Miaoli Day Tour | Penglai Creek Nature Trail, Nanzhuang Old Street, Xiangtian Lake | Departure from Taipei City

— Trip Information —

Nanzhuang Hakka Culture One-Day Tour in Miaoli

• Departure Date: Daily
• Itinerary:
  - 08:00 Meet at Taipei Main Station East Exit 3 (Please look for staff wearing orange Taiwan Tour Bus vests to check in)
  Pick-up from major hotels in downtown Taipei (Zhongshan/Zhongzheng/Datong/Xinyi/Wanhua) is also available; please inform us in advance when booking.
  - 09:10 Pick-up at Hsinchu HSR Station Exit 4 or hotels in Hsinchu City; please inform us in advance when booking.
  - 10:00~11:00 | Penglai Creek Nature Trail
  - 11:20~13:50 | Nanzhuang Old Street (Lunch at your own expense)
  - 14:30~15:45 | Xiangtian Lake
  - 15:45 Return to Taipei

— Attraction Highlights —

• Nanzhuang Old Street
  Boasting a unique lifestyle, rustic charm, and beautiful natural scenery, you will find beauty everywhere you look here. Whether it is the Osmanthus Alley (which has no osmanthus trees), the simple wooden Nanzhuang Post Office, the Nanzhuang Theater converted into an exhibition hall and restaurant, the retro-style Nanzhuang Elementary School, or shops like Fuxing Cloth Store (specializing in kimonos with a Japanese vibe) and the Old Jinlong Hotel, all are popular spots for travelers. When visiting Nanzhuang, you must walk the famous 'Nogi-zaka' staircase. This short flight of stairs in front of the Nanzhuang Post Office took three years to build, reflecting the difficult living conditions and transportation challenges faced by our ancestors. At the end of the old street lies the 'Laundry Pit,' also known as 'Shuibiantou,' where local residents laid over ten stone slabs over an irrigation canal. It was a place for Nanzhuang women to wash clothes and dishes while chatting and sharing news. Along the way, you can enjoy local snacks, including osmanthus syrup, Hakka rice cakes (zhulongban), ginger rice dumplings, osmanthus plum, lei cha (ground tea), and braised tofu, leaving visitors wanting more.
  
  
• Penglai Creek Nature Trail
  Penglai Creek is the first stream in Miaoli County to implement fish conservation efforts. Thanks to successful protection, it has attracted many tourists on holidays in recent years. The adjacent nature trail is a circular route about 2.4 kilometers long. Starting from the Yong'an Suspension Bridge in the north, you can follow the signs along the river channel to return to the starting point. As Penglai Creek is still in the stage of ecological restoration and environmental protection, please slow down when visiting. While walking, you can take photos of the shimmering fish in the stream. Don't underestimate the sight of Formosan barb, Candidia barbata, and goby swimming freely in the water—this is the result of painstaking efforts! Following the trail, you can explore the unique natural ecology of Penglai Creek. The sight of bees and butterflies dancing among the flowers is truly lovely. If you happen to visit during the tung blossom season, the falling blossoms scattered across the mountains and forests will surely leave a deep impression. However, besides leaving footprints along the way, please take your trash with you. The dedication of the patrol team and local residents to protecting the stream is precious and hard-earned!
  
  
• Xiangtian Lake
  Located in Donghe Village, Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, and also known as 'Yangtian Lake,' it sits at an altitude of 738 meters. Due to its high elevation, it is often shrouded in mist and clouds during winter and spring, resembling a fairyland on earth. The basin is filled with terraced fields and surrounded by lush cedar, mixed forests, and bamboo groves. You can stroll along the circular trail around Xiangtian Lake. With its distinct seasons, the lake features a variety of flowers and ecological wonders blooming in nature. Cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, maple leaves, and cedar forests create a magnificent painting. You can breathe in the fresh mountain air, overlook the natural beauty, and create wonderful memories of your Nanzhuang trip. The biennial 'Pasta'ay' (Dwarf Spirit Ceremony) of the Saisiyat people takes place in the tenth lunar month. A small ceremony is held every two years, and a grand ceremony is held every ten years. During this time, tribespeople from afar return to celebrate the festival with the utmost reverence.