TaitungHotel Royal ChihpenPlucking tea leaves and awakening Red Oolong in the morning light

The slopes of Luye’s tea plantations remain veiled in morning mist. A cool breeze brushes your cheeks as dewdrops shimmer on the tea trees. Along the narrow path, farmers are already pacing the ridges, checking the budding Red Oolong plants as they quietly unfold in the moist morning air. In every “one bud, two leaves” lies not only the mountain’s fragrance, but also the wisdom of Luye’s bond with the land.

At the farmhouse, kettles have long been boiling, filling the air with the honeyed, fruity scent of freshly roasted Red Oolong. Tea farmers share how to distinguish spent leaves, hand-roast peanuts, and make milk tea from scratch. You can grind tea leaves, inhale the dry aroma, and savor the lingering finish. Here, Red Oolong is not merely a tea—it is Luye’s sincere response to the transformation of Taiwan’s tea industry.

In this misty morning garden, every leaf carries decades of care, patiently nurtured through seasons and slow-fired to perfection. Before leaving, brew a final pot. The first sip is warm and gentle, with a lingering aftertaste—like the hillside itself, finally awakening, steeping the spirit of the land into every cup.

ITINERARY BOOKING PLAN A TRIP

Stay, and see how the city begins its day

Dawn inside the room, streets awakening outside —
the journey starts here.

Plucking tea leaves and awakening Red Oolong in the morning light

Strolling through award-winning Red Oolong tea gardens, hand-picking leaves under the morning sun

In the misty morning fields of Luye, pick the tender “one bud, two leaves” of Red Oolong by hand. Walk alongside local farmers as they share the craftsmanship behind this award-winning tea. Stir-fry peanuts, brew fresh milk tea, grind tea leaves—each step is a sensory invitation to the land’s quiet stories. There are no ornate tea ceremonies here, only the honest warmth of rural hospitality. This morning ritual returns tea to its truest form: fragrant, grounded, and deeply human.

Early Morning Tea-Picking Experience

Step into the mist-shrouded tea fields and pick Red Oolong’s tender “one bud, two leaves” by hand. Feel the mountainside slowly awaken as the fresh scent of tea rises with the morning light.
Tea-Inspired Hands-On Workshop

Stir-fry peanuts, brew creamy milk tea, and grind fragrant tea powder. Experience the joy of transforming freshly picked leaves into the rich, layered flavors of Red Oolong.
Farmer-Guided Field Tour

Walk alongside seasoned tea farmers as they share Luye’s unique terroir and the art of Red Oolong. Discover the subtle aromas and time-honored craft behind every cup.

Exclusive Royal Experience

Local guides lead the way — limited tours to step into the city’s awakening moments.
- One-night stay for two with breakfast and dinner｜Guided tour, hands-on experience, and shuttle service｜Set departure dates
- Embark on a guided journey through the misty slopes of Luye’s tea plantations—hand-pick fresh Red Oolong leaves, try your hand at tea processing, and dive into the stories behind the leaves.
- In the evening, savor a nourishing Red Oolong vegetable hot pot paired with a captivating indigenous dance performance. Then unwind with a warm overnight stay infused with local culture and hospitality.
- This exclusive package includes round-trip shuttle service and curated experiences, making your trip seamless and worry-free.
Booking Details
Royal Explorer Accommodation Package

Choose the right day, and let the journey unfold from here.
- One-night stay for two with breakfast and dinner. Flexible departure dates let you plan your getaway at your own pace.
- Enjoy a Red Oolong vegetable hot pot dinner, where local ingredients and tea-infused flavors create a warm and satisfying meal.
- Take part in a DIY wish tea-sealing experience—personally seal Red Oolong tea with your heartfelt wishes as a keepsake from your journey.
- Get 10% off the “Liu Xiao Cha Kan” half-day tour add-on to explore the deeper flavors and local stories of Luye.
Booking Details

CITY AWAKENING PROJECT EXPERIENCE & GUIDE

The first words of awakening are spoken by them.

We walk the awakening route of the plan and witness the city’s true opening scene.

Biluoyuan Red Oolong Tea Hand-Picking Experience
Awaken the aroma of Red Oolong in the morning mist

The tea fields of Luye remain cloaked in a soft morning mist, with the faint aroma of tea drifting through the air. Follow tea farmers from Biluoyuan into the hills to begin your aromatic journey. The day starts with a guided morning walk through the fields, where you’ll learn to identify the signature “one bud, two leaves” and hand-pick the freshest Red Oolong shoots—an experience where mountain air and mist become part of the tea itself.
Then, try your hand at stir-frying Red Oolong-infused peanuts and savor a pot-brewed milk tea made from Biluoyuan’s own tea leaves—fragrant, rich, and warming. Step into the tea workshop to learn about Red Oolong’s transformation—from withering under the sun to fermentation and roasting—and discover how craftsmanship and terroir are deeply intertwined.
The experience concludes with a tea appreciation session. Through scent, slurping, and color observation, you’ll come to understand the layered techniques and heartfelt dedication behind each amber-hued cup.

