Shitan

Day Trips

Arrive in Shitan early in the morning and settle into a traditional Hakka guesthouse nestled among green hills. Stroll through the nearby village lanes, admire the grey brick houses with red lanterns, and meet locals tending vegetable plots. Feel the rhythm of rural life as you exchange greetings and sample freshly picked mandarins.

Join your host family for a home-cooked lunch featuring signature Hakka dishes like stuffed tofu and salted chicken. Learn about ancestral worship and the unique courtyard layout of Hakka dwellings as you tour the house. Engage in light conversation over cups of fragrant local tea brewed with mountain spring water.

Attend a welcome banquet where villagers gather to share folk songs and stories under string lights. Taste a variety of local snacks such as fried popiah rolls and sweet rice cakes prepared at dusk. Savor the cool breeze and watch lanterns drift into the starlit sky.

Set off just after dawn toward the roaring Da Longtan Waterfall, the path winding through dense bamboo groves and mossy boulders. Feel the mist on your face as you ascend wooden steps lined with ferns and vibrant wildflowers. Pause at lookout points to photograph the cascading water against rugged cliffs.

Unpack a picnic lunch on a flat rock beside a crystal-clear plunge pool and taste local sticky rice cakes while listening to rushing water. Cool off with a refreshing swim in the shallow pools or simply rest on sun-warmed stones. Chat with fellow travelers drawn to the waterfall’s serene beauty.

Return to the guesthouse for a soothing foot bath infused with herbal leaves harvested that morning. Enjoy a simple dinner of braised pork belly and steamed greens around a communal table. Drift to sleep to the gentle lull of crickets singing in the hills.

Head out before sunrise to catch golden rays illuminating the Si Da Rice Terraces, their stepped walls reflecting the sky in glittering pools. Wander narrow earthen ridges between paddies, listening to the hum of dragonflies and frogs stirring in the water. Greet early-rising farmers as they guide their plows along misty field edges.

Join local women in planting or harvesting rice, learning how every terrace wall is reinforced by stones and bamboo. Savor a riverside lunch of freshly steamed dumplings and simmered bean curd sourced from nearby farms. Exchange stories with elders about ancestral farming techniques handed down for generations.

Settle on a hillside viewpoint to watch the sun sink behind the terraces, turning the paddies into bronze mirrors. Participate in a hands-on lesson on weaving straw ornaments from rice stalks for good harvest luck. End the night with a light supper of herbal tea and candied lotus seeds under a canopy of stars.

Wake before dawn to join tea pickers in the dewy highland gardens where rows of young tea bushes stretch along misty slopes. Practice gentle plucking techniques and learn to distinguish between bud flushes for green, black, and white teas. Breathe in the fresh fragrance of leaves as sunlight filters through bamboo shades.

Attend a traditional tea ceremony demonstration by a master who explains the art of rolling, drying, and steeping. Sample a flight of regional teas paired with delicate pastries made from sweet potato flour. Wander among the rows to photograph sweeping vistas carpeted in vibrant green.

Enjoy a sunset stroll through adjacent pine forests, watching light dance across tea gardens. Sip handcrafted oolong tea at a hilltop pavilion while feeling the cool mountain breeze. Return to your lodging for a quiet supper of steamed river shrimp and pickled seasonal vegetables.

Descend into the depths of Lingkou Cave with a local spelunking guide who illuminates stalactites and hidden streams. Navigate narrow passages and marvel at limestone formations shaped over millions of years. Spot small cave fish and rare ferns clinging to damp rocks.

Float in a wooden raft through an underground river channel, the only sound your paddle echoing off cavern walls. Break for a simple lunch of rice balls and cured meats on a rocky ledge lit by natural skylights. Learn about the cave’s role in local folklore and rituals as you explore side chambers.

Set up campfires at the cave entrance and gather around for storytelling under the glow of headlamps. Share grilled corn and sweet taro wrapped in bamboo shoots with fellow adventurers. Drift off to sleep listening to distant water droplets in the chamber beyond.

