Caopingtou and the Yushan visitor gardens in Xinyi township, 1,250–1,500 m up on the flank of Jade Mountain. There is a giant teapot landmark here, and the whole run of the New Central Cross-Island Highway.
Itineraries1
A day along the New Central Cross-IslandDay tripShuili → Xinyi → the Caopingtou visitor gardens and the giant teapot → lunch at a garden guesthouse → the viewpoints towards Tataka → back downYushan oolong is made from the Ruanzhi cultivar. There is hands-on tea making in August and September, by appointment.
Sights and trails
Cherry blossom at Caopingtou
Cherry and plum bloom together January to March, with the tea gardens sitting in among them. This is the district’s busiest season.
The giant teapot
The marker for the visitor gardens, impossible to miss from the road. There are garden guesthouses beside it.
Things you can do yourself
Hands-on tea making, August–September
Most of the garden guesthouses can arrange it. Book ahead; usually it needs a group.
What is on, and when
January–MarchThe Caopingtou blossom season. The road backs up — set off early.
August–SeptemberWhen the tea-making sessions run. Cool up here in summer, and good for walking.
Eat, sleep, travel
EatThe garden guesthouses mostly serve meals of mountain produce and wild greens. Xinyi also has a plum industry — plum wine and plum extract are easy to find.
SleepGarden guesthouses are the main option. They fill in blossom season — book early.
TravelNo public transport up the hill — drive or hire a car. Take the Jiji branch line from Ershui TRA to Shuili, then Provincial Highway 21, the New Central Cross-Island. A long climb on mountain roads; do not drive it at night if you are not used to them.
