Taitung Native Botanical Garden Introduction
The Taitung area, influenced by the Pacific Ocean currents and the Kuroshio, has a unique climate and has not experienced severe environmental pollution or destruction. This has allowed a variety of medicinal plants to thrive since ancient times. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese cultivated medicinal herbs in the mountainous regions of Chihpen and Taimali in Taitung, developing what is known as "herb mountains." Most of the herbs are native species from the Taitung region (including Orchid Island), with only a few introduced species. According to herb experts, there are over 2,000 species of medicinal herbs in Taitung, making it known as the "hometown of Taiwanese herbs." The Taitung Indigenous Applied Botanic Garden was established in this context. Although it has only been open for a short two years, the garden, with its professional management team and excellent operational concepts, has created a recreational botanic garden in Taiwan's mountainous area that combines herb cultivation, biotechnology research, fresh culinary delights, wellness relaxation, and health product promotion. The entrance features an impressive water curtain hall that seems to wash away the visitors' clutter. Upon entering the garden, visitors are greeted by a vast area of 1,500 ping filled with various herbs and flowers in the "Indigenous Exploration Garden," which is divided into six main sections: health herbs, aromatic plants, medicinal food plants, ground-cover plants, herbal tea plants, and aquatic plants, totaling over 200 species, all of which are native to Taitung. Walking through the Indigenous Exploration Garden and up a slope along the central viewing walkway, a breathtaking view unfolds, with sights stretching along the ridgeline of the Central Mountain Range and the Coastal Mountain Range to the south, and even a distant view of the Pacific Ocean, leaving a beautiful exclamation mark in the hearts of visitors! The wellness restaurant is another exclusive feature of the Taitung Indigenous Applied Botanic Garden. Not only does it offer outstanding mountain and ocean views, but the wellness meals are also unique and creative, featuring organic vegetables grown in the garden for hotpot dishes, paired with distinctive sauces such as chopped crimson onion and Chinese toon. Under the chef's development, wellness wild vegetables, including red amaranth, white purslane, sorrel, black nightshade, sweet potato leaves, thunder god vine, showa grass, wild celery, and soil ginseng, become gourmet dishes for guests; drinks and desserts can also be made from these ingredients. With explanations provided by the staff, a meal turns into an intellectual feast for the senses. Finally, don't forget to visit the "Botanical Life Souvenir Pavilion" located in the garden's center to see various health products made from medicinal herbs. This place is not like ordinary agricultural specialty shops selling commonly available "special products." Around 150 types of products are showcased here, all high-quality items made from native medicinal plants and health specialty goods from Taitung. Examples include various herbal teas, wellness herbal wines, herbal foods, and herbal bathing products, most of which are independently developed by the Taitung Indigenous Applied Botanic Garden.