Rent bicycles and follow winding country lanes flanked by ginger and bamboo fields shimmering with morning dew. Pause to photograph grazing water buffalo and wooden bridges arching over emerald streams. Chat with farmers harvesting taro tubers by the roadside.

Stop at an organic vegetable farm to harvest lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers alongside local growers. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch prepared in an open-air kitchen overlooking rolling hills. Exchange gardening tips and purchase small bundles of fresh produce to take home.

Return to the village under a sky tipped with pink and violet hues as twilight descends. Feast on stir-fried greens, mushrooms foraged that day, and a savory Hakka salted fish. Relax by a lantern-lit porch and admire silhouettes of swaying bamboo.

Tour a cluster of centuries-old tulou dwellings, marveling at their circular design and thick rammed earth walls. Hear about the communal living style and ancestral halls that anchor each family unit. Participate in a brief ceremony offering tea to ancestral tablets.

Join a family cooking workshop to prepare lei cha (thunder tea soup) and salt-baked chicken, pounding ingredients with a granite mortar. Learn how each spice and herb contributes to health and harmony in Hakka cuisine. Enjoy your creation with a side of pickled mustard greens.

Gather for traditional Hakka folk music and dance in the village square, rhythmic drums echoing off the courtyard walls. Try your hand at the fan dance or tambourine accompaniment under the guidance of expressive elders. End the night with a sampling of sweet lotus seed wine to toast new friendships.

Embark on a gentle rafting trip down the Hanxi River, savoring panoramic views of forested hills reflected in calm waters. Navigate through occasional eddies and skim past overhanging vines teeming with birdsong. Pause mid-journey on a sandy bank for fruit-infused water and coconut jelly snacks.

Dock at a quaint fishing village where bamboo huts line the riverbank and nets drape from wooden racks. Learn traditional fishing methods using bamboo traps and cast nets under a fisherman’s guidance. Feast on freshly grilled fish seasoned with local chilies and citrus leaves.

Roam the village as lanterns are lit, illuminating narrow pathways between thatched roofs. Share stories with villagers about seasonal river cycles and fish migrations. Return to camp to roast sweet potatoes over an open fire beneath a canopy of fireflies.

Soak in steamy hot springs nestled in a secluded mountain valley, letting mineral-rich waters soothe tired muscles. Feel the mist swirl around stone pavilions built to blend seamlessly with the landscape. Enjoy a meditative moment listening to birds calling from pine-lined slopes.

Indulge in a herbal mud wrap treatment infused with locally harvested ginseng and chrysanthemum petals. Lounge on bamboo recliners in a shaded pavilion while sipping chrysanthemum tea. Savor a light lunch of clear soup noodles with wild mushrooms and fresh greens.

Wander along lantern-lit pathways to a hilltop gazebo and observe a brilliant display of fireflies dancing over reeds. Share a twilight snack of candied hawthorn slices and sweet bean pastries. Drift to sleep in the tranquility of the hot spring lodge, lulled by distant insect choruses.

Pack your bags after a leisurely breakfast of rice porridge topped with preserved eggs and pickled radishes. Participate in a brief farewell ceremony with your host family, exchanging small gifts and heartfelt thanks. Capture final photographs of misty hills and tiled rooftops shimmering in morning light.

Wander through Shitan’s bustling market stalls, sampling sugar-coated fruits, glutinous rice balls, and hand-woven bamboo baskets. Chat with artisans crafting paper lanterns and intricately carved wooden toys. Purchase souvenirs such as dried ginger candy, tea leaves, and embroidered sachets.

Gather for a final regional feast at a local restaurant serving steamed river fish with black bean sauce and braised pork in plum glaze. Reflect on your ten-day journey while toasting with rice wine infused with osmanthus flowers. Conclude the night with a stroll along lantern-lit alleys and the promise to return soon.