Last year, the Hakka Affairs Council launched the Route 114 Hakka Village Study Tour Program, which received widespread acclaim. This year, not only is the program continuing, but it has also expanded to include the “Romantic Taiwan Route 3,” championed by the Tsai Ing-wen administration. The number of participating schools has grown from 6 to 17 along the route, featuring uniquely local Hakka-themed itineraries that include community hidden gems and creative hands-on activities, inviting families to explore together.
Taipei Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan said that Route 114 centers around Taiwan’s only Hakka fishing port, “?utoucuo (now Yong’an Fishing Port),” and follows the Shèzǐ Stream, known as the “rice granary” and “land of fish and rice,” all the way to Yangmei and Zhongli. It was an important migration and settlement route for early Hakka pioneers. Route 3, on the other hand, bears witness to the evolving cultural legacy of the Hakka people, stretching from Daxi and Longtan. The city government has connected 17 schools along both Taoyuan Route 114 and Taiwan Route 3 to jointly launch the “Taoyuan Hakka Village Themed Study Tour,” showcasing Hakka industries, culture, and ecological themes.
Cheng Wen-tsan also explained that areas where Hakka people make up one-third of the population are designated as “Key Hakka Cultural Development Areas” under the Hakka Basic Act. In addition to well-known districts such as Zhongli, Yangmei, Longtan, Pingzhen, Xingu, and Guanyin, Dayuan and Daxi have also become key Hakka development zones due to their Hakka populations exceeding 30%. Other communities, such as the Hakka enclave in Xiaolǐ, Bade, and the Hoklo settlement in Èikàn, Xingu, challenge the traditional north–south “Hoklo vs. Hakka” dichotomy. The council hopes to showcase the value of cultural diversity through Taoyuan’s multicultural identity.
Showcasing Hakka-themed Features
The “Taoyuan Hakka Village Themed Study Tour” is centered around local Hakka schools with distinctive characteristics, extending outward to nearby community-based Hakka cultural sites. It also includes DIY craft workshops. This 6-hour day trip offers a light yet deeply enriching educational experience.
A Day of Enriching, Light Travel
Each of the 17 schools highlights unique aspects of Hakka culture, including tasting Hakka rice dishes, exploring old streets, visiting character-respect pavilions, immersing in Hakka fishing villages, and experiencing Hakka cloth horse performances. The program runs every weekend from April 8 to the end of June, as well as during the summer vacation, with a total of 40 sessions. Each session is limited to 40 participants. The fee is NT$250 per person, covering the tour, materials, and lunch. Registration is now open. For more details, visit the official event website at http://hakkafun.mynet.com.tw/.