Dahu Strawberry Cultural Museum Introduction
When mentioning Dahu, the first thing that comes to mind is strawberries. Their bright red color and sweet taste bring a delightful flavor, making tasters feel a sense of sweet happiness. Strawberries are the main economic crop of Dahu, with the peak season running from November to April of the following year. This golden period always attracts countless tourists to experience the joy of strawberry picking, which has led to the creation of many strawberry-related products and the establishment of the Strawberry Cultural Center. The first floor of the center is an exhibition area selling various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products, while the second and third floors introduce strawberry ecology and the history of strawberry development in Dahu. The fourth floor hosts a restaurant that incorporates strawberries as ingredients to provide signature strawberry dishes, and the fifth floor features a sky garden with strawberry-shaped pavilions and flower beds, offering a view of the beautiful surrounding scenery. Next to it, a leisure winery has developed strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cake, and more, giving tourists a brand new taste experience and winning the hearts of many foodies. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu can be considered synonymous with strawberries and is widely known as the "Strawberry Town." However, the earliest place to cultivate strawberries in Taiwan was not Dahu but Yangmingshan. As early as 1934, the Japanese began trial planting strawberries in Yangmingshan, but due to their poor resistance to bacteria, they were not widely cultivated. In 1957, a Dahu local named Lai Yuntian visited relatives and became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he and other farmers purchased seedlings to plant in Dahu, marking the beginning of Dahu's strawberry history. The basin terrain and the substantial temperature difference between day and night provide excellent conditions for strawberry growth. With the efforts of the farmers, the reputation gradually grew. In 1979, the "Shunxiang" variety was introduced from Japan. Because it can be harvested in December, along with its high yield, large fruit size, and excellent quality, it was favored by farmers. The area planted with strawberries expanded year by year, and a few years later, the first strawberry-picking eco-farm was established, making it a well-known example of the combination of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
