Wanbao Food and Farming Mini-Trip: 2 Experts Lead the Way, Inviting You to Join
Photos / Huang Chien-pin
Beginning in 2011, a group of experienced local farmers, with the enthusiastic participation of a group of young people, turned the watermelon fields of Wanbao into the best field classroom for "parent-child food and farming experiences." For the story of Wanbao's struggles, see the "Food and Farming Mini-Trips" column co-produced by NewsMarket and Parenting magazine, in the article "Come to Wanbao Together and Be the Master of the Watermelon.
Beyond the various hands-on activities, the local experts of Wanbao want to tell us about nine hidden-gem spots. If you want a deeper understanding of Wanbao, you absolutely cannot miss them!
Local Experts Lead the Way
Wanbao neighborhood head Hsieh Hsiu-yi, artist Hung Chiang-po, pottery teacher Wu Shu-ling, and Southern Min language teacher Su Hsiu-feng, after some brainstorming, recommend nine great places to visit near Wanbao. Aside from the area around Longyun Temple, which can be reached on foot, the rest are more convenient to reach by car. Don't worry about getting lost; the residents say warmly: "Just come, and we'll lead the way!"
Wanbao has a rich ecology, and water birds of all kinds can always be seen
Expert 1: Neighborhood Head Hsieh Hsiu-yi
The neighborhood head is Wanbao's geography expert; ask him anything about the community, big or small, and you can't go wrong. Ask him casually how to get to any spot, and he can immediately give clear directions, saving you even the time of checking a GPS!
Expert 2: Hung Chiang-po
Painter and birdwatching expert Brother Po, who occasionally works the fields as a farmer, is very familiar with Wanbao's ecology. Only he knows which corner of Wanbao you can spot water birds. With a brush in hand and a big telephoto camera on his back, he records the birds' figures and captures Wanbao's beauty.
Expert 3: Wu Shu-ling
A pottery teacher: no matter what children want to make, as long as there is a picture and tools, she will certainly help them finish their work, inspiring their interest in clay and their amazing creativity. She loves calligraphy, making clay pots, flower arranging, and also grows organic sweet potatoes.
Expert 4: Teacher Su Hsiu-feng
A retired teacher who once taught Southern Min at Dashan Elementary School, she can recite many Southern Min proverbs off the top of her head, and can even describe Wanbao in verse. She speaks fluently about the culture of her hometown, and listening to her tell stories will give you a better understanding of Wanbao's history.
Spots Recommended by the Experts
Longyun Temple, the center of local faith
Around Longyun Temple
The center of local faith and also the main venue of the watermelon workshop, it has a carefully arranged library. You can stroll nearby to see the century-old Indian coral tree and old well, and walk a bit farther to reach the water bird area.
Old Indian Coral Tree
In the past, when people in Wanbao fell ill, they would cut a thick piece of bark with a chopping knife and simmer it into a soup, and the illness would be cured, so everyone holds the old tree in respect. (Recommended by the neighborhood head and Su Hsiu-feng)
Century-Old Well
In the past, everyone in the village came here to fetch water and wash clothes. People who drove ox carts out of the village to work would also always pass by on their way home. They would first draw a bucket of well water for the ox to drink, then draw another bucket for themselves. Households came and went here, chatting about everyday matters, and all the village's news would spread from here! (Recommended by the neighborhood head and Su Hsiu-feng)
Water Bird Area
Wanbao has a rich ecological environment, and water birds of all kinds can always be seen. In spring, the more commonly seen ones include: little grebe, common moorhen, little ringed plover, black-winged stilt, common sandpiper, cattle egret, little egret, great egret, and wood sandpiper. Among them, the black-winged stilt is the most numerous. Spotting the birds takes patience! (Recommended by Brother Po)
Wanbao Humanities and Arts Studio
Pottery classes can be booked, with Sister Shu-ling leading parents and children to complete pottery works together. This is Wanbao's Shangri-La; beside the workshop is a large pond with water lilies year-round, and occasionally birds come to rest. The scene of blooming flowers and singing birds is lively! (Recommended by Brother Po and Wu Shu-ling)
Dashan Railway Station
One of only two Japanese-style wooden railway stations on the Taiwan Railways Administration coastal line. When driving to Waipu Fishing Harbor or the mangrove area, remember to stop and take a photo. (Recommended by the neighborhood head)
Mangrove Ecological Protection Park
A complete intertidal ecology, with large numbers of Kandelia obovata; fiddler crabs, mudskippers, egrets, and more can be seen everywhere. The park has trails and pavilions, very suitable for taking children for a stroll! (Recommended by Brother Po and the neighborhood head)
Transportation info: 1. Exit at Zhunan Interchange, then follow the signs for Wufu Bridge (the mangrove protection area is under Wufu Bridge). 2. From National Freeway No. 3, exit at Dashan Interchange, then take Provincial Highway 1 and turn left at the third traffic light (there is a police station on the corner).
