Hakka Tour

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Taiwan Hakka Tea Cultural Hall (臺灣客家茶文化館) will officially open in Taoyuan City by the end of this year after the local government signed an operation-transfer (OT) contract with Ilha Formosa Tea Company Limited (福爾摩沙股份有限公司) on June 2.

Located in Taoyuan’s Longtan District, the tea cultural hall covers an area of more than 3.5 hectares, at a total cost of NT$635 million. With the design of landscape architecture, the two-story building is expected to be the most beautiful landmark on Taiwan Romantic Route 3.

According to Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), the cultural hall is situated in a tea plantation, embodying the spirit of Taiwan tea culture. The venue is divided into three parts: the exhibition hall, the gallery, and the restaurant, Cheng said, adding that a variety of exhibitions featuring tea business and different tea brands on offer from all over Taiwan will present the richness of Hakka tea culture to the public. The mayor believes that the venue will not only be a cultural landmark but also a popular tourist attraction.

Noting that the history of northern Taiwan’s tea industry began in the areas of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, Cheng said the first tea research and extension station on the island was established in Taoyuan 119 years ago. The fact that Longtan District had been an important tea production hub during the period of Japanese rule contributed to the selection of the hall’s location, added Cheng. He hopes that people will learn more about Taiwan’s tea history and Hakka culture, such as Hakka folk songs and tea-picking opera, which are unique legacies derived from Hakka tea industry.