CYCLE AROUND TAIWAN: Colorful Cultural Charms - CYCLE AROUND JAPAN

Key Concepts

• Cycling Exploration: Using bicycles to discover lesser-known sites and experience familiar places in new ways.
• Taiwanese Culture & Tradition: Emphasis on the deep roots of tradition in everyday life, including Hakka tea production, Mazu pilgrimages, and traditional crafts.
• Dong Ding Oolong Tea (Oriental Beauty): A unique Taiwanese tea produced through a labor-intensive process involving insect bites and a sweet scent.
• Soft Rush Craftsmanship: Traditional weaving techniques using soft rush to create handmade items like hats and lampshades, with a focus on revival and modern design.
• Ponghu Islands: A group of islands known for their traditional villages, coral reef architecture, and unique cactus fruit ice cream.
• Taiwan Dog: A native breed of dog historically used for hunting and companionship, now protected through adoption and training programs.
• Sun Moon Lake: Taiwan's largest lake, serving as the final destination of the cycling journey.
• Cultural Resilience and Adaptation: The ability of Taiwanese people to integrate foreign influences into their own culture and preserve what is important.

Summary of Cycling Journey in Taiwan

This video documents a 600-kilometer, four-day cycling journey across Taiwan, highlighting the island's diverse landscapes, rich traditions, and the resilience of its people. The expedition is led by Linda, a Taiwanese native and avid cyclist, who aims to explore both well-known and hidden gems.

Day 1: Taipei to Beipu - Urban Charm and Hakka Tea Heritage

The journey commences in Taipei, Taiwan's bustling capital, a city characterized by a blend of modern skyscrapers and historical charm. Linda begins at the Taipei Main Station, noting her lightweight, puncture-resistant bicycle, ideal for long distances. The initial leg of the trip involves navigating the urban environment before heading inland towards the countryside.

The first destination is the old town of Beipu, a region historically settled by the Hakka people who migrated from China in the early 1800s. Beipu is renowned for its unique tea production, specifically Dong Ding Oolong tea, also known as Oriental Beauty or Dongfang Meiren. This tea is cultivated through a distinctive process where the tea plants, when bitten by small insects, emit a sweet scent to attract spiders. This natural defense mechanism is exploited to produce the tea. The cultivation and production are extremely labor-intensive, with the workforce aging and the number of tea shops dwindling from around 15 to four. It is said to take 10 years to master all aspects of the process. The tea is known for its strong fruity aroma and elegant taste, having been exported to Europe for centuries. Gui Ping, the fourth-generation owner of Goose Shop, shares his family's legacy in producing this tea.

Day 2: Traditional Crafts and Folk Traditions

The second day focuses on exploring traditional craft workshops and local customs. The cyclists witness a Mazu pilgrimage, a folk tradition where people walk alongside a statue of the sea deity Mazu to ward off evil spirits and pray for peace. Offerings of paper money are made as a ritual.

The journey then leads to the rice-producing region of Mali, where the focus shifts to soft rush, a plant long used in Southeast Asia for traditional crafts. Hangun Chun is introduced as a craftsman working with soft rush. After harvesting, the soft rush is dried for a week and then processed. The video visits a workshop that produces handmade items like hats and lampshades using intricate weaving techniques. There are up to 15 different weaving patterns. Traditionally, this craft was a side job for women in farming families. A special technique involves piercing and splitting the soft reed lengthwise. The Mali craft products were of high quality and popular exports in the 1930s, but demand declined in the 1970s with the rise of plastic. A revival of the craft began in 2002 when a group of artisans came together, leading to young people learning these techniques and designers developing new patterns.

Day 3: Ponghu Islands - Island Life and Cactus Delights

The third day is dedicated to exploring the Ponghu Islands, an archipelago of 90 small islands located about 50 km west of Taiwan's main island. The islands are experiencing a surge in tourism, with new bicycle paths being developed. The "Green Tunnel" is highlighted as a scenic route.

The islands feature traditional Taiwanese villages with houses over 100 years old, still inhabited by locals. A unique architectural style using coral reef is noted. One village was the first in Taiwan to be designated for conservation, with residents actively preserving its atmosphere. Cacti are prevalent across the islands.

A local specialty, cactus fruit ice cream, is sampled. Yingqing, the second-generation owner of a shop founded in 1989 by his mother, Chong Chu, explains the origin of this unique product. Cactus fruit, though not traditionally common, was chosen for its vibrant color. The cacti themselves are believed to have been brought by the Dutch in the 17th century and planted as a natural defensive wall due to their thorns. Yingqing expresses a desire to protect this unique flavor and the island's scenery. The day concludes with a ride across the Ponghu Great Bridge, spanning over 2 kilometers, offering spectacular views.

Day 4: Tainan and Sun Moon Lake - Canine Companions and Agricultural Bounty

The final day brings the cyclists back to the main island, starting in the city of Tainan, which was once the capital. Tainan, with a population of around 1.85 million, has a history dating back to the 17th century.

A notable encounter is with a black dog descended from a native breed called the Taiwan dog. These dogs were historically cherished by indigenous people as hunting partners and pets. As urbanization increased, stray dogs became an issue, and Tainan was among the first cities to implement a program for their protection. The dogs are trained and matched with suitable owners.

The journey includes a visit to a police station where Ba Wong, a Taiwan dog, works as a patrol and watchdog with his handler, Officer Wong Shung Chow. They demonstrate their skills by searching a guava orchard for fruit thieves, showcasing the trust and bond between them. Ba Wong has been embraced by the local community.

The cyclists then head north, passing through areas abundant with pineapples. Pineapples were introduced to Taiwan in the 17th century and have been selectively bred, resulting in around 20 cultivated varieties. A pineapple farm is visited, where about 250,000 pineapples are harvested monthly during peak season. The selection process involves tapping the pineapples and listening to the sound. The taste of a top-quality pineapple is described as super juicy and delicious.

The final destination is Sun Moon Lake, the largest lake in Taiwan, with a circumference of approximately 33 kilometers. The journey to the lake involves significant effort, culminating at a lookout point.

Conclusion and Reflections

Linda reflects on her journey, expressing how meeting people dedicated to protecting what is important to them, with unpretentious strength and zest for life, was deeply touching. She draws a parallel between the Taiwanese people and sponge, highlighting their ability to absorb and integrate foreign cultural elements, transforming them into their own unique culture while preserving the best aspects. The journey emphasizes the importance of cultural resilience, adaptation, and the enduring spirit of the Taiwanese people.