Waipu Fishing Harbor
"Some things, if you don't do them now, you'll never do them in your lifetime!" Remember that classic line from the Taiwanese film "Island Etude"? On the south side of the harbor there is a painted embankment; the movie scene where the male lead and two graffiti-artist friends are chased by police while painting graffiti on the embankment was filmed right here. Strolling along the wooden boardwalk of the south embankment, listening leisurely to the sound of the sea breeze, this is absolutely a great place to enjoy the sunset! (Recommended by Wu Shu-ling)
Transportation info: On Provincial Highway 61 West Coast Expressway at the 99.6 km mark, take the grade-separated ramp, connect to Miaoli Route 8 heading west to the end, and you will arrive.
Hehuan Stone Weir and Munai Stone Weir
Walk north from Waipu Fishing Harbor and when you reach the last viewing pavilion, you will encounter the stone weirs! These are gravel walls built up by hand from gravel, and are the only two stone weirs remaining in Miaoli. At high tide, the seawater submerges the weirs and fish enter with the tide, so at this time you can only confirm the weirs' location by markers; at low tide, the whole weir is exposed, and you can see the interesting sight of fishermen digging for oysters and catching fish. (Recommended by Brother Po)
Wanbao Humanities and Arts Studio
Blog http://artistic.org.tw/wan/modules/weblog/
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Wanbao Transportation Info
a. Driving yourself: If coming from the north, take National Freeway No. 3, exit at Dashan Interchange, and connect to Miaoli Route 8 (Mingshan Road).
Go straight; along the way you will pass Beiji Temple. Turn right at the red star (signposted), and you will reach Longyun Temple. If coming from the south, you can also exit at Dashan Interchange on National Freeway No. 3.
b. Train: Dashan Railway Station is a coastal line station, served only by local trains. First go to Zhunan Railway Station, transfer to a coastal line local train, ride to Dashan Railway Station, and after getting off, walk about 15-20 minutes to reach Longyun Temple.
c. Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport: Ride to Zhunan Railway Station and get off. If you take a taxi after getting off, it costs about NT$300.
April Crop Tips
How to Pick a Watermelon
1. Look at the stripes: the more the stripe intervals open up, the riper it is
2. Look at the watermelon's bottom: the bottom refers to the part of the watermelon closest to the soil, not the very end. A white bottom means lower ripeness; a yellow bottom means it has been exposed to sunlight, so ripeness is higher
3. Tap the watermelon and listen to the sound: a deep sound like a drum means riper; a crisp sound like a gong means less ripe
How to Pick a Sweet Potato
1. Smooth skin with no rotting spots. If there are insect bites but no rot, it is still edible and does not affect the taste
2. It mainly depends on the consumer's personal preference. Usually the plump, large type is better, with full flesh and higher starch; the slender type easily has sweet potato strings inside and a poorer texture, but some people still like the fiber of sweet potato strings
3. A sprouted sweet potato is still edible; just remove the sprouts
How to Pick Peanuts
1. Check whether there are black spots on the outside that have penetrated the peanut shell. If they have penetrated, the peanut kernel inside is already spoiled; if the black spot is only on one side, it is still edible
2. Check whether the peanut shell has insect-bored holes. If so, the peanut kernel inside has been eaten
3. Crack open one or two to see whether the peanut kernels are plump. If not plump, they usually have less aroma and sweetness
(Photo provided by Hung Chiang-po)