Info on episode 29: Cycling in Baihe

Time for Taiwan 2015-2016, Episode 29: Cycling in Baihe

2015-2016年「台灣好好玩」第二十九集： 台南白河鐵馬之旅

Transcript 文字稿:

Today we’re in Baihe, Tainan, which is famous for lotus farms.

今天我們來到台南白河，蓮花是這裡很出名的農產。

Baihe is great for cycling. If you have an iPass or Easycard and a local mobile phone number, you can rent a public bicycle. If not, there are other bike rental shops around too.

白河是個很適合騎單車的地方，你如果有台灣的手機號碼，可以用悠遊卡或一卡通租公共腳踏車。沒有的話，這裡還有其他的單車租賃店。

There is a network of trails here, with the distance totaling tens of kilometers. The scenery here is peaceful and rural. You get to ride along rice paddies, lotus farms, irrigation channels, reservoirs, and lots of big, beautiful trees.

這裡有好幾條單車道，綿延數十公里，這邊的田園風景很寧靜，騎車時可以享受稻田，蓮花田，水圳，水埤，還有一排排大樹的風景。

Come have a look. What do you think this is? These are old train tracks. There used to be a sugar mill around here. Baihe is mostly an agricultural town, in the plains, people produce rice and lotus seeds.

來看一下。你覺得這是什麼？這是舊鐵道！這裡曾經有家糖廠。白河的經濟來源以農作為主，在平地，主要生產的是稻米和蓮子。

There was a period of time when lotus seeds didn’t sell well, so the townspeople thought, lotuses are beautiful to look at so why don’t we make a tourism industry out of it, too. They invited travelers, who’d stand by the side of the road and look at the lotuses, but it was unbearably hot because there were no trees to provide shade. Shade is bad for rice, that’s why. So people started planting trees along the road where there are lotus farms. These trees included kapok trees, which turned out to become another beautiful tourist attraction.

有一段時間，蓮子滯銷，當地居民想說「蓮花很漂亮，那我們也來發展賞蓮的觀光產業好了」，結果吸引了很多遊客來到白河，站在路邊看蓮花，但實在太熱了，因為沒有樹蔭可以躲太陽。沒有樹蔭的原因是，樹蔭會影響尤其稻米的成長，所以以前都不種路樹。不過為了賞蓮，後來種了很多樹，包括木棉樹。沒想到意外讓木棉樹也成為了一個觀光重點。

The stretch of kapok trees here is especially nice in March and April when the flowers bloom. In fact, some even say the kapoks make this one of the prettiest bike paths in the world. Pity we’re here now and not when it’s blooming!

木棉道在三四月木棉花盛開的時候特別漂亮，有人甚至說，這是世界上最美的腳踏車道之一。很可惜我們來的時候，花還沒盛開！

Throughout the ride, you’ll see lots of Sanheyuan, which are traditional houses that you won't find in the city. Also there are lots of farm houses, some with an interesting twist. This is part of an ongoing community building project that is aiming to add a bit of art and youth back into the system.

在這裡騎車，到處可以看到三合院，一種傳統的房子，這裡也有很多農舍，有一些很有趣喔，這是一個持續進行中的社區發展活動，目的是將年輕人帶回白河，以及注入藝術元素。

Baihe reminds me of Chishang, Taitung because of the rice paddies and bike paths that allow you to ride through them. What’s cool about this one is the diversity in scenery, and the fact that not that may people know about this yet. Before it gets too crowded, you should come!

白河讓我想到台東池上，因為這裡有稻田，有在稻田中穿梭的單車道。這裡特別的是，風景很多元，然後大家還不太知道這裡有多好，所以在所有人發現這裡很棒之前，趕快來喔！

――――――――――

Michella's notes 米雪拉的筆記：

I was really pleasantly surprised at how wonderful cycling in Baihe can be! The sights are beautiful - there are picturesque rice paddies, irrigation channels, reservoirs, lotus farms/ponds, an artistic rice farming village, sanheyuan’s (traditional Chinese houses)… This is a great place to ride, and there are lots of roads and paths so budget more time to spend here. Another thing that also stands out is the B&B where we stayed - Granduncle Home, which was recently built. The owner (“granduncle’s” son, actually) is also a guide that can show you all the best places and tell you the stories. I don’t think he speaks English, but if you follow him, I’m sure the ride will be a good one.

我被白河鐵馬之旅驚艷到了，這裡真的很讚耶！風景很多元，很漂亮，有稻田，水圳，水埤，蓮花池，藝術村，三合院，好多好多！白河可以騎的地方蠻多的，所以可以多花點時間在這裡。另外一個印象深刻的是，我們住的民宿，叫做三叔公的家。老闆（三叔公的兒子）可以帶你到處騎，跟你講當地的故事。然後他家房間乾淨，房子是新蓋的。

――――――――――

Links 連結：

Taiwan Cycling Festival 台灣騎跡 http://taiwanbike.tw/Article.aspx?sNo=02000194&lang=2

Granduncle Home 三叔公的家 http://granduncle.18851.com.tw