Joy Fang

THE trek up to the isolated Cingjing Veterans Farm (170, Renhe Road, Tatung Village, Ren-ai Township, Nantou County) is not an easy one, but no one ever said that the route to bliss is easily attainable.

Once there, however, you would find that this 765ha idyllic pasture, named “paradise above the mists” by locals, will make you promptly forget your woes.

The farm, which got its name because it was formerly a dwelling place for retired soldiers and their families, is a green piece of heaven nestled at the top of a mountain at an elevation of 1,700m-2,100m above sea level.

With foggy ethereal mists shrouding the surrounding mountain peaks, a proliferation of European-style bed and breakfasts – the result of growing tourism – and a cool wintry atmosphere, you would be tempted to do a little skip and run while belting out The Hills Are Alive, like what Julie Andrews did on the Alps in the classic film, The Sound Of Music.

Here’s what you can do on the picturesque farmland in Taiwan, in the midst of enjoying the fresh air and a quiet retreat.

NATURE’S BEAUTY

A must-visit would be the Cingcing Cao Yuan (or Evergreen Grasslands), for their breathtaking, rolling green fields with grazing sheep beneath azure skies.

Here, you can feed friendly sheep, ride horses for NT$100 (or NT$150 – S$6.50 – for two people), or laze around on the clean, crisp grass and enjoy a lovely picnic.

The grasslands have many pavilions perfect for a resting spot, and, of course, everywhere you turn is a perfect photo opportunity.

You can also visit a castlelike structure – which overlooks the steep valley below – which is actually the home for some of the 400 sheep living here.

While there, don’t forget to drink fresh goat’s milk and buy some goat products to take home. There are hand lotion, goat-milk sweets, goat cream cheese and apparel made from goat wool.

The grasslands are also known for sheep shows, where a Mandarin-speaking New Zealander farmer with the name of Grant Wallace herds sheep using his sheepdog and shears their wool in under 10 seconds in front of the audience.

The animal-husbandry area boasts a horse show (where daring stunts are performed on horseback) and a pretty windmill at the edge of the mountain. There is also a butterfly garden and a small animal farm where you can play with tame rabbits.

As you walk down from the grasslands towards the Tourism Centre, take the Great Wall Track, a 1.8km-long stairs which has 487 steps. While steep, it is not tough to complete. The journey will take you through lookout points with lovely views, and it is also surrounded by sweet smelling Chinese cedars and maple trees.

Next, head to Little Switzerland, a pristine European-styled park that has its grounds covered with small paper windmills, bright flower gardens, a huge pond, wooden bridges and a greenhouse.

Its highlight would be the miniature European monuments dotting the land, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower and Mannekin Pis. There is also a Cinderella pumpkin carriage with which you can pose for a picture.

Look out for a water show in the pond which occurs every hour from 9.30am to 8.30pm.

My favourite part of this garden is the gift shop, which has large paper models of European monuments. It also has life-size – and useable – benches, and figurines made of thick cardboard. You can also mail wooden postcards to your family back home.

Also visit the new Recreation Centre next to Small Swiss Garden, which has eateries and shops selling souvenirs and agricultural products.

And if you are adventurous, try one of many strolling trails guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Many of them start from the Small Swiss Garden; you can sample the Sunset Trail, which is 1,000m long and takes about 30 minutes one way. As the name suggests, it offers an unparalleled view of Cingjing’s spectacular sunset, so try to set off at around 4.30pm to 5pm.

Also try the Green Lake Trail, a 2,300m-long journey which will take you an hour one way. It allows you to see terraced tea gardens, as well as stunning views of the Green Lake.

For more information on other trails, visit www.cingjing.com.tw/map/map_08_trip.asp or ask your hotel.

EXQUISITE CUISINE

As the soldiers used to be from China’s Yunnan province, Myanmar (Burma) and North Thailand, the cuisine here has a distinct Yunnan taste.

Try dishes such as the Babao Fish, which is filled with spices and deep-fried. It is a crispy and sweet wonder. Also try Jin Sa, which is ground meat wrapped with cabbage leaves, and Pea Powder Salad. Head to the Tourism Centre which has shops selling souvenirs and goodies such as goat- milk egg roll, goat-milk crackers and rice wine.

The land is also known for cultivating tea, as well as vegetables and fruit like apples, peaches and pears, depending on the season, so be sure to sink your teeth into these juicy offerings.

As for snacks, go to the market at Cingcing Cao Yuan, which sells wild-boar sausages, fried fishballs, pickled vegetables and dried tofu.

You would never be hungry here, that’s for sure.

This page is brought to you by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Taiwan Visitors Association

HELPDESK
Mists: 薄雾 bó wù
Cream cheese: 奶油干酪 năi yóu gān lào
Cedars: 雪松树 xuĕ sōng shù
Peaches: 水蜜桃 shuĭ mì táo