 |
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
Hsitou Bamboo Forest
A stroll along the shady footpath of the forest is excellent. Being 1,150m above sea level, this is a favorite spot for hikers and campers. Souvenirs made from bamboo can be bought from shops at Hsitou village. Other mountain goods such as mushroom, tea, and herbs are also available. Guest houses are made of bamboo and local wood. Not surprisingly, bamboo shoots are the specialty of restaurants at the guest-houses. Sungpoling Not far from Highway 3 is the tea-production region of Taiwan. Sungpoling is located across a hilly plain that has become large tea plantations. The population of Sungpoling devotes their time to nurturing the tea plantations, and at most times of the day, women can be seen plucking tender leaves and buds from the green shrubs, dropping them into baskets behind their backs. Besides tea, there are pineapple and banana trees available in the area. Plenty of tea shops in the village offer a service known locally as Old Folks' Tea, as it is usually enjoyed by the senior citizens. Samples of many kinds of tea are brewed in miniature teapots and poured into tiny cups, with occasional refilling of hot water to maintain the flavor and fragrance. Tea lovers will definitely devote their time to experiencing the tea of Sungpoling. Pakua Shan
|
|
BROWSE Home
l Places
of Interest l Outdoor
Travel l Food
in Asia l General
Info l Entertainment DESTINATIONS Australia
l Bali
l Brunei
l China
l Hong
Kong l Japan
l Korea
l Macau
l Malaysia
l Myanmar
l New
Zealand Copyright © by Hotnet Sdn.Bhd. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
Between
Taichung and Chiayi is the Hsitou Bamboo Forest that supplies forty percent
of Taiwan's raw bamboo and bamboo products. Measuring 2,485 hectare, the
forest has its own research station operated by the National Taiwan University.
There are various types of bamboo along widespread sections of cypress,
cedar, and pine. The research station cultivates and distributes more
than a million tree shoots each year for Taiwan's extensive reforestation
projects.
Pakua
Shan, also known as Eight Trigram Mountain, is famous for its majestic
Buddha image. The 30 meter high concrete Buddha meditates peacefully atop
a five meter tall lotus dais. Construction time took five years and about
300 tons of concrete was used. The Buddha itself is a hollow shell, with
life-size dioramas of Sakyamuni Buddha's life built into the walls. Each
floor features an aspect of Buddha's mortality. At the back of the Buddha
image is a grand three-story temple, one of the largest in Taiwan. Inside
the shrine hall - on the top floor - is a huge golden statue of the Buddha
aided by two disciples. Beside this main hall is a traditional octagonal
pagoda of eight tiers and an ornate three-tiered pavilion of classical
design.