Huangjin Xiaozhen Leisure Agricultural Area

As the golden heavy ears of rice are ripe in the paddy fields interwoven with the blooming flowers of golden shower trees that stand on both sides of the road in Guannan, Fuxing, Fuji and Shiqiang outside of Miaoli Gongguan Township in the height of summer, the enchanting name of “Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen)” is given. For hundreds of years, bountiful waters of Houlong River has continued to be led and poured into the fields of Golden Town after passing through Dawo Tunnel Drain, nourishing the land, crops and life of the residents while passing on and manifesting the vitality of Hakka culture with diverse sights presented throughout the year.

Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen) is the only jujube production area in Taiwan, and the scorching summer days is the busy farming season for harvesting jujubes. When the jujubes begin to turn from yellow into red, one ought to carefully pick the jujubes from the trees and relish the delicious taste of the pulp after its having absorbed enough sunlight by either directly savoring the fresh fruits or sun-drying them into dried red dates. Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen) has been encouraging the farmers to practice non-toxic cultivation during the recent years in order that the consumers can enjoy the dainty fruits at ease. Chiu, Chun-Min, the owner of “Yu Shun Red Date Orchard”, jokes that this is exactly the so-called “let it be farming”, namely to let the crops grow naturally. Though insect pest may cause quite a lot of agricultural losses, the remaining fruits will become totally reliable. As a result of Taiwan’s being confronted by innumerable imported goods of uneven quality, the native Guannan red date has gradually make its mark and become the popular product whose sweet-and-sour flavor is well-received on the market. Chiu, Chun-Min is planning to initiate several DIY experience programs that allow more people to savor the fresh and delicious taste of the red dates from Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen) through picking fruits and making red date jam and vinegar.

“Chuan Long Cultivation Plantation” is the visitor center of Huangjin Xiaozhen Leisure Agricultural Area. Consider it as the starting point of your journey and come to find all the tourist information you need. According to Lin, Jui-Ying, the president of Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen) Association, Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen) is a rural village full of Hakka stories everywhere. For example, visitors can get to know the food culture of pickled dishes through the experience of pressing Monochoria (preserved vegetables); other plants and flowers such as Roselle, Florist's Daisy and Perilla are also planted in the area. When it comes to Roselle season, one can collect flowers, make floral syrup and drink scented tea while exploring the beauty of Hakka culture in Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen).

The agricultural products of Golden Town are often proved to be the sources of ingredients for the dishes served on the table in virtue of being abundant in variety. Visitors are given more choices if they wish to relish the seasonal dainties. For example, the 10-year-old “Qiao Xuan Restaurant” begins to develop dishes using agricultural specialties from the local area in order that the genuine rural flavor can be shared to the public after having joined “Ma Ma Tian’s” brand under the guidance of Council of Agriculture. Hsu, Chih-Chiang, the person in charge of Qiao Xuan Restaurant tries to develop innovative dishes by making use of native ingredients. For example, adding red dates to fried rice or pan-frying the red dates with other veggies to draw forth the fruity fragrance; special dishes such as stewed chicken soup with red dates and red date sausage are specially served as well. In addition to red date dishes, Hsu, Chih-Chiang also involves persimmons into cold menu, makes dumplings stuffed with shredded Fu Cai (pickled vegetables) and taro cakes using fresh taros. Visitors are allowed to have a hearty meal and get familiar with the delicacy and fine taste of Golden Town’s (Huangjin Xiaozhen) authentic agricultural products.

Winter is the harvest season for taros. Despite the fact that Gongguan is the second largest production area of taro, it fails to enjoy a reputation as good as anywhere else. Therefore, Kuo, Chih-Chun, the owner of “Ma Kuo Taro Farm” had decided to quit his job in the city and returned to his homeland to manage the taro fields collectively with his father. During the initial stage of operation, Kuo, Chih-Chun would always offer free taro samples to any consumers or shops that inquired for his taros in the hope of letting more people know about the quality and merit of Gongguan’s taro, which successfully boosted the growth of the number of orders received. Then as taro ball or taro-flavored panna cotta DIY programs was also involved later on, visitors were allowed to savor the silky and rich taste of the taros right on the spot. When it comes to harvest season during which the ripe taro leaves will become shorter than a regular man, “Ma Kuo Taro Farm” will as well invite visitors to go into the fields since it is the best time to harvest taros. The muddy ground in taro field is soft and loose that both adults and children are able to harvest the taros with ease. Harvesting taros thus becomes one of the most popular activities in Golden Town (Huangjin Xiaozhen).

Harvest the ears of rice is the impression most people have for paddy. The Japanese Shimenawa (enclosing rope) developed and braided by “Shemaynawa Straw Handicraft” upon applying rice straws bestows a distinctive purpose on Taiwanese rice. Suspended from tori of a Shinto shrine or serving as hanging ornaments during new year’s or wedding and funeral events, the Japanese Shimenawa (enclosing rope) is like Chinese spring festival couplets which have the meaning of praying for blessings, pursuing good fortune and avoiding disaster and represent the arrival of a new beginning. “Straw weaving is one of traditional industries that require exhausting effort,” said Tsai, Pei-Wen, the person in charge of the third generation. Since the materials for weaving straw are the green rice straw in the blade, Shemaynawa cooperates with rice farmers under contract. The green rice straws are dried and put in order before they are woven through hand twisting once harvested.

The Japanese restaurants in Taiwan love to use Shimenawa (enclosing rope) for decoration as well, which incites more people to recognize the weaving artistry of rice straw. Hands-on straw weaving DIY program offered by Shemaynawa at the moment enables visitors to understand the history and culture of Japanese Shimenawa and experience the aroma given off by the rice straws while making their own enclosing ropes.