Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center Introduction
When mentioning Dahu, the first thing that comes to mind is strawberries. Their vibrant red color and sweet taste bring a delightful flavor, filling those who savor them with a sense of sweet happiness. Strawberries are the primary economic crop of Dahu, with the peak season running from November to April of the following year. This golden period for strawberries attracts countless tourists to experience the joy of strawberry picking. Consequently, Dahu Township has developed numerous strawberry-related products, leading to the establishment of the Strawberry Cultural Center. The first floor of the center is an exhibition and sales area, selling various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products. The second and third floors introduce strawberry ecology and the history of strawberry development in Dahu. The fourth floor features a restaurant that incorporates strawberries into its dishes, offering unique strawberry cuisine, while the fifth floor is an aerial garden adorned with strawberry-shaped pavilions and flowerbeds, providing views of the beautiful surrounding scenery. Adjacent to this is a leisure winery that develops its own strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cake, and more, providing visitors with a brand new sensory experience that has captured the hearts of many food enthusiasts. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu can be considered synonymous with strawberries, known as the "Strawberry Town." However, the earliest place in Taiwan to cultivate strawberries was not Dahu, but Yangmingshan. As early as the 23rd year of the Republic of China, the Japanese began experimental cultivation of strawberries in Yangmingshan. But due to their poor antibacterial properties, it wasn’t cultivated on a large scale. In the 46th year of the Republic of China, a resident of Dahu, Lai Yun-tian, visited a relative's house and became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he bought seedlings along with other farmers to plant in Dahu, marking the start of Dahu's strawberry history. The basin topography and significant temperature differences between day and night in Dahu are excellent for strawberry growth. Through the efforts of farmers, its recognition gradually increased. In the 68th year of the Republic of China, the "Shunxiang" variety was introduced from Japan. It could be harvested as early as December, featured high yields, large fruit size, and superior quality, making it very popular among farmers. The area cultivated with strawberries expanded year by year, and a few years later, the first strawberry-picking agritourism farm was established, gaining instant fame and becoming an exemplary model of the combination of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
