Tea and Beverage Crop Improvement Station, Agricultural Research and Development Administration Introduction
Located on the northern side of Sun Moon Lake, Catong Mountain stands at an altitude of 1,020 meters and is an ideal spot for overlooking the panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake and watching the sunrise. You can enter from the Ming Tan Junior High School along Provincial Highway 21, where tea trees are planted along both sides of the mountain road, creating a refreshing green landscape. On the right side at the entrance, there are several old Japanese-style wooden houses, which were the old dormitories of the Tea Experiment Station and are designated historical buildings by the county government, leaving a strong impression with their rustic appearance. Next to it is a newly built Tea Culture Exhibition Hall that showcases various information related to tea. Additionally, on the hillside to the left of the old tea factory, the scenery is quite charming due to the numerous tea trees, and on clear days, you can also enjoy distant views of the mountains in Yuchi Township. Beyond the old tea factory, there is a row of sturdy Ceylon olive trees along the roadside, with red dried leaves covering the ground, creating a beautiful and romantic scene that is a must-see spot for couples taking wedding photos. At the top of Catong Mountain is a weather station, one of the four high-altitude weather stations in Taiwan, alongside Yushan, Alishan, and Yangmingshan's Zhuzi Lake; the weather station is usually open to the public and features a resting pavilion where visitors can enjoy the view in a beautiful environment with broad vistas. ❗️Please note that the facilities at the mountaintop, including public restrooms and the observation deck, will not be open on weekends and national holidays starting April 1, 2025, due to construction work at the weather station. We appreciate your understanding! ❗️*Due to the name change of the Tea Experiment Station to 'Tea and Beverage Crop Improvement Station' and the expansion of research scope (without an increase in personnel), since April 2015, the Tea Experiment Station and its branches will no longer accept visits arranged by travel agencies for domestic and foreign visitors.* *Individuals wishing to visit the Tea Industry Improvement Station must contact the designated personnel at least two weeks prior to the visit date. Upon confirmation, the applicant should formally submit the request on behalf of their organization, including the organization name, number of visitors, visit date and time, items to be toured, estimated duration of stay, contact person, and phone number.*
