I have a friend in Taiwan, Huang, who's a primary school teacher and very knowledgeable in many things about the nature. He used to volunteer at the National Taiwan University Highland Experimental Farm which is located over 2000m up in the mountains in Taiwan. One weekend he took us on a visit up the mountains and dropped by the experimental farm.
The National Taiwan University (NTU) is Taiwan's top University and is rich in resources including land. Huang said many decades ago, NTU didn't realise they had nearly 11km2 of land high up in the mountain that was just sitting there not doing anything. Then someone suggested why not make use of it for educational and experimental purposes, afterall that's what universities do. Honestly, that wasn't a bad idea as the land is spread across three areas and the alttitude ranges from 900m to 2700m. Due to the vast mountain ranges that the farm covers, there are three types of climate from low to high elevation, which includes sub-tropical climate, temperate climate and subarctic climate, (source) that's perfect to experiment growing and cultivating different things.
That weekend, we went to the largest area, the Mei-Feng headquarter. The total area here is 6.2km2 and sits 1700km to 2700km above sea level.
Huang took us around all the different parts of the farm, including some that many visitors probably wouldn't go because there doesn't seem to be a lot to see. That's the big advantage of having our own personal tour guide. These green houses have a lot of cactus and succulent plants, but I can't remember why I didn't take any photos... maybe I was too busy admiring them!
The area here was so big, there wasn't a need to cram a lot of things around. These simple plantations dotted around, and a few tables and benches was just enough to remind one of being surrounded by nature.
I don't know what this tree is called, I'm pretty sure Huang told me the name, but honestly I can't remember to save my life. The reason he pointed it out to us was because of the unusual shape of the leaves. They look like a dress, the sleeves at the top, and the bottom half is the dress. How amazing nature is!
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This is another bigger greenhouse and more popular with visitors as it was well signposted. They had lots of flowers, herbs and plants here, but I didn't know 99% of them. One thing I made sure I captured, was English Holly, but to be honest, I still don't know which of those plants is the holly!!!
If you've ever been to the Eden Project in UK or the Cloud Forest in Singapore, or any touristy greenhouse project, you'd notice it is very different here. This whole place is quite raw and rustic. No mesmerising displays and dramatic installations, just a few simple benches dotted around around the path for visitors to sit and relax.
One great tip I learned that day, which is totally unrelated to nature, was a really cool way to take selfies. I noticed a friend who went with us that day, stood behind some plants and then extended her arm and mobile phone in front of the plant when taking selfies. She used the plants as a frame for the image adding another layer to it. I thought that's a great idea so tried it out myself. Ok, the effect was so so, as it was my first attempt and no where as good as her's, but you get the idea 😅
Before we left, I bought some produce from the farm. It was quite late in the day and there wasn't much left. I rememberrthe cherry tomatoes were really nice. I'm not a big fan of tomatoes, especially when eaten raw, but Taiwan has some really nice cherry tomato varieties.
By the way, I nearly forgot. The experimental farm isn't just all about plants and 'boring' stuff. There was some fun stuff as well. This maze is my favourite part out of the whole trip. I haven't been to such a tall maze before, and it took me over five minutes to get out on the first attempt!!!
You can checkout all my travel post on the Pinmapple here or click on Mr Pinmapple below
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What a lovely place and that selfie with the flowers as a frame looks great! I never take a selfie, but like this idea as I could perhaps hide away my double chin and perhaps a few wrinkles???
The leaves of that tree reminds me of paper doll dresses, nature is quite amazing indeed, you were lucky to have your own guide there.
But I am a real ninny as I feel kind of claustrophobic when getting into a maze!
Nice to have places like that to visit not so!
You noticed how I managed to hide my railtrack wrinkles across my forehead in that selfie 😉 Your go now Lizzie!!
It was a lovely day out that weekend, up in the mountains, nice and cool and not many people around. I am so missing those trips
That's a really cool garden, or farm I suppose. The leaves on that tree do look like a dress - neat! The hedge maze looks massive and it's impressive that the hedges are so tall. I've only ever been to super easy mazes that were small and had low hedges.
I'll have to try that selfish technique at some point. Smart idea 💡
yeah!! more photos, we're on the roll!!!
I was really impressed with this maze, and it was great that you could also stand at a higher level and watch people getting lost inside
That is pretty cool that you can watch others. It would be good for parents if their kids wanted to try the maze on their own.
Wow, you found your way out of the maze in just 5 minutes. That's awesome. It doesn't look easy to me.
I am also not a big fan of raw tomatoes but the cherry ones looks good.
By the way, I've never seen the pink flowers in the photo no.5. Do you know its name?
Let me ask my friend Huang and get back to you. It will give me a chance to say hi to him as I haven't been in touch with him for a long time. He loves talking about nature!
Great. Thank you :)
Raw farms like that are more authentic compared to artificially constructed ones in well-known tourist attractions. It must have been a joy to be completely surrounded by nature and to fully bask in its presence. I’d probably struggle to find my way in that maze as I don’t Ike the feeling of being trapped. But thanks for that camera frame technique, I now have a handy trick to use for my future photo shoots.
Actually, I'm with you, it was a bit daunting going inside as it's the first time I've been in such a tall maze. I made sure I was with my husband all the time😃
It will be interesting to see your selfies Erne!!!
Interesting maze! I spotted many pink bellflowers and hydrangeas. Also, the unique tree leaves are from the parasol tree. They are a signature in downtown Shanghai. Taiwanese enjoy pairing cherry tomatoes with a piece of dried sour plum. Try it! Delicious and innovative combination 😊
They actually have sour plum powder now, and dip all their fruit in it. I was a bit sceptical at first, but it really works with a lot of fruit and adds another dimension to it. It's great!
Great idea to use that land. Everything looks so luscious and green. I bet the produce you bought was really nice and very nutritious!
Anything grown in the highland always taste so good, especially since the air quality is so nice, that's why Taiwanese highland tea is so famous as well.
It's great that the Taiwanese are using what they have to their own advantage. I assume that they probably export a lot of tea as well? I have been in a few South American countries that have excellent growing conditions, but they still import most of their food... Very sad actually because at the end of the day, the people have to struggle with high living costs.
好漂亮的花园，太喜欢了！
謝賀老師。這是台灣大學的實驗農場，在海拔2000多米高，種有不少植物。我全都不懂，朋友愛好大自然又是達人，跟他出外玩獲益良多 😊
@livinguktaiwan wow very nice farm.There are many beautiful flower gardens and beautiful surroundings. I enjoy such beauties.
It was a great day out, by the nature
Wow, look at all that greenery. Beautiful, so lush and inviting. My boys would love that maze.
I can imagine kids will love it, in fact I'm sure big kids would love it as well
The produce doesn't get any fresher and tasty then that love natural farms :)
So true, straight from the source, can't get any better than that
beautiful and amazing place