The New Taipei City Tourism Bureau launched the “2013 New Taipei City Mountain Climbing Tourism Festival.” On the morning of the 24th, the Chinese Professional Baseball League cheerleading squad “Lamigirls” took on the role of charming guides, introducing the beautiful scenery of Guanyin Mountain in Wugu and the peak season for green bamboo shoots from June to September each year. They also personally demonstrated how to harvest quality shoots.
The guided tour route started from the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center, passed through the Guanyin Mountain Forest Canopy Trail, and ended at Lengyan Pavilion. Lamigirls also showcased their bamboo shoot picking skills at Qiganhu Farm located near the mountain foothills. The Lamigirls even named the harvested bamboo shoots “Lami Shoots,” expressing their hopes for the Rakuten Monkeys (Lamigo) baseball team to achieve outstanding results in upcoming CPBL matches.
Wu Guochi, owner of Qiganhu Farm, said that his homegrown green bamboo shoots were once personally selected as a “dream ingredient” by Japanese Michelin three-star chef Hiroyuki Sakai, and have won top awards in national agricultural product competitions year after year. The peak season for green bamboo shoots is from March to November, with June being the most delicious time. Shoots must be picked early in the morning before dawn—missing the timing affects their flavor. Bamboo farmers also can’t afford to be “nearsighted”; carefully observing the ground for any semicircular cracks will reveal the hidden shoots beneath.
The Tourism Bureau noted that Guanyin Mountain has six well-established hiking trails. The newly completed Guanyin Mountain Forest Canopy Trail, finished last year, is an 800-meter barrier-free slope that has been widely praised since its opening. Its “viewing-style boardwalk” design is spacious and gently sloped, making it accessible for people with disabilities. Thanks to its height, which aligns with the treetops, visitors can stroll amid the forest’s phytoncides as if walking among the tree canopy.
The Tourism Bureau said that the trail design accommodates the needs of all age groups, with designated guides stationed at every stop. From 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, there are four sessions departing every half hour. For those still feeling energetic after completing the trail, they can also take on the challenge of reaching Guanyin Mountain’s highest peak, “Hardcore Summit.” But no visit would be complete without tasting the famous local green bamboo shoots.