Autumn Trip to Dongshan: 8 In-Depth Tea Tours at the Rice & Tea Festival

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Dongshan Rice & Tea Festival in Yilan County kicks off on November 2nd. In addition to promoting Dongshan’s tea and rice cuisine, this year the festival specially combines various local attractions to offer four experience activities and eight autumn in-depth tours. Visitors can enjoy waterfalls and lake views, savor creative rice dishes, and pair them with a fine cup of tea to fully experience the beauty of Dongshan.

▲ Xinxiao Waterfall in Dongshan Township. (Photo / Courtesy of the Forestry Bureau’s Taiwan Mountain Trails website)

The 2013 Rice & Tea Festival lasts for nine days. For the first time, the Dongshan Township Farmers’ Association has collaborated with leisure agriculture operators to launch eight in-depth tea tours. These combine tea tasting with visits to scenic spots, taking visitors to attractions such as Meihua Lake Scenic Area, Xinxiao Waterfall, and Ren Shan Botanical Garden. The itinerary also includes a visit to Jiaoxi for an onsen experience, with options for both one-day and two-day tours, perfect for independent travelers.

▲ Creative rice dishes at the Rice & Tea Festival. (Photo / Courtesy of the Dongshan Township Farmers’ Association Home Economics Class Facebook Fan Page)

The Dongshan Township Farmers’ Association noted that, aside from enjoying the scenery, the in-depth tours also offer a chance to taste “tea cuisine” such as tea-flavored meals, organic mulberry health hot pots, green tea dragon beard candy, green tea ice cream, and tea-infused desserts. The four tea and rice experience activities include mocha tea grinding, black tea making, five-element creative rice dishes, and brown rice milling experiences. In addition to the tea-themed travel, a “rice journey” will be launched after winter sets in. For more details, please contact the Dongshan Township Farmers’ Association.