Waters converge and peaks surround — a painter crafts a plum blossom viewing haven

Long Qin Mountain Villa, where a faint fragrance wafts through the air. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

At Long Qin Mountain Villa, hundreds of plum blossoms are in full bloom. Artists and literati gather to admire the flowers, sip tea, compose poetry, and paint, enjoying a leisurely half-day retreat. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Tang Longcai’s Long Qin Mountain Villa welcomes visitors drawn by its fame, but asks that they cherish the plants in the area. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Plum blossoms in full bloom, teeming with biodiversity. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Buds burst forth in radiant bloom, their subtle fragrance lingering in the air. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Gaze into the distance at the surrounding peaks — these include the main and northern peaks of Alishan and Yushan, as well as JunDa, LuanDa, ZhiMao, ZhuoShe, Qilai, Shuishe, Hehuan, Jiji, and other great mountains. The breadth of the view is rare and breathtaking. (Photo by Shen Huisheng)

Tang Longcai, a renowned painter from Nantou County, purchased a plot of sloped land in Shuili Township in 1995. Over the past 20-plus years, he has dug and planted to create his studio. This garden, home to a variety of plants and fruit trees, is now in full plum blossom bloom. Located atop the peak of Lulu Mountain, surrounded by mountains on all sides and at the confluence of the Zhuoshui River, Chenyoulan River, and Shuili River, it stands in stark contrast to the crowded梅花 areas along the New Central Cross-Island Highway — this place is truly a hidden gem.

Lulu Mountain stands over 800 meters above sea level, 600 meters higher than the Shuili township area. At night, looking down on the town’s sea of lights resembles a phoenix in flight. On summer mornings, the three major valleys are almost daily graced with sea of clouds. From afar, the mountain range stretches from Jiji Mountain to the north, Shuishe Mountain to the east, extending to Hehuan, Qilai, and ZhuoShe Mountains, as well as Zhimao, Xiluan, and JunDa Mountains to the southeast.

Looking further south, Yushan is clearly visible, while to the southwest lies the Alishan Mountain Range. Beyond the mountains, the Minghu Reservoir and settlements along the New Central Cross-Island Highway and Danda Forest Road can be faintly seen nestled in the valleys.

Tang Longcai, who graduated from the National Academy of Arts and holds a master's degree from National Taiwan Normal University, specializes in ink painting. He taught at National Zhushan Senior High School for six years before retiring. His wife, Gao Huiqin, works at National Shuili Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School. The couple named their painstakingly built studio “Long Qin Mountain Villa,” which also features natural attractions such as monkey caves.

Tang Longcai holds a significant position in the art world, and his son, Tang Ziqi, is no less accomplished — known in the music industry as the “PhD of the Pan Flute.” With their children now adults, the family lives in seclusion in the mountains, cultivating art. Surrounded by peaks and watching eagles soar overhead, they liken themselves to the legendary "Divine Eagle Heroes."

The “Long Qin Mountain Villa,” with its hundreds of blooming plum blossoms, forms a secret paradise. Around 300 visitors came during the weekends of the 13th and 14th, and more than 200 on the 15th — not overly crowded, the popularity is just right. Guests admire the plum blossoms, compose poetry, paint, and enjoy tea, spending a leisurely half-day in retreat.

Liu Bingdeng, principal of Shuili Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School, fell in love with this garden and visited three times last week. Zhang Hongru, principal of Hongming High School, was also deeply captivated by the scenery and views. Tang Aiqin, a teacher at Lugu Community College, ink painter Huang Qinjie, former director of Yuchi Township People’s Service Center Xu Shenglong, and renowned tea master Qiu Huiting all praise it as an earthly hidden paradise.

Aside from gatherings and exchanges among the education and art communities, occasional visitors drawn by the reputation also stop by. Tang Longcai, with the openness of making friends, welcomes them — but hopes they uphold public spirit and cherish the plants in the area.