Shengang

Day Trips

Start your morning roaming Shengang Old Street, where colorful shopfronts and historic facades greet early risers. Sample signature snacks like scallion pancakes and sweet potato balls from local stalls. Chat with shopkeepers to learn about the street’s century-old culinary traditions.

A short walk brings you to the Shengang Folklore Museum, housing artifacts from early settlers. Explore handwritten calligraphy inscriptions and century-old rituals preserved in glass cases. Learn about the town’s maritime history and agricultural roots through interactive displays.

As dusk gathers, dine at a family-run restaurant serving braised pork rice and stir-fried vegetables with seasonal produce. Witness lantern-lit paper crafts being crafted in nearby workshops. End the evening with a leisurely stroll along the illuminated street, soaking in the warm glow of hanging lanterns.

Begin at Gongxing Ancestral Shrine, marvelling at its intricate wood carvings and lantern-adorned halls. Listen to guided stories of the founding families and their rituals. The peaceful courtyard invites quiet reflection as the morning sun streams through red pillars.

Head to a nearby restored rice mill to see old agricultural machinery in action. Participate in a demonstration on threshing techniques used a century ago. The earthy scent of rice grains and polished wood lingering grounds the experience.

Enjoy a home-style dinner at a traditional Hakka eatery around the corner. Feasting on layered stir-fry and preserved vegetables, you’ll taste authentic rural flavours. End the night with locals sharing folk tales around a low lantern-lit table.

Set out early to rent bicycles near the Dajia River and head onto the flat riverside trail. Feel the gentle breeze and spot kingfishers diving into the water. Paved paths wind through fields where farmers tend to rows of vegetables.

Stop at one of the riverbank pavilions for a picnic lunch with bento boxes from a local deli. Then continue pedaling toward the scenic bamboo groves lining the trail. Capture photos of arched bridges and wildflowers framed against mountain backdrops.

Return your bikes as golden hour approaches and stroll to a veranda café overlooking the river. Sip on local fruit juices while watching the sunset paint the sky. As stars emerge, enjoy the tranquil sounds of flowing water below.

Venture to a nearby lotus farm ablaze with pink blossoms in season. Take a guided boat ride through narrow canals bordered by green pads. Your guide explains the cultural significance of lotus in Taiwanese art and cuisine.

Return to shore for a handicraft workshop under straw shade, weaving lotus stems into decorative mats. Try your hand at macramé-style knots as an artisan demonstrates each step. The scent of fresh lotus petals mingles with warm afternoon air.

Dine on a lotus-themed set menu featuring flower salad and deep-fried lotus root chips. Local musicians perform a soft melody as fireflies hover nearby. Cap the evening with sweet lotus seed tea under paper lanterns.

Arrive at an arrowroot farm at dawn to watch farmers harvesting purple tubers. Learn to operate a small threshing stone to separate fibers. The dew-tipped fields shimmer under the rising sun.

Join the family-run millhouse for a hands-on lesson in grinding arrowroot into paste. Then try traditional noodles made from the freshly milled dough. Organic arrowroot tea refreshes you before heading back to the fields.

Attend a communal meal where villagers share arrowroot soup and pastries. Swap stories around a lantern-lit table by the farmhands. The warm hospitality and homemade treats leave a lasting memory.

Start at Shengang’s bustling morning market, where vendors sell fresh produce and local breakfast buns. Sample soy milk and rice noodle soup as you weave through colorful stalls. The chatter of bargaining locals creates an authentic atmosphere.

Visit a cultural center offering a Chinese calligraphy workshop. Guided by a local master, you practice brush strokes on rice paper. Admire hanging scrolls inscribed with classic poems and proverbs.

Enjoy a Peking duck dinner at a dimly lit courtyard restaurant. Watch chefs carve perfectly crispy skin at your table. Finish with sweet red bean pancakes before a soothing stroll back to your lodgings.

Tour a small-scale silk weaving workshop to see silkworms spinning cocoons. Observe the spinning machines and learn how silk threads are extracted. The air hums with the soft click of looms at work.

Dye your own silk handkerchief using natural colors derived from plants. Under guidance, create tie-dye and batik patterns reflecting local motifs. Admire finished pieces displayed on racks in the sunlit studio.

Feast on a vegetarian-friendly hotpot at a nearby tea house. Chat with weavers who join you for dinner, sharing tales of their craft. Sip jasmine tea while admiring silk scarves draped around the shop.

Strap on rubber boots and explore flooded rice paddies with an ecologist guide. Spot egrets and herons hunting in shallow waters. Learn about traditional planting cycles and water management.

Set up a drawing pad at a riverside pavilion to sketch birdlife and reflections in the paddies. Your guide teaches you basic techniques for capturing motion on paper. A bento lunch energizes you under a shady tree.

Enjoy grilled river fish at a floating shack by dusk-lit waters. The gentle ripple of water soothes as local families dine nearby. End the day with a flashlight tour spotting nocturnal frogs and fireflies.

Visit a mountain-tea plantation on the outskirts of Shengang for a leaf-picking session. Breathe in the crisp air as you pluck tender buds. Farmers explain the grading and drying process.

Return to the tea house to participate in a formal gongfu tea ceremony. Practice proper pouring and tasting techniques under a tea master’s guidance. Pair oolong sips with delicate mooncakes.

Learn to cook three regional dishes under a local chef’s tutelage, using tea-infused ingredients. Savor your creations by candlelight in a traditional room. Sip leftover tea as a digestif before heading to your homestay.

Sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your homestay’s garden. Fresh fruit and homemade pastries await on bamboo trays. The tranquil setting invites you to read or journal.

Head to Wenwu Bridge for a final riverside stroll. Browse floating craft stalls and snack on popcorn sweet potato. Watch fishermen casting nets from small wooden rafts.

As the sun dips, enjoy a riverside farewell feast with local specialties like three-cup chicken and stir-fried choy sum. Lanterns glow on the water as musicians play folk tunes. Raise a cup of rice wine to toast your 10-day journey in Shengang.