Asia

[Visited: January 2020]

We know that there is only one bus a hour, and when we arrive at Xiandian subway station, we feel lucky when our bus pulls in right away. We wait in the straight line already outside, and when the driver opens the door again, we move forward, to discover that the driver only takes exact change. A quick run to the nearby 7-Eleven where we break a 100 dollar bill, and we find the driver waiting for us. Some forty minutes later, we step off at the final stop in Pinglin, walk the street and find a bike rental shop. The bikes are small and look just OK. The beginning is easy, as it is downhill. We cross a pedestrian bridge, and as soon as we are on the other side, we are already much closer to nature. We see the first tea plantations, also higher up the surrounding hills. Some are lined with palm trees, all are neatly planted in rows. This is the baozhang tea for which Pinglin is famous.
We follow the Beishi river downstream, cross another bridge, and continue until we enter the Jingualiao valley. This is a dead-end road, and since we are now at the lowest point, there is only one way: up. We soon discover the faults in our bikes: cracking chains and no gear change while climbing. The views get better at every turn in the road. Below us, a small river which tumbles down through a forest and past rocks and boulders, small temples, sometimes broader views of the river with tea plantations. We reach Jngualiao, a hamlet where time seems to stand still also because we do not see anyone. We continue in a landscape that gets more beautiful the higher we get, until we reach the trailhead for a short walk along the river. Enormous ferns, leaves, and tranquility makes us forget that we are so close to one of the largest conglomerations of Asia.
We cycle on a little more, and then decide to turn around. We now realise how much we have climbed: we get a few kilometres of descent. One of the bikes turns out to have barely working brakes. At a crossroads in Jingualiao, we decide to take a turn to the right and take a different route back to Pinglin. We see old houses, and if it were not for the barking dogs, there would have been silence here. Then, the real climbing starts: steep roads meandering through tea plantations. On one particularly steep section, as I am working hard to get my bike and me up the hill, my saddle suddenly lowers. We stop more often now, to visit a small temple, to get a better look of the tea plantations, enjoy the views. At one plantation, we see traditional tombs looking over the fields with tea. We have time to eat some special food prepared with tea before boarding our bus, which will take us back to the noise of the big city.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

inspiring you to travel

Pinglin tea fields (Taiwan)

Pinglin tea fields > Taiwan > Asia

[Visited: January 2020]

Around the World in 80 Clicks