Alishan Tefuye Historic Trail and Unplugged Coffee Experience 2-Day Tour

Stroll along the tranquil Tefuye Historic Trail, a 6.3-kilometer journey from Tefuye to Zizhong. The trail boasts a rich ecological landscape, with both planted and primeval forests. Beyond the lush Cryptomeria forests and native red cypress trees, there's also a thriving array of herbaceous and fern plants. The first 2.6 kilometers are covered in primeval broadleaf forest. In the afternoon, when mist seeps in, the scenery becomes even more ethereal and tranquil. A stroll through the forest is a truly exhilarating experience! Visit the Leye Tribe and enjoy an unplugged coffee experience, enriching your taste buds with the vitality of the land.

- Attraction Introduction -

▲ Tefuye Historic Trail
The 6.32-kilometer Tefuye Historic Trail straddles the border between Nantou and Chiayi counties. Walking along the trail gives you the feeling of walking through a primeval forest. Due to its high altitude and nearly 500-meter drop, the trail boasts a rich natural ecosystem. Along the way, you'll encounter cedar and cypress forests, old railways, and suspension bridges, allowing you to experience the beauty of Alishan from a different perspective.

▲ Chukou Visitor Center (Green Building)
This is Chiayi's premier tourist information center for those entering the Alishan area. The interior is designed as an Alishan Arts and Cultural Exhibition Space, showcasing the ecology, culture, and landscape of Alishan through diverse and interactive displays. The outdoor area is also meticulously designed, incorporating elements of Alishan's unique landscape design, including a small train, cherry blossoms, tea, sacred trees, and the indigenous Tsou people. Originally a river terrace following a river diversion, the architects designed the building to resemble a ship, reflecting the visitor center's welcoming and welcoming functions. Furthermore, the Chukou Visitor Center is a nationally certified "Green Building," utilizing a lightweight structure to reduce carbon emissions and heat transfer. Two ecological detention ponds are also planned, and rooftop rainwater and greywater are recycled, making it a truly worthwhile experience.

▲ Leye Tribe
Leye, known as lalauya in the Tsou language, meaning "beautiful maple forest," is a beautiful indigenous tribe. Legend has it that the god Hamo entered the "lalauya" (liquid sweetgum forest) and shook down the sweetgum fruit from the trees. The fruit then fell to the ground and created the Tsou people. From then on, the ancestors of the Tsou people appeared in the mountains and valleys and roamed the fields and plains.

▲ Leye Tribe - Lala Wuya "Unplugged Coffee Experience"
Leye, the name of the Tsou people, means "a place with maple trees," and was named after the maple trees that once covered the mountains. The Leye area was originally known for its tea plantations, but coffee cultivation later spread within the tribe, and the reputation of "Leye Coffee" has recently grown. At the heart of the area, why not try the "unplugged coffee" experience? It's said that in the early days, the tribe placed raw coffee beans in cloth bags and vigorously swung them against sycamore wood to remove the shells. The experience begins with swishing the beans, followed by manual hulling, roasting, and pounding. Finally, hot water is used to brew the coffee's true flavor, enriching the taste buds with the vitality of the land.