Taiwan promotes Alishan area indigenous tours to prepare for post-COVID-19 tourism recovery

Land of Legends: Taiwan's Ali Mountain was premiered at a presentation on July 17, 2020.

With Taiwan recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic at a faster rate than most of the world, there has been a surge in domestic travel to popular tourist destinations on the island. Government officials have been careful to track any correlation between travel surges and any new cases of COVID-19.

The hard-hit tourism industry in Taiwan is hoping to rebound and work is already being done to prepare for the return of international travelers. The Taiwan Ecotourism Association (臺灣生態旅遊協會), with support from Taiwan's Tourism Bureau, MOTC (交通部觀光局), invited foreign nationals living in Taiwan, specifically members of the media and tourism industries, to take part in the Alishan Ecotourism Tour. The tour was designed to showcase the Tsou tribal culture and support tribe-owned businesses. The world-famous high mountain tea culture of Alishan was also an important component of the tour.

Tsou tribal performers at the opening ceremony.

The delegation of foreigners were given the opportunity to experience special activities and cuisine, in order to share feedback and document their experiences. With the feedback, tours could be fine tuned and improved for international travelers. The PR generated from the tour was also meant to generate overseas interest in Alishan tours ahead of the restoration of international flights.

The delegation included leaders in the tourism industry. Biodiversity is one of Taiwan attractions, with endemic flora and fauna attracting researchers and hobbyists around the world. In the tour group was a leading birdwatching tour operator and a leading expert in ferns. Several tour operators were in the group and members of the media.

 The organizers, supporters, and guests of the Alishan Ecotourism Tour.

The well-organized itinerary of the 3-day Alishan Ecotourism Tour began on Friday, July 17, 2020 and ended in the evening of Sunday, July 19, 2020. The tour started with opening ceremonies and a film screening at the Alishan National Scenic Area Chukou Visitor Center. The film, Land of Legends: Taiwan's Ali Mountain, gave the viewers a sneak preview of many of the experiences they would have on the tour. After the activities at this site, the travel delegation proceeded by bus into the mountains of Alishan National Park for their adventures and experiences.

The Ministry of Transportation and Tourism Bureau placed great importance in this tour, sending their highest ranking officials to take part in the opening ceremonies and participate in much of the tour. Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Chang Shi-chung (張錫聰), Director General of the Tourism Bureau, MOTC attended the opening ceremony and press conference. They also attended part of the tour experience with a small delegation of government officials as the main sponsors.

The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the highlights of Alishan tourism.

During the three days, foreign visitors were treated to a stamina-building regimen of hiking through scenic mountain vistas, expansive tea farms and quiet indigenous villages. They experienced a unique Fujian-style tea ceremony in the Four Seasons Tea Festival in the Alishan National Forest. There was a tour of the Tsou tribal traditions at Dabang Village and a feast of tribal cuisine. The tour group made their own DIY coffee in the traditions of the Tsou tribe, dating back hundreds of years. They stayed in a Tsou-owned bed and breakfast, and they stayed in the historic Alishan House.

The group of international guests were professionally hosted by the Taiwan Ecotourism Association. They had an experienced English-speaking tour guide (Rita Huang) and other guides throughout the three days of experiences. Cheng-meng Kuo, Mong-rong Chiang, and Lin Chun-ru of the organization also supervised the tour activities.

For the guests, the tour was full of unexpected and pleasant surprises. The experiences provided bonding opportunities and unforgettable memories, which is what the tour organizers hope will be made available to international tourists in the post-COVID-19 world. Please read below to see more details and photos about the tour.

