Yeheng Terrace Introduction
Yeheng Terrace is located in Yeheng Village, southwest of Balin. The Yeheng area is well-known for its "terraces" and "hot springs," drawing many photographers who seek to capture Taiwan's rare terraced landscapes. The best photography spot is across the river at Sang Guang, where one can capture the beautiful, undulating lines of the terraces, making it a classic scene that leaves a lasting impression during the North Cross-Island Highway journey. Yeheng is a village of the Atayal indigenous people, situated by the Mali Kouwan River along the North Cross-Island Highway, and it has the second largest plateau in Taoyuan's Fuxing District, next to Jiao Ban Mountain, once referred to as the "Granary of the Back Mountain." It can be accessed via the Guanghua road from the lower Balin. Although the Yeheng tribe is not a popular tourist destination, it has thus retained the original simplicity of a mountainous community. In this tranquil mountain village, there are terraces constructed during Japanese rule when high-altitude rice cultivation was promoted. Local Atayal residents were mobilized to open up terraces from the mountain tops down to the river, bringing spring water for irrigation, resulting in the most beautiful terraced landscapes in the village, which boasted over a thousand steps at its peak, with a drop of more than 1,000 meters. This self-sufficient way of living not only provided a stable life for residents but also enhanced the village's landscape. To enjoy the full view of the distinct terraces, one can capture beautiful scenes from the road across the Yeheng area toward Sang Guang, appreciating the verdant terraces mingling with distant mountains and blue skies, which is truly refreshing. In addition to observing the geometrically beautiful rice paddy landscapes, one can see low houses nestled among the terraces, with straight roads dividing the terraces, occasionally crossed by vehicles. The leisurely pace of life here makes urban dwellers yearn for this pastoral existence. In the past, Yeheng Terraces were used for rice cultivation, with seasonal views rotating throughout the year as the rice grew, from the seedlings in spring to the lush green in summer, and finally the golden grains before harvest, a sight to behold; farmers toiled in the fields, unaware of the passage of time until sunset, creating a rare rural scene in the city. In recent years, the Yeheng tribe has begun to cultivate "Mama Peaches," which are harvested in May, surpassing the fame of the Lala Mountain peaches. Named in part due to the timing of their harvest, which coincides with Mother's Day, the farmers planting these peaches are single mothers or Atayal women over the age of sixty. The peaches have fine, sweet, and juicy flesh, making them a must-try for visiting tourists.
