 |  | | 【Ten Shing Kiln】 （Jiji Snake Kiln） | | Address | : | No.10, Fenglin Ln., Jiji Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2781130 | | Website | : | www.tensing.com.tw | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Founded in 1955, Ten Shing is oldest Kiln in function in Taiwan. Having transformed itself into a modern Kiln since 1980, Ten Shing still keeps a 52-year-old working “snake kiln,” and is thus called by many as the “Jiji Snake Kiln.”
Over the years, Ten Shing established its reputation with various awards and government recognition. The Kiln was awarded as one of the ten best Taiwan Kilns by Taipei International Exhibition of Ceramics, and its products won the grand prize of the ceramics category at the Taiwan Handicrafts Selections Fair in 1994.
The shop was selected as one of the most successful creative businesses by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2002, and was honored as the annual “House of Handicrafts” by the Council for Cultural Affairs in 2007.
Lin Chin-he, the owner of Ten Shing, was honored as the “Exemplary Veteran” and received by the president of the time in 1995. He also won the National Social Education Public Service Award by the Ministry of Education in 2003. The name “Ten Shing” was selected as one of the “Famed Creative Business Trademarks” by the Intellectual Property Office in 2004. | We produce ceramics.
We offer ceramics workshops and wood-fired pottery classes. There is a guest house and a garden restaurant that provides housing and food, and can accommodate a maximum of 300 attendants when an activity is held. (Please book in advance if you would like to visit as a group.) | | | |  | | 【Seshui Kiln】 （Ceramics School） | | Address | : | No.31-6, Dayan Ln., Seshui Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2895938 | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Blessed with the special geological environment, the “White Fairy” soil that Seshui Village produces is good-quality clay that can hardly be found elsewhere, and is also very suitable for making ceramics.
Seshui Kiln—the “Ceramics School,” is a brick kiln made by the locals in 2001 for making wood-fired ceramics, something very unique to the village. Such wood-fired ceramics does not need to be glazed, but rely on ashes created in the process of burning to render it a unique look. One will never find exactly the same piece with wood-fired ceramics.
As mentioned above, most of the residents in the community highly identify with this traditional art, and are dedicated to promoting it. Now, under the guidance of artist Chen Xiong-zhen, who has 45 years of experience in ceramics making, a number of locals work as helpful assistants to teaching visitors to make their own ceramics piece in a DIY workshop, in this retro-style environment.
At the ceramics school, visitors can also watch Mr. Chen make ceramics, which is a rare opportunity. | “DIY200” workshops are available.
For a group of more than 5, please call to book in advance if you come on weekdays. | | | |  | | 【Handmade Kiln】 | | Address | : | No.1-22, Wenzheng Ln., Zhongming Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2898702-3 | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Wu Tsi-bin, owner of Handmade Kiln, has always had a profound interest in creative art. Although he is only an elementary school graduate, his imagination and creativity are not bound by the few school years that he has.
But Wu’s love for art could not be cultivated in his teen years, as he had to make a living by selling fish since 13. It was only after he fulfilled compulsory military service, when he opened up a timber factory, that he got involved with the making of art by producing wooden furniture.
Wu has been so talented that he does not need a mentor to be inspired. Bit by bit, he has not only carved out pieces of beautiful woodworks, but a wonderful life.
In the early 90s, Wu discovered a new world in pottery art and built on his own the Handmade Kiln, where pottery and woodcarving art are well mingled. Like Wu, visitors will feel free to express themselves at any of the pottery-making workshops here, as the owner willingly shares his techniques with them. | 1. Pottery-making workshops
2. Blank-drawing workshops | | | |  | | 【Shuili Snake Kiln Ceramics Cultural Park】 | | Address | : | No.41, Dingkan Ln., Dingkan Village, Shuili Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2770967 | | Website | : | www.snakekiln.com.tw | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Shuili Snake Kiln—a place worth visiting time and a gain.
The hundred-year-old Shuili Snake Kiln is one of the few existing and well-reserved wood-fired ceramics kilns. The cultural park, which integrates tradition and modernity, is not only recommended by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications as a great example of “developing tourism while taking up social responsibility,” but also the first cultural asset in Taiwan to have been included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Flowers are in blossom, and trees are verdant in this artistic park. In this place of leisure, art and education, seniors may savor their past, young couples may enjoy their romantic hours, and families may happily spend their time together. | Themed products of the story of “Auntie Hui” and “Uncle Wong.” | | | |  | | 【The Owl’s Home of Sun Moon Lake】 | | Address | : | No.5-1, Xiangcha Ln., Xingcheng Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 0930-083839 / 0919-658945 | | Website | : | www.owlhome.net | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Thank you in advance for planning a visit to this old factory of ours in remote mountains. The factory had been producing black tea, until the Jiji Earthquake in 1999 devastated its buildings.
When we later on were cleaning up the place, we picked up some Taiwan incense cedar wood by chance. And as we cross-cut the logs, we turned out discovering wood patterns that resemble an owl’s face. Then, the first 15 wood owls with different facial expressions were born...
