amazing Tour is a series of destination promotion tours initiated by Travellive magazine in 2013. To date, Amazing Tour has collaborated with international tourism promotion agencies such as South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Türkiye, successfully organizing experiential tours to promote tourism and quickly making a strong impression.

Entering 2023, Amazing Tour returns with a fresh program format, aiming to inspire travel enthusiasts to explore the world. Each program will include practical activities designed to provide information on services and destinations based on the real-life experiences of celebrities, influential figures in the travel industry, and photographers.

The Amazing Tour in February 2023, a travel and tourism promotion event focusing on culture and cuisine, titled "Taiwan - Gently Touching the Spring in Taiwan," was organized by Travellive Media Group and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, with sponsorship from STARLUX Airlines from Taiwan.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao