On a beautiful and sunny day, the Department of Hospitality Management at Ming Chuan University, as part of the ‘Culinary Culture and Gastronomic Aesthetics’ course, embarked on an outdoor exploration educational program to Yicheng Tea Farm, a local leisure farm in Guishan, Taoyuan. During the excursion, the farm owner enthusiastically introduced the students to the tea plantation and tea-making process. Along the way, she also explained various plants within the leisure farm and the bunkers left by the early military, capturing the students’ keen interest. Despite the hot weather, everyone joyfully strolled through the tea plantation, picking sweet lemons generously offered by the farm owner and enjoying a refreshing treat of both cold and hot tea. The enthusiasm was not dampened by the weather.
The aim of this off-campus learning experience at Yicheng Tea Farm is to deepen students’ understanding of the local community, especially the Guishan area where the campus is located. The hope is that this experience will significantly enhance students’ identification with the local culture and landscape, instilling an awareness of environmental sustainability and cultural identity. Furthermore, it is anticipated that students, in the future, will contribute back to the community, fulfilling the university’s social responsibility.