Now, backed by an ancient legend of a-girl-turning-into-owl, the factory has become the “Owl’s Home of Sun Moon Lake,” inviting all to have fun and get a feel of the local culture.
At the Home, we share the fun of making owls and black tea with our visitors through creative DIY workshops. This is a place where both parents and children enjoy a wonderful day that they will never forget. | Owl-making workshop: NT$250 per owl
Black tea-making workshop: (please book in advance) | | | |  | | 【The Owl Factory at Sun Moon Lake】 | | Address | : | No. 94, Yiyong St., Riyue Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2850139 | | | | Introduction : | On a drizzling night in 2004, I bumped into a wounded owl. It reminded me of a beautiful and yet sad legend of my tribe, in which an unmarried pregnant girl was so discriminated by the villagers that she killed herself. I said to my self, “shouldn’t I do something good to make things better? After all, I was born and raised here.”
I believe this to be fate. I was fated to meet the wounded owl, and the owls at my factory also await their fated encounters to come.
Since I opened the factory, I have made friends with many customers from different places, and some of them have created touching stories related to owls. There are two lovers who met one another at my factory—they are happily married by now. There is an unfertile couple who got to know the legend at the factory, and somehow they later had a baby because they believed so much in the story.
Because of the connections that I make through the crafted owls, my passion for this career continues. My dream started with an owl, and my customer-friends also dream their dreams through my owls! | | | |  | | 【Zhenchang Company】－Forest Tract Factory | | Address | : | No. 101-5, Mingquan Ln., Checheng Village, Shuili Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2775976 / 049-2773776 | | Website | : | www.grove.com.tw | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | About Checheng Forest Tract :
Over the last decades, Checheng experienced several rises and falls. During one of its peak times in 1959, the president of Zhenchang Company, Sun Hai, developed his logging business with his team in Checheng. The gigantic “Sky Vehicle,” now in display in the village, shows how prosperous the industry was back then, because could lift dozens of tons of wood at one time before trains delivered the wood to different factories around the island.
Despite Jiji Earthquake devastated the village, Checheng retains its unique charm. Planned by the administration office of Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area, a modern building now stands in the village, inviting people to feel the nostalgic days of the forest tract. At the little factory, visitors will be introduced to the concept of “cherish what we have, never waste resources.” By attending one of the DIY wood crafts workshops, visitors will feel themselves even more in touch with nature and the Checheng forest. | Stool No.2
NT$180
With simple lines, the light and yet sturdy stool is well loved, and can be easily assembled by both adults and children.
It can be used in sauna rooms, SPA centers, bath rooms, or outdoor gardens.
Lunch basket
Stay : NT$380 / To-go : NT$300
The basket lunch is one of the best treats of Checheng. To enjoy nostalgic lunch time, have your lunch either in a wooded tea house, or beside a wooden table near the lake.
Once the meal is finished, you can even take the basket home, to use it as a small bin beside your dresser, or a candy jar for New Year. The lid can serve as a thermal pad, too! What a multi-functional souvenir! | | | |  | | 【The Kinky Musician】 | | Address | : | No.4-1, Songshan Ln., Dalin Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2895565 | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Can you imagine an illiterate old man, who has never received formal education, makes all kinds of exquisite musical instruments, all out of his own talent creativity?
Seventy-year-old Wang Quizhen began doing so after retiring from his betel nut-selling business at the age of 60. Still energetic, he felt so bored not having to work, and by chance discovered fun making instruments. The first instrument he made was a vertical flute made of an old bamboo tube. Soon, he was making piccolos, flutes, vertical bamboo flutes, piccolo Erhu fiddles, Erhu fiddles, saxophones, Sauna horns, and violins with wood, water, copper and lead pipes, as well as cake boxes!
Not only does Wang make instruments. He plays well. You will be amazed by his melodious performances of folk songs like “Spring Breezes” or “Southern-town Nocturne”! | The following instruments, made out of Wang’s own creativity and talent, are available: piccolos, flutes, vertical bamboo flutes, piccolo Erhu fiddles, Erhu fiddles, saxophones, Sauna horns, and violins.
If you spot any instrument that you like, negotiate with Wang to see if he’s willing to sell his loved one to you.
Please reserve your visit in advance. | | | | | 【The House of Traditional Tools Models】 | | Address | : | Dalin Village, Yuchi Town, Nantou County | | Tel | : | 049-2896760 | | | | Introduction : | Featured Service : | Through the wrinkled hands of Mr. Wang, precious memories of old farming days come alive again!
Upon opening the gate of this historic three-section compound, visitors will find various delicately-made farming tool models in the house. Seventy-one-year-old Mr. Wang, since retirement at the age of 60, has been making these traditional farming tool models out of his own talent and creativity. He has not learned the skills from anyone, but creates these artifacts based on life experiences. And it’s just because of this, that Wang’s works reserve precious memories of the old days in our westernized society. Don’t miss this place if you want to get a feel of tranquil, traditional rural life! | Various models of traditional farming tools are available.
Please reserve your visit in advance. | | | |  | | 【Mingtang Legendary Museum】 | | Address | : | No.10, Ln.510, Zhongshan Rd., Shuishe Village, Nantou County |
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