We will bet that each of you has at least once in your life drunk tea. And the vast majority of us drink it every day. However, until we arrived in Taiwan, we had no opportunity to see how one of the most famous beverages in the world is made. In Pinglin, we learned almost everything about tea. We visited a plantation, a factory, and a museum. And on top of that – quite by accident – we participated in tea brewing ceremonies. Sounds interesting? Then keep scrolling!
Asia is a continent of geographical contrasts. See the best attractions in Taiwan!
Pinglin – tea village – photos
Before we go on a tea trip together, we will have a short lesson in geography and administration. The Pinglin District is actually part of the city of New Taipei, Taiwan. However, we will call it the “tea village” to introduce a bit of a fairy tale and a bit of a homely atmosphere into our story.
The best advice we can offer before visiting this place? Travel to Pinglin independently rather than on an organized tour. This way, you can leisurely explore the village on foot, allowing you to fully appreciate its exotic views. Embarking on your own adventure will enable you to immerse yourself more deeply in the Asian atmosphere. Majestic mountains? Picturesque Beishi River? Lush vegetation? Or perhaps the epic dragon-adorned gate? All of this is within reach in the tea village.
Tea Museum in Pinglin, Taiwan
We started our journey through a unique Taiwanese village by discovering the roots of the tea tradition in this part of the island. Namely, from visiting the Pinglin Tea Museum. It was established in 1997 and was then the largest facility of this type in the world. Interestingly, in 2002 it was overtaken by competition in the form of Tenfu Tea Museum, which is also located in Taiwan. But that’s a topic for another story.
The Pinglin Tea Museum consists of three main exhibition halls. We visited all of them, which allowed us to carefully trace the history and process of tea cultivation. We saw old and modern machines used by farmers, planters and factory workers. We also saw various – and beautiful – vessels for brewing and drinking tea. There was no end to teapots, jugs and cups. But this is where modernity came knocking! The museum offers various interactive entertainment, including… timed tearing of tea leaves.
A visit to the Pinglin Tea Museum turned out to be a real feast for the senses. We had the opportunity to see various types of teas, small seedlings and dried leaves. Every day at home we brew tea – from leaves – but only here did we realize the diversity of species. And this is only a fraction of the global market. The museum rooms are spacious and sterile. Dishes with “exhibits” make us feel a bit like in a laboratory. Anyway, look for yourself!
The biggest surprise that happened to us in the museum was participation in an absolutely unique tea-making demonstration. We received the invitation from the lady shown in the photo below, and the “master of ceremonies” was the boy next to her. It was obvious that this young man approached the entire ritual very responsibly and was very stressed by the presence of the audience. But there was no reason. His tea, brewed at the perfect temperature and poured into tiny cups with a perfect movement, tasted the best in the world.
After visiting the museum, we went for a walk around the ecological park located at the back of the facility. Although it should actually be called “the secret garden”. On the walking trail we saw various small attractions: a carp pond, a roaring waterfall, a religious altar, interesting sculptures and a golden statue. Minus? The dense bushes were teeming with all kinds of giant insects. Fortunately, it rained and they quickly hid, allowing Wiolczi to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding vegetation. : )
Tea plantation in Pinglin, Taiwan
How do you know you’re in Pinglin? After numerous tea terraces stretching on the mountain slopes, resembling waving ribbons from a distance. They may not look as epic as those in India or Sri Lanka, but – take my word for it – they also make an impressive impression. Have you also wondered why tea is grown this way? We know and we will tell you. It allows for better irrigation and sunlight exposure of the bushes, and also ensures convenient harvesting for farmers. After all, the best infusion is made from hand-picked tea leaves.
Jingyuan Tea Factory (淨源茶場) in Pinglin, Taiwan
Patryczek found us the best attraction in the village. It was a real ecological tea factory. There are plantations in the Pinglin area that can boast of growing crops without the use of pesticides. This enables the production – and, importantly for residents, also the export – of organic tea. The factory we visited is famous for the production of GABA oolong. Where does this name come from? At least it doesn’t come from any Gabrielle. It is rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has a calming effect on the nervous system, reduces stress, improves sleep quality and supports concentration.
But back to our factory… Theoretically, there are no sightseeing tours for travelers, only for organized groups. However, we still decided to knock on closed doors. The manager opened the door and initially didn’t want to let us in. However, Taiwanese hospitality prevailed and after a few minutes she became our private guide. We learned a lot of interesting facts from her. Together we went through all stages of tea processing – withering, rolling, fermentation, drying and sorting. At the end, of course, we had the ritual of making tea with the factory staff and a unique treat – popcorn with the taste (of course!) of tea. And all this at a fair price – free.
Pinglin – a walk through the tea village
Pinglin has a population of approximately 6,500 people. The lives of about 80% of them revolve around growing or producing tea. Even though the village was administratively absorbed into the city, it retained its provincial character. Everyday life here goes very slowly. The service and catering outlets have an original Taiwanese charm. In the village you can find Buddhist and Taoist temples, where residents make offerings and burn incense.
Amidst the local color and omnipresent chaos, while walking around Pinglin, we managed to find a calm and quite modern catering point. We sat down for an afternoon coffee in a small cafe – as you probably guessed, after so many tastings we didn’t feel like drinking tea anymore. Finally, we also tried Taiwanese sweets and they turned out to be really delicious. After such pleasures, we did not want to return to Taipei.
