Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry Xiongkong Tea Plantation and Yunsen Waterfall are stunning hidden gems in Sanxia, New Taipei

 

 

New Taipei's Sanxia is truly a great place, and there are quite a few stunning hidden gems too, such as the "Yunsen Waterfall" that has gone viral online in recent years and the "Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry Xiongkong Organic Tea Plantation" that becomes wildly popular during cherry blossom season. These two spots are both close to the Daban'gen and Manyueyuan areas I know inside and out. My urge to explore grew stronger and stronger. A while ago, I specially arranged a one-day forest-bathing vacation to visit. Driving along the winding mountain roads was quite an ordeal. Although I couldn't cover everything, on the winding paths surrounded by dense forest greenery, in a natural environment where the mountains are just mountains and the sky is just sky, my whole body relaxed.

"Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry Xiongkong Organic Tea Plantation"

Among the mountains of Sanxia District, it covers 168 hectares at an altitude of 700 m, with organic tea gardens and verdant green valleys offering sweeping views below the ridge line. Xiongkong, as large as 7 Daan Forest Parks, offers completely different gorgeous scenery depending on the season you visit. The 16-hectare tea garden is the sight I most wanted to see; the gently sloping, easy-to-walk tea garden trail makes for a relaxing stroll.

Although I longed to come during cherry blossom season, it wasn't cherry blossom season, yet the unadorned mountain forest tea garden offered another kind of forest beauty and pleasant scenery. This organic tea garden, which prohibits outside food, is exactly the right place to properly enjoy tea. When you come here to play, remember to set aside time to savor some good tea. It was our first visit, and we had taken a wrong turn earlier, missing the chance to drink good tea in the mountain forest, so we went home with a bit of regret.

About "Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry"

Founded in 1899, Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry, formerly "Japan Mitsui Gomei Kaisha," is a century-old tea factory. After establishing an organic tea seedling trial area in 2003 and becoming Taiwan's first certified organic Assam tea garden, Taiwan Agricultural and Forestry has each year systematically restored cultivation, one by one, on its own tea gardens in northern, central and southern Taiwan using natural farming methods. In 2008, it began operating its own "Sun Moon Old Tea Factory" and "Xiongkong Tea Plantation," gradually transforming the tea factory into a business that also includes leisure operations. It safeguards consumers at every level on food safety, reducing non-natural factors that affect tea quality; production and manufacturing must pass strict quality controls including ISO22000, HACCP, traceability and self-conducted batch-by-batch inspections.

 

The ferns in the park, every one of them grows tall and large. Taiwan is located in a subtropical region, and there are six to seven hundred species of fern plants, all of which are precious natural resources awaiting our proper protection and use.

 

The Xiongkong Organic Tea Plantation, a stunning hidden gem from the air, is beautiful! Among the aerial videos of Xiongkong Tea Plantation shared online, I had watched this one by Mr. Happy before coming, and it is unspeakably beautiful.

 

The hidden gem in the mountain forest, Yunsen Waterfall, has three waterfalls in total. Yunsen Waterfall is the combined name of Yunxin and Senshan waterfalls. There are two mountain forest hidden-gem spots at the waterfall, one being a broad rock-face sliding waterfall, and the other a small, dainty Ahua Waterfall. The two or three images publicly disclosed by the New Taipei City Government attracted us to visit. What we didn't expect was that the industrial road leading to Yunsen Waterfall is narrow, only wide enough for one small passenger car to pass, making it quite difficult to yield to oncoming vehicles. Near the waterfall entrance there is an open space that can park a few small passenger cars, but the turning space is limited, and with one wrong move you get stuck and can't drive out. Because of this, on this visit, before even reaching our destination, we turned back halfway. For one thing, the weather turned cloudy, and being in the mountains we feared rain; for another, we were a bit worried that yielding to oncoming vehicles on the way down would be troublesome. On a return visit, it's still better to avoid holidays, so it's safer, or else come up by motorcycle.

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On the left side of Yunxin Waterfall there is a rather steep mountain path, with ropes set up to lead to the smaller Senshan Waterfall. To go there, you must be cautious and careful and stay highly alert to the trail conditions. Never play in the river valley during thunderstorm season; play, but play safely. Although Yunxin Waterfall is not far from downtown Sanxia, most stunning hidden gems lie deep in the mountains, so one cannot be careless, I told myself. After watching the video "Hiking Impressions - Yunsen Waterfall, Hidden Gem, Zuhe Mountain 20190831," we will visit again; the waterfall is beautiful enough.

 

Rarely choosing to go out on a holiday, we found that Sanxia District, being not far from Taipei City, easily becomes a popular spot. Arriving at this stunning hidden-gem place, I just wanted to properly forest-bathe and enjoy the fresh air rich in phytoncides. Strolling leisurely toward the hidden gem put me in a very joyful mood. After a comfortable sweat, my whole body felt relaxed. Although taking a wrong path cut into our play time, fortunately my daily exercise quota was met. Though I really wanted to play and see more, alas the mountain weather changes so fast, and it looked like heavy rain was coming, so time to happily settle down!