Taitung’s slow pace of life gives this town its unique charm, leaving visitors with no choice but to take a deep breath and relax. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Taitung is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, and its “slow” economy has given rise to a natural, authentic way of doing business that has helped develop a diverse array of industries and experiences.
Taitung is home to a pristine natural environment and a diverse array of co-existing ethnic groups. These factors have shaped a slow tourism industry founded on “people and the environment,” preserving the original beauty of the land and local culture. Taitung hopes visitors don’t just come once, but keep returning to form meaningful connections with the land and its people.
Luye, Taitung, attracts countless fun-seekers every summer, but it isn’t just about hot air balloons — the town is also home to plenty of tea plantations where visitors can experience the joy of picking their own tea. This fun, educational activity suits the whole family. A Luye tea-picking tour lasts around two and a half hours and includes a walk through the plantation, tea-picking, and tea-tasting. Throw on a straw hat and gloves, and look for leaves ready to pick (the best always have two leaves per bud!). Your guide will show you how to spot hidden leafhoppers and green cicadas, then help you pick some leaves of your own. The tour also shares the secrets of tea-making, walking through each step of leaf processing — picking, withering, tossing, and rolling — before you sit down to steep and enjoy the cup you helped make.
Luye is known as Taitung’s “breadbasket,” with an abundance of crops and a harvest every season; roughly seventy per cent of residents still work in agriculture, and the area’s diverse crops make it a living classroom — some even compare it to an agricultural amusement park. Economically, Luye’s most important crop is tea, especially the world-famous Luye Red Oolong Tea. The hilly southwest terrain creates a wide gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures, producing especially high-quality leaves. The Taitung branch of the Tea and Beverage Research Station partnered with local farmers to develop Red Oolong, now one of Taiwan’s specialty teas, and years of promotion have made it one of the top gifts visitors bring home to loved ones.
Luye hosts tea-picking and tea-making events every season, giving city dwellers a chance to get closer to nature, stroll through the fields, talk with locals, and feel how connected farmers are to their land and crops. Back at the farmhouse, visitors make their own agricultural products and share tea with their guides, gaining a firsthand look at how healthy food is grown and a new appreciation for life in the countryside. You can find tour details and book your spot online — from interacting with a tea master to learning how to pick, roll, and properly brew tea, it’s time well spent.
There’s no time like the present to plan your next getaway. Luye welcomes you to tour a tea plantation, surround yourself with lush mountains, and pick tea in the company of the clouds. Gathering your own premium leaves (remember, two leaves per bud!) brings a deeper understanding of where tea comes from and the effort behind every cup. Slow down on your next trip, reconnect with what Taitung has to offer, and enjoy a relaxing, rejuvenating getaway.
