Beipu

Why visit

In the 1830s, Hakka and Hoklo settlers formed a company called Jinguangfu to open up the hills south-east of Hsinchu, then the land of the Saisiyat and Atayal peoples. Beipu became its base. The town still has the old company office, family mansions and a temple at its heart, and it is one of the best places in Taiwan to learn about Hakka culture.

What to see

• The Citian Temple: the town’s main temple, founded in the 1830s and dedicated to Guanyin, with fine carvings and the market around its square.
• Jinguangfu: the old office of the reclamation company, a national monument, with a plain brick front and a courtyard.
• Tianshuitang: the grand mansion of the Jiang family, the company’s leaders, a fine example of a Hakka courtyard house. It is privately owned, so you can usually see it only from outside.
• The old lanes: narrow alleys of brick houses and old wells behind the main street.

Lei cha and Oriental Beauty

Lei cha, or pounded tea, is the Hakka speciality to try here. You grind sesame, peanuts, tea leaves and grains in a ridged bowl with a wooden stick, then add hot water to make a thick, nutty drink, served with snacks. Beipu and nearby Emei are also known for Oriental Beauty, an oolong made from leaves nibbled by small insects, which gives it a honeyed taste.

Tips

• Buses run from Hsinchu and Zhudong. A tour or a car makes it easy to combine Beipu with Neiwan or Emei Lake.
• Many shops and teahouses close early on weekdays, so arrive by late morning.
• In autumn, look for dried persimmons. See our persimmon season guide.
• Read our Neiwan and Beipu day trip guide.