Land, Downshifting, Sustainability: Philosophy of Life in Daxi

　　Daxi, a small town developed along Dahan River, possesses a unique cultural manner. Walking through the old street, you can see ancient buildings from the reign of Qing Dynasty and archways with exquisite stone carving from Japanese colonial period. Looking into the distance, you can also see white smoke gently curling up. This is where the craftsmen are diligently steaming soy beans and making tofu. In addition, the five-spiced aroma of stewed tofu pervading the old street might induce one to order a bowl of mixed dried tofu.

　　After leaving the old street and heading along Kangzhuang Road towards Shihmen Reservoir, you will arrive Kuangzhuang Agriculture Leisure Area. The scenery along the way shifts from ancient architectures to lush green paddy fields with boundless pastoral views. Comparing with the hustle and bustle of the old street, the Leisure Area is like a utopia isolated from the world. You can not only experience simple rural life here but savor seasonal local dishes. If you are looking for a distinctive travel experience in Daxi, visiting the Leisure Area would be a worthwhile trip.
　　Kuzngzhuang Agriculture Leisure Area is an organic community that bridges the gap between local residents and industrial culture. The philosophy here combines three concepts: production, life and ecology, which is similar as the idyllic world imagined by the Chinese poet Tao Yuanming. Some cultivate fruit and vegetables with personal philosophies; some prolong the industrial culture by inner blueprints. Everyone here is devoted to common goals: land sustainability and cultural inheritance. Today, the Area has become a vital agricultural community in Taoyuan and also a base of agri-food education, join us now and explore Kuangzuang together to discover its philosophy of life.

📌Kuzngzhuang Agriculture Leisure Area
Add.: No. 655-1, Ln. 671, Sec. 3, Kangzhuang Rd., Daxi Dist., Taoyuan City
Tel.: 886-980-211-492

　　Sanhe Wood Art started up by crafting religious altar and Taishi Chair, a type of old-fashioned wooden chair. However, the demand for these products declined with the changing social structure, and were gradually replaced by smaller pieces of furniture. To keep up with the modern trend, Sanhe Wooden Art has focused more on daily-used items. Nowadays, under management of the third generation, the workshop has transformed from a contracted manufacturer to a touristic workshop. Various wood-carving DIY activities are being held here to prosper the spirit of woodcraft.

　　After completing the mold, the tofu master will teach everyone how to make traditional hard tofu. Before starting, the newly crafted mold should be rinsed, scalded with hot water, then left to cool before assembling. Next, the master will lead the participants to prepare the ingredients for making tofu. The first step is pouring rich soy milk into a pot and gently simmering it with low heat. The process demands careful attention to temperature control and continuous stirring to avoid scorching. Once the heating is done, add the prepared bittern, a salty liquid extracted from the sea, separately by four times. Gradually, soy milk starts curdling and becoming lumpy. At this moment, underlay the cheesecloth, evenly distribute the lumps into the mold and fold the excess cloth over the top. Finally, place the mold lid and drain any excess water. In a matter of moments, here comes the traditional Daxi tofu. Fresh tofu needs minimal seasoning; only with a drizzle of soy sauce allows you to savor the pure and smooth taste.

📌Sanhe Wood Art
Add.: No. 36, Ln. 671, Sec. 3, Kangzhuang Rd., Daxi Dist., Taoyuan City
Tel: 88-3-388-1870

　　Goodtimes Farm, which is about 10-minute drive from Daxi old street, is a paradise that closely interweaving daily life with ecology. The countryside ambiance widely pervades the farm. During the planting season in spring, you can experience seedling transplanting; as spring transitions into summer, you can collect bamboo shoots; when the grains are ready for harvest, you can participate in crops reaping. With changing seasons, there are different kinds of events that unfold on the farm. Goodtimes Farm, equipped with plenty of activities, is especially suitable for families to visit. Come and be a one-day farmer here, immersing yourself in authentic rural life.

　　Chicken raising is a major highlight at Goodtimes Farm. The free-range breeding method allows chickens to run freely on the dry and comfortable ground. In addition, the farm sets up secluded nesting boxes for hens to lay eggs undisturbed. The spacious and comfortable environment ensures not only the health of the chickens but the quality of the eggs. For small families of 3-4 members, the “Egg Packing” activity is a must-try. With guidance from the chicken expert, the whole family can learn about the chicken-raising patterns within the farm and collect a box of eggs from coops to take home. If you are a fan of pudding, “Crème brûlée DIY” is highly recommended. The activity starts with eggs picking and then moves to the kitchen, where participants can enjoy the process of making creamy milk-flavored brûlée.

　　When visiting Goodtimes Farm, you must not miss the joy of farm work. In March, the farm occasionally holds planting activity which allows visitors of all ages to step barefoot into the muddy farmlands and transplant rice seedling. In mid-July, it is the perfect time to engage in harvest activities in the field. After all of the farm work, you can have a bowl of homemade rice noodles to cool off from the scorching sun. Through these tours, Goodtimes Farm hopes to foster visitors’ awareness that every grain of rice comes from great effort. After a whole day of labor and sweat, a mouthful of warm rice or a sip of cold water can aspire people to appreciate the simple and beautiful pleasure of life.

📌GoodTimes Farm
Add.: No. 225, Section 3, Kangzhuang Road, Daxi District, Taoyuan City
Tel.: 886-3-388-9689

　　In Kuangzhuang Agriculture Leisure Area, there is an organic farm, which resembles a magic box. The farm produces various fruits and crops from the soil. There is nothing the land cannot yield, except the kind you cannot imagine.

　　The farm owner, Mr. Zhong, settled in Daxi after his retirement. He established Five Lucky Organic Farm without any background in agriculture. Perhaps it is because he never had agricultural training that he could think out of the box. Mr. Zhong was not limited by the traditional planting and he experimentally grew different types of plants and fruits. Over the years, he transformed from an amateur to an expert. Additionally, he wore one more hat as a tour guide for the Kangzhuang community. Thanks to the fertile land and rich produce, Five Lucky Farm has now become the most distinctive farm in the area.

　　In addition to planting, Mr. Zhong raises chickens and bees. In springtime, strawflowers blossom everywhere in the field, embellishing the lush green field with vivid colors. You can find seasonal activities here throughout the year; from white radishes and bitter gourds in spring to mangoes and passion fruits in summer; roselle flowers in autumn; and cherry tomatoes in winter. As long as the season is right, a variety of vegetables and fruits can be found here.

　　Mr. Zhong holds a strong belief in land sustainability, so all crops on the farm are cultivated in an eco-friendly way. In the hope of continuously conveying the belief, he established the agri-food classroom where the visitors are guided to create rural cuisine with ingredients from the farm. Through the practice of eating seasonal and local food, the seed of sustainability is going to be deeply sown in everyone’s heart.

📌Five Lucky Farm
Add.: No. 31, Ln. 671, Sec. 3, Kangzhuang Rd., Daxi Dist., Taoyuan City
Tel.: 886-936-713843