ALISHAN ECOTOURISM TOUR DESCRIPTION AND PHOTO ALBUMS

DAY 1 (July 17, 2020)
View Photo Gallery Chukou Visitor Center No.51 Checheng Chukou Village Fanlu Township Chiayi County 602 Telephone: 05-259-3900	Alishan Area Tourism Presentation - 3-day Alishan Ecotourism Tour began with a Presentation at the Alishan National Scenic Area Chukou Visitor Center. The hosts, sponsors and special guests were entertained by Tsou tribal performers to open the event. Andrew Ryan of Radio Taiwan International emceed the event, and Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications gave opening remarks as to the importance of the Alishan area as a center of tea culture, tourism and indigenous culture. The presentation in the auditorium was highlighted by the screening of Land of Legends: Taiwan's Ali Mountain. After the screening, the main actor, a Japanese national, took to the stage to share his experiences and to answer questions. There was a quick press conference, after which the officials invited everyone to check out Tsou traditional crafts and snacks at an outdoor market. Next to the outdoor market was a large pen containing Formosan Sika Deer (台灣梅花鹿), which is an animal that is important to Tsou culture.
View Photo Gallery Sheng Le Tea Farm No.9-5 Xiding Fanlu Township Chiayi County 602 Cell Phone: 0921-200-841	Sheng Le Tea Farm - On the first day, the delegation was transported by bus through winding mountain roads to the Sheng Le Tea Farm (生力農場). When we arrived, the government officials were already making themselves comfortable at a tea tasting table on the patio. The view overlooking the tea fields and mountains in the distance was breathtaking. Our delegation was escorted to the second floor dining area, where the tables were already set with vegetable dishes and tea. We weren't sure if we were going to have a vegetarian lunch, until we sat down and were served by the waitress. We had some interesting dishes, including chicken with herbs and tea-infused pig feet. The meal was a delicious beginning to our exploration of Alishan. Before we took in more of the surrounding landscapes and visited their tea tasing room and gift shop. This well-known establishment also has a good B&B attached to it.
View Photo Gallery Tsou Feng Restaurant No.17, Dabang Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Cell Phone: 0938-867-380	Dabang Village - Our tour bus entered scenic Dabang Village, which is a village of the Tsou tribe. We pulled into the parking lot of Tsou Feng Restaurant (鄒風館), where we were greeted by a retired local chief. He took us on a tour of the village to share the history and traditional culture of the place. Next to the restaurant was a traditional Tsou home, which was made from wood and bamboo, with two fire pits in the center, shelves and a bed. He explained what tribal living was like in the past. We walked to the Japanese colonial-era police station, and then to a ku-ba, which is a tribal men's house, where young boys were taught to be warriors. The ku-ba was also the place where they displayed the severed heads of vanquished enemies. According to the chief, there are only two ku-ba's still standing in Taiwan. Next to the ku-ba was a tall tree, with notched carved into the side, which resembled a ladder. He said this was the village tree, where the spirits could descend from the heavens. After the cultural tour, everyone was treated to a large feast of indigenous food and millet wine. Local singers were very talented and provided an energetic ambiance.
DAY 2 (July 18, 2020)
View Photo Gallery Mimiyo B&B No.185-2, Dabang Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Cell Phone: 0952-165-761	Mimiyo B&B - After a thoroughly enjoyable dinner party at Tsou Feng Restaurant in Dabang Village, a van whisked us away through a dark, winding mountains road. The road became more narrow and after 15 minutes, we arrived in a clearing, which was the parking lot for Mimiyo B&B (秘密遊民宿), a tribal-owned business. It was situated near the top of a mountain, giving us a clear view of starry skies. A chorus of tree frogs and cicadas welcomed us to this little paradise. The room was comfortable, with the soft, queen-sized beds situated on the wooden floor. The bathroom offered a shower and clean toilet, so we could get ready for a good night's sleep. The next morning, we were served an Asian breakfast of rice and small dishes, plus a helping of tea. Outside the window was a majestic view of the mountains and a gathering of butterflies. Once breakfast was done, the owner and his son showed us how to use the Tsou bow and arrows for target practice.
View Photo Gallery Alishan Four Seasons Tea Festival Dinghu Trail Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Web Site: Click Here	Alishan Four Seasons Tea Festival - After saying goodbye to Dabang Village, boarded a bus to the Dinghu - Alishan Summer Tea Festival (頂湖-阿里山夏季茶會), which is part of the Alishan Four Seasons Tea Festival series. Each season of the year, the tea festival has a different form and different location in the Alishan area. We didn't really know what to expect, but this experience was one of our biggest surprises of the tour. Our group walked through a small village and stopped at a trail head, where there was a tent, a tea-tasting and registration table, and flags to mark the special event. The trail led into a dark pine forest, shrouding the event in mystery. A group of ladies, adorned in Chinese-style clothing, held a green fan made from a palm tree leaf. Each person was given a numbered palm fan, which served as our entrance ticket and let us know which group were were in. Our group was divided into groups of five. We followed our female "tea master" along the forest trail, and a surreal scene was revealed to us. There were five stone tables on a clearing on the forest floor, each with five stone seats for guests. In the center of the group of tables were musicians. They played traditional Chinese songs that set a peaceful, mystical ambiance. Each tea master demonstrated tea ceremony etiquette, while we sampled some of the best Alishan teas and cakes. Then, each of us had a turn performing tea ceremony etiquette. After getting our fill of tea and snacks, we spent some time exploring the beautiful trails around us.