CITY AWAKENING PROJECT SIGHTSEEING SPOTS

Step by step, you encounter the awakening landscapes.

As you walk through the morning, these places emerge naturally — a dialogue extended by the city.

Luye Red Oolong Tea Plantation

Awakening the aroma of Red Oolong in the morning mist

In the early morning hours of Luye, a light mist still clings to the slopes as Red Oolong tea leaves quietly begin to unfurl in the dew. Nestled at altitudes between 100 and 400 meters, this tea-growing region offers high humidity, excellent drainage, and slightly acidic soil—conditions ideal for the natural fermentation of tea. In collaboration with the Taitung Branch of the Tea and Beverage Research Station, local farmers developed Red Oolong by blending the deep withering and heavy tossing techniques of oolong tea with the fermentation methods of black tea. The result is a tea with a signature amber hue and rich notes of ripe fruit and honey.
The creation of Red Oolong was not just a flavorful innovation—it also signaled Luye’s response to a downturn in the traditional green tea industry. As part of this transformation, local tea factories upgraded to five-star hygiene-certified facilities and began promoting a variety of experiences, including tea table tours, roasting sessions, and tea powder grinding. Through these efforts, Red Oolong is not only enjoyed but also deeply understood.

Located in Longtian and Yongan Villages, Luye Township, Taitung County.
Biluoyuan Tea House

Luye’s Red Oolong: A New Chapter Rooted in the Land

Located in Longtian Village, Luye Township, Biluoyuan is one of the origin points of Taiwan’s signature Red Oolong tea. Run by a family of tea farmers, the entire process—from cultivating and hand-picking tea leaves to processing—is done in-house. The farm’s commitment to pesticide-free practices and traditional craftsmanship has earned it multiple accolades over the years.
After the second-generation returned home, they brought a fresh perspective, blending modern creativity with time-honored techniques. Their innovations include cold-brew Red Oolong infused with floral and herbal notes—offering a new way for younger audiences to connect with tea. Visitors can take part in guided tours, tea tastings, and hands-on activities like making Red Oolong stir-fried peanuts. It’s the perfect place to spend two to three unhurried hours, immersed in the aroma of tea and the essence of Luye’s terroir.

No. 358, Beisan Rd., Luye Township, Taitung County
Chulu Shrine

Step Through the Torii into a Scene of the Shōwa Era

Situated in Longtian Village of Chulu, Taitung, the shrine was first established during the Shōwa period, funded by the Taitung Sugar Company and built with the efforts of Japanese settlers. After the war, its original form all but vanished, leaving only the stone foundation to quietly echo the glory of the past.
In 2013, local residents resolved to reclaim this memory of history. They invited Japanese shrine restoration artisans to work alongside Taiwanese woodcraft masters. After two years of delicate reconstruction, the shrine finally regained its presence in 2015.
Now, as morning light filters through the torii and stone steps, a landscape of greenery and history slowly unfolds between fields and hills.

No. 308, Guangrong Road, Chulu Township, Taitung County
Luye Plateau

A skyward perch above tea fields and golden rice waves

Luye Plateau is one of eastern Taiwan’s most iconic hot air balloon launch sites. Every summer during the Taiwan International Balloon Festival, colorful balloons rise slowly into the dawn sky, drawing countless visitors to look upward in awe.
This vast plateau offers sweeping views over the chessboard-like farmland of Longtian Village. From here, you can see the convergence of the Central Mountain Range and the East Rift Valley—a stunning panorama where tea gardens, rice paddies, and mountain mist weave together into a breathtaking landscape.

No. 46, Gaotai Rd., Luye Township, Taitung County
Luye Dagumian

Braised bone noodles with bold morning flavors

After descending from the Luye Plateau, a steaming bowl of braised big bone noodles awaits, inviting travelers to roll up their sleeves and dig in.
A pork leg bone—standing over 20 centimeters tall—rises from the bowl like a landmark in broth. The soup is slow-simmered with more than a dozen spices, layering rich herbal notes with the tang of pickled mustard greens.
Gloves on. Tear into the gelatinous tendons and tender meat—the broth clings to your fingers, sweat beads on your brow. Add a few sides like pickled radish and braised intestines, and you’ve got a breakfast that’s anything but quiet—a bold, boisterous way to greet the day.

No. 283, Sec. 2, Zhonghua Rd., Luye Township, Taitung County