Zhao Men Agri-tourism Area

Customers are from the mountains, the rural settlement lined out by the round the mountain track is unsophisticated and tranquil; the attentively cared and protected environment filled with luxuriant trees and bluish greens that form the infinite breathtaking scenery of rural village.

Located in valley of hills covered by Subcostate Crape Myrtle trees and ponds, Zhao Men Agri-tourism Area is an enchanting, secluded wonderland created by Hakka folks with concerted effort ingenuity. Come for an outing or having a stroll along the ridge trail to admire the picturesque landscaped formed by poetic deciduous cypress and bright snowy Tung flowers, sample rustic delicacies and experience the fun of fruit plucking and handmade toys.
Such a romance, such an attractive flower scenery, such a leisurely mood is endlessly tempting and inspiring.

More than ten years ago, the owner of Pitangwo Natural Farm Huang Liu Kuei introduced the water of farming pond to the deserted farmland and built up four ecological ponds while constructed garden trails all around the poolside in hopes of guiding visitors to immerse themselves in the warm embrace of this luxuriant forests. The greeneries that can be seen everywhere inside the garden are the aquatic plants and native Formosan plants grown by Huang Liu Kuei with great care. Flying butterflies and Japanese horned beetles can be found everywhere as visitors walk on the paths in the quiet garden open to the public free of charge when the days of summer approach. Visitors can even discover and enjoy the sight of hundreds of unicorn beetles inhabited on Formosan ashes on both sides of the roads at a close distance. In addition, ecological interpretation of aiyu and aiyu washing DIY program are also available. Visitors are instructed the how of washing and scrubing the pectin inside aiyu seeds with both hands and enjoy the yummy aiyu jelly right on the spot.

The scent of roasted chicken that wafts across the mountains is so enticing that no one can possibly be able to resist the call of this heavenly taste. Located on Ji Yue Trail, countless visitors have been attracted to “Liu Family’s Braised Chicken” by its fame for more than ten years. Home raised free-range chickens that weigh over four and a half catties are strictly selected by the keeper Liu Hua Chu before they are seasoned with the secret recipe of spring onion and garlic and put inside the tailor-made iron box for a one-hour roast by firewood to develop the pleasant flavor of golden roast chicken. The key to making a roast chicken with tender meat and crispy skin is master chef’s pouring chicken oil onto the charcoal fire from time to time to ignite the high temperature of instant flames that enable crispier chicken skin. It is suggested that the eating method of “dip the skin in pepper salt and dip the meat in soup” be followed for feasting on the authentic flavor of this chicken dish.
Aside from braised chicken, Liu Hua Chu also recommends the fragrant, oily and smooth “bamboo shoot stewed with soy sauce” and crispy tofu rolls made with soft tofu, meat floss and coriander wrapped inside the deep-fired soybean milk film. He hopes that every traveler who visits Zhao Men can enjoy the simple, scrummy savor that comes from Hakka village.

To go straight forward along Jiufu Hiking Trail, one will arrive at “Chenjia Leisure Farm”. Chen Hsin Yuan, the owner of Chenjia Leisure Farm is one of the Shen-Non Prize for farming award winners who is apt at developing various kinds of toys to give to his dining customers as presents by making use of locally available materials. Simple fine bamboos and the seeds of Poonga-oil tree can be transformed into bird flutes in butterflies or birdies shape in an instant. The adorable and amusing toy immediately attracts the attention of both young and old. Come and enjoy the authentic Hakka banquet during lunch hours and try to make the palatable chewy mochi using a bowl of steamed sticky rice through pounding. If you wish to savor western creative dishes, signature dishes such as golden fried rice and sweet and salty pizza in Hakka mochi flavor and crunchy, al dente texture are served at “Zhaojia Yapin Café” on the farm. Freshly-baked pizza DIY program that invites everybody to fill their stomach with their own craftsmanship is also available upon reservation on holidays.

Hide secretly in the forest, “Chou Family’s Farm” is the first tourist farm themed on hawthorn in the entire country. According to the farm owner Chou Shao Cheng, the texture of fresh hawthorn is rather sour that it has to be exposed under the sun and brushed by the exclusive winds of September of Xinpu to drive out the sweet and aromatic flavor. Commonly known as “Lindley's Pear”, hawthorn varies in different sizes. Whereas the tiny fruit on top of tanghulu is the smaller candied shanzha, larger hawberry is often dipped with sugar coating or pickled. As most of the modern people do not know much about Chinese hawthorn, nor have they savored the taste of shanzha, Chou Shao Cheng decides to develop hawthorn konnyaku DIY program through which visitors are led to search for the traditional sweet-and-sour flavor in their memory. There are all kinds of fruiters planted on the farm as well: dragon fruits and Taiwanese pears in summer, pomelos, grapefruits and persimmons in autumn and ponkan, tankan and sugar oranges in winter. Come for a farm tour and feast your eyes on the beauty of the four seasons.

“Jingu Farm” is the best place to go for playing with flowers and plants. As the farm provides flowers and seedlings of all seasons, ornamental plants, all types of planting equipment and organic soil, the visitors are able to purchase all the plants and materials they need for flower farming. Born of a peasant family, the owner of the farm Huang Liu Chen is enthusiastic about sharing all the planting knowledge he has learned with the public. He reveals proudly the fact that there have been many plant experts and enthusiasts who rejoiced at finding treasures and discovering rare exotic flowers and herbs at Jingu Farm. With the beautiful landscaping of small bridge over the flowing stream, a sense of surprise can be perceived everywhere on the farm. Visitors can take a rest near “Ming Pond” in the center of the garden and have a panoramic view of the fascinating landscape of lakes and mountains. At the back of the park stretches a smooth and easy path called “Jiufu Trail” where visitors are allowed to appreciate Tung blossoms in spring and summer and the discoloration of deciduous cypresses in autumn and winter. When the weather is fine and clear, the vision will seem to be vaster that one can even see the open waters of Hsinchu and Jianzhuwo by standing aloft the ridgeline.