View Photo Gallery FKUO Tea Farm No.280, Leye Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Telephone: 05-256-1483 Cell Phone: 0928-356-932 Facebook: Click Here	FKUO Tea Farm - The Alishan Four Seasons Tea Festival was peaceful and relaxing, so we weren't really in the mood for a big meal. We were transported to FKUO Tea Farm (山芙蓉茶業), a tribal-owned restaurant and tea far located in Leye (Lalauya) Village. The setting was on a hillside overlooking fields of tea bushes set in pristine rows. On the horizon were the majestic mountains of Central Taiwan. The restaurant on the first floor was a pleasant, medium-sized space tastefully decorated in indigenous decor. Fortunately, the lunch served was light, and unique for us to explore. A bowl of purple rice waited to be covered in grilled, slice pork belly and stir fried cabbage. There was also a stir fried dish of chicken covered in herbs. There was an unusual dish that was a deep purple, soft, chewy mixture rolled up in bamboo leaves. Was it a taro, purple rice mixture? I wasn't sure, but it was good. Lunch was served generously with their locally-grown tea. The owners sent us off with samples of their tea to take home.
View Photo Gallery Lalauya DIY Coffee Leye (Lalauya) Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605	Lalauya DIY Coffee - After lunch at FKOU Tea Farm, our tour group was transported to Lalauya (Leye 樂野) Village, one of the villages of the Tsou Tribe in Alishan Township. We were greeted at the entrance by a man and three women dressed in Tsou regalia. Before our DIY coffee experience, the Tsou man gave us a hiking tour of Lalauya Village. There were steep streets, but we needed to burn some calories anyways. After our tour, we began our coffee experience. The hosts gave us a blessing and began the experience by having our group dance together in Tsou tribal fashion. Each of us was given a large handful of raw arabica coffee beans that were grown locally. They put the beans in a sack for each person, and we whacked the hell out of our sack of beans against hard surfaces, in order to loosen the outer shells of the beans. After a few minutes of hard whackings, we place our beans inside of a basket in order to thresh out the outer bean shells. With the shells removed, our beans were placed in a roasting container. We held the container over the fire, shaking the beans to make sure they were evenly roasted. This cooking portion took at least 15 minutes, before it was suitably dark brown. The next step was to place the beans in a wooden mortar, and we used our wooden pestle to pound and grind our beans into a fine powder. This traditional grinding process took at least 20 minutes. Once the powder was fine enough, we were able to go to our coffee brewing station. We used a coffee filter and hot water to make our final cup of coffee. This was the longest any of us have ever had to wait for a cup of coffee, but we drank the full-bodied roast with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
View Photo Gallery Alishan House No.16 Xianglin Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Telephone: 05-267-9811 Web Site: Click Here	Alishan House - Our bus entered the gate of Alishan National Park and we were able to drive up a private street to our hotel. It wasn't just any hotel. It was the historic Alishan House. It seems to be the biggest hotel in the area. It may not be new and modern, but there is a local style and charm that makes it unique to the area. As soon as we arrived, we gathered at a rooftop to catch the sunset. With many of Taiwan's Presidents staying in the hotel while visiting the Alishan area, there was a sense of history to the place. We even had a private tour of the hotel's historic aspects. We were impressed by a room that was kept in its original Japanese style, which made us feel like we were transported back 90 years into the past. There was a coffee shop that was decorated in 1950's Taiwanese style. After our tour, we were treated to the expansive buffet in the hotel's signature restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed the ham and roast beef, as well as the endless side dishes and dessert. We all retired to our rooms full of tea, coffee and full bellies, ready for a good night's sleep.
DAY 3 (July 19, 2020)
View Photo Gallery Alishan House No.16 Xianglin Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Telephone: 05-267-9811 Web Site: Click Here	Alishan House - We woke up refreshed, after going to bed relatively early, and waking up to the crisp, cool air of the mountains. The rest was well-needed after all the hiking we had done in the previous two days. We all met in the main hotel restaurant, where they served a buffet-style breakfast, including eggs, bacon, bread, butter, cheeses, and other Eastern and Western selections. We ate in a bit of a hurry, because we had to check out, and catch the bus for a morning hike. There is a beautiful network of paths around the hotel, and we walked them to arrive at the local bus stop. From there, we did our morning hiking, before returning for lunch in the same restaurant. There was no buffet for lunch, as the chefs brought our lunch set to our table. After making sure we didn't eat too much, we left the hotel, thanking the managers for their hospitality and fond memories.
View Photo Gallery Alishan National Scenic Area Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Web Site: Click Here	Alishan National Scenic Area - On the 3rd day of the Alishan Ecotourism Tour, we began a full day of hiking in the morning after breakfast. We started at Alishan House, around which is a network of beautiful paths exploring the surrounding area. We followed one of the paths up the hill to the bus stop. We hopped on a bus that took us higher up the mountain to the train station. The Alishan Forest Railway, is in itself, a popular attraction. Visitors can take the train from Chiayi City to Alishan. From the Alishan Train Station, there are paths up to the top of the mountain to get the best views of sunrises and Jade Mountain (Yushan). During our morning hike, the proprietors of Ali Mountain No35 Tea gave us a tour of the flora and fauna of the area. In the afternoon, we had a guided tour of another part of the park, and journeyed along an unused railroad track to a 3,700 yr-old cypress tree.
View Photo Gallery Mountain Ali Tea No.35 No.103 Zhongzheng Village Alishan Township Chiayi County 605 Cell Phone: 0908-353-535 Web Site: Click Here	Mountain Ali Tea No.35 - During our morning hike of the Alishan National Scenic Area, we were greeted by the owners of Mountain Ali Tea No.35, which sat on a hiking trail leading to the observation area to see Jade Mountain. After their tour, they guided us back to their beautiful tea shop. They provided us with tea service and small cakes. We had time for more practice of the tea ceremony and a last round of conversation with our tour mates. When the tea service was done, we ventured into the exhibition area of the first floor of the building. There was an exhibition of industrial design used in the local tea industry.