Pinglin, Taiwan – prices
- Prices in Pinglin (and generally throughout Taiwan) are very pleasant and, after conversion, similar to Polish prices.
- Entrance to the tea museum with a garden was extremely cheap and cost 80 NTD, or less than PLN 10.
- We saw smaller and larger plantations for free.
- We didn’t pay anything to enter and visit the organic tea factory. But as a token of gratitude, we did some shopping at the store. From what the Manager told us, you can contact them in advance and arrange a tour with workshops, but from what we understood, this applies to larger organized groups.
- The “coffee + cookie” set in a cozy cafe cost about PLN 20-30 per person. Very pleasant.
Pinglin, Taiwan – opening hours
- You can visit the Pinglin Tea Museum:
- Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- The facility is closed on the first Monday of each month. If the first Monday falls on a public holiday, the museum will be closed the next day.
- The tea plantations we saw were not fenced in any way, and entry to their area did not require a ticket. Just be careful not to trample or damage the bushes while visiting. Remember that this is someone’s source of income.
- The factory we saw is not a museum institution and does not sell tickets. For more information, visit their website: organic tea factory in Taiwan.
Pinglin, Taiwan – sightseeing time
- We spent almost the entire day in Pinglin and were never bored for a moment.
- We started visiting the Pinglin Tea Museum around 12:00 and finished around 14:00.
- A walk in the park and a visit to the tea plantation lasted from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Around 3:30 p.m. we reached the factory, where we spent about 1.5 hours.
- From 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, we wandered the streets of Pinglin without a plan and then returned to Taipei.
Pinglin – Taiwan – how to get?
Pinglin is located in the northern part of Taiwan. The tea village is located about 30 kilometers southeast of downtown Taipei.
- Public transport. We first took the green MRT line to Xindian station, from where there are buses directly to Pinglin (travel time is about 40-50 minutes).
- Car. You can reach the tea village by car from Taipei in 30 minutes.
- Organized trip. Travel agencies and local shopping platforms organize bus trips to Pinglin. Although we have used this option many times due to lack of time, we prefer traveling on our own. They give us more freedom and are usually simply cheaper.
Pinglin, Taiwan – interesting facts and tips
- Pinglin is the least populated district of New Taipei City, making it the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
- In Pinglin you can ride the ‘green bicycle tunnel’ surrounded by lush vegetation.
- Pinglin is located in the Beishi River basin, which supplies water to the Feitsui Reservoir – Taipei’s main source of drinking water.
- Thanks to this, the area is strictly protected, which affects the purity of the air and water.
- Due to its proximity to a reservoir, farmers in Pinglin use minimal pesticides, and some have switched entirely to organic tea farming.
- Thanks to its clean environment, Pinglin attracts many rare species of butterflies that can be seen in the plantations and nearby forests.
- Pinglin is famous for the production of Baozhong (Pouchong) tea – a semi-fermented tea with a delicate, floral aroma. This is one of the best places in the world to taste it.
- At Pinglin you can try unique dishes with tea, such as tea tofu, which has a delicate aroma and slightly bitter taste.
- Some guesthouses and tea houses in Pinglin offer baths in water with tea leaves, which have relaxing and skin-nourishing properties.
Pinglin, Taiwan – opinions/reviews
- Patrix – 10/10. Pinglin is a magical place. It seduces with its calmness and friendly attitude to all people. The opportunity to see how the tea grows and then how it is processed in the factory made a great impression on me.
- Wiolczix – 10/10. Pinglin is a great attraction. Don’t even think about going there. The trip to the tea village was an ultra-climatic experience. We only had to see the “tea terraces”, and in the end we had a few additional surprises. Pinglin is located in the mountains, and there is a large river flowing through them, and on the day we got there, it was quite empty, rainy and foggy. The combination of all this made me feel as if someone had transported me to another, fairy-tale, and even a bit wild world. I liked the two parts of the trip the most: the tea-making ritual by the “little master of ceremonies” and the visit to the factory. But actually the whole day was great – even despite the rain.
Pinglin – frequently asked questions
Where is Pinglin Tea Village?
Pinglin is a district of New Taipei City in Taiwan, known for its tea production. It is located in its south-eastern part.
How to get to Pinglin from Taipei?
The most convenient way is to take a bus from Taipei to Pinglin. Alternatively, you can rent a car and take Highway 5, which takes about 30 minutes.
What is worth seeing in Pinglin?
In Pinglin, it is worth seeing primarily the Pinglin Teas Museum, local tea plantations and the Jingyuan Tea (淨源茶場) organic tea factory. If you have the opportunity to participate in a tea ceremony, be sure to take advantage of it. If you have enough time to visit the village, be sure to walk both its “wild” part and the inhabited part. Both the exotic nature and observing the everyday life of the locals are amazing.
When is the best time to visit Pinglin?
The best time to visit Pinglin is spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). The weather is then mild and favorable for sightseeing. We visited the tea village at the beginning of June – it was foggy, rainy, but really pleasant.
Pinglin – map
Pinglin is a charming tea village in the northern part of the island of Taiwan.
