Dahu Strawberry Cultural Hall Introduction
When mentioning Dahu, the first thought that comes to mind is strawberries. Their vibrant red color and sweet taste bring about a delightful flavor, filling those who taste them with sweet happiness. Strawberries are the main economic crop in Dahu, and the peak season for strawberries is from November to April of the following year. During this golden period for strawberries, countless visitors are attracted to experience the joy of strawberry picking. As a result, Dahu has developed numerous strawberry-related products, and the Strawberry Cultural Museum was established. The first floor of the museum serves as an exhibition and sales area, selling various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products. The second and third floors introduce the ecology of strawberries and the history of strawberry cultivation in Dahu. The fourth floor houses a restaurant that incorporates strawberries into its dishes, offering unique strawberry-themed cuisine. The fifth floor features a sky garden with pavilions and flower beds shaped like strawberries, where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery nearby. Adjacent to the museum is a leisure winery that develops its own strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cakes, and more, providing visitors with a new taste experience that has captured the hearts of many food lovers. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu is synonymous with strawberries and is widely known as the "Hometown of Strawberries." However, the first place in Taiwan to cultivate strawberries was not Dahu but Yangmingshan. As early as 1934, the Japanese began experimenting with strawberry cultivation in Yangmingshan, but due to their poor antibacterial properties, large-scale planting did not occur. In 1957, a Dahu resident named Lai Yun-tian visited a relative's house and became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he purchased seedlings with other farmers and returned to Dahu to cultivate strawberries, thus starting Dahu's strawberry history. The basin terrain and the large temperature difference between day and night in Dahu are ideal for strawberry growth. With the efforts of the farmers, Dahu gradually gained recognition. In 1979, the "Shunxiang" variety was introduced from Japan. Due to its early harvest in December, high yield, large fruit size, and excellent quality, it became popular among farmers. The area cultivated with strawberries has expanded year by year, and a few years later, the first strawberry-picking and fruit-picking farm was opened to the public, which brought fame to Dahu, making it an excellent example of the combination of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
