Pinglin Ecological Park Introduction
Pinglin Ecological Park is situated beside the mountains and water, adjacent to the Tea Museum, and covers an area of nearly three hectares. Although named an ecological park, it is essentially a garden located next to the Tea Museum. The park is built according to the original topography and retains many areas of primeval forest. It features various landscape facilities and preserves diverse native plant ecosystems, making it a popular destination for recreation and leisure. The plant ecology area within the park is renowned, with distinct sections including the tea garden ecological area, medicinal plant area, and fields of azaleas, daylilies, and wild ginger flowers, as well as apricot tree groves, cedar forests, hemlock forests, maple orchards, an aquatic plant complex, and snakewood forests. Upon entering the park, the aroma of tea mingles with the fragrance of flowers, refreshing the senses. Within the park stands the "Siyuan Platform," which honors the protective deity of tea farmers, Mazu of Chiajiao. This statue of Mazu is about 200 years old and was reportedly brought from Fujian by early mainland tea workers who migrated to Taiwan. Because of its reputed efficacy, the number of tea farmers visiting to pay their respects has continually increased, and it has become the main deity of Pinglin's tea farmers, serving as a spiritual pillar for the entire community.
