TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Cultural and Tourism Bureau of Chiayi County (嘉義縣文化觀光局) hosted the "Chiayi Culture × Tea Festival Trip" on Dec. 17, inviting members of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club (TFCC, 台灣外國記者會協會) and international media to explore the southwestern Taiwan county's cultural sites. The event aimed to highlight the county's cultural heritage and mountainous landscapes.
Hsu Pei-ling (徐佩鈴), the bureau's director, emphasized Chiayi's dual identity as a hub of agriculture, industry, and technology, as well as a city where culture and daily life thrive. She expressed hope that the media's perspective would propel Chiayi's cultural tourism onto the international stage. The event focused on cultural bases, linking high mountain tea experiences with visits to sites like the Bantaoyao Crafts Base (板陶窯交趾剪黏工藝園區), Pei-Guei Tang (培桂堂), and the National Broadcasting Museum (國家廣播文物館).
Six locations in Chiayi were selected for the Ministry of Culture's (文化部), Taiwan's cultural affairs ministry, "Top 100 Cultural Bases" this year, a testament to the county government's long-term efforts to revitalize historical spaces. Participants admired the intricate beauty of Koji pottery and cut-and-paste art at Bantaoyao Crafts Base, and learned about the profound impact of literary families on Taiwan's medical and cultural development at Pei-Guei Tang.
Attendees revisited Taiwan's modern broadcast history at the National Broadcasting Museum, gaining insight into Chiayi's pivotal role during World War II. Hsu emphasized the importance of integrating history into daily life and making culture an integral part of everyday experiences. She introduced Chiayi's high mountain tea culture, emphasizing the natural conditions of Alishan (阿里山), a renowned mountain region, and the artisans' craftsmanship that gives the tea its rich flavor.
