The Lavender Cottage, once a popular tourist attraction, has two branches in total—one in Xinshe, Taichung, and the other in Jianshi, Hsinchu. I was a bit uncertain if I had ever been to the Lavender Cottage in Xinshe, Taichung, as I had a vague recollection of visiting. This time, with some spare time before heading back to Taipei in the afternoon, I decided to make a detour to the Jianshi branch. This kind of itinerary seems to be more suited for older adults or female visitors.
The Lavender Cottage is located in a relatively remote mountain area, and it's not very convenient to get there without a car. I even started to doubt if I had taken the wrong route, despite using Google navigation. On weekdays, there aren't too many visitors, making it feel remarkably spacious, and some facilities are only open on weekends. The hands-on workshops change periodically, so if you have the time and interest, you can give them a try.
There's an entrance fee of NT$200 per person, which can be offset by NT$100 in spending. There's also a somewhat obligatory dining experience, which is acceptable, but it can be frustrating when you see a long list of items on the menu marked as "sold out." It left me feeling a bit disappointed! (Additionally, I wasn't pleased with the attitude and demeanor of the ticket seller when I first entered the park; they kept pushing package deals.)
Lavender Aromatherapy Purifying Spray! The wind was so strong that day that it almost blew it all away, which was quite amusing.
The vendor booth and craft space at the entrance of the park.
This braised beef is said to taste decent.
Regular bamboo tube rice!
Seasonal Special! Although this post is being published after the season has passed, it shouldn't be too far away from the next one. However, the truth is, it's quite expensive and rather ordinary. There's room for improvement in the quality of the dishes, and the prices are not budget-friendly either. The portions are a bit small, and some of the staff seemed a bit absent-minded, spilling utensils at times. It's also challenging to find someone to ask for assistance, and the delivery times were quite long.
All alone beneath the bell, a solitary figure! It looks rather spooky at night.
Before entering, I asked if there were lavender fields to see, and the answer I received was in stark contrast to the actual number of lavender plants. I'm not sure what I saw, but there was greener than purple, and some even looked like weeds. The environment also had a somewhat dated feel, and I couldn't really sense the beautiful atmosphere. Given these circumstances, I don't think it would be easy to make another visit. I don't highly recommend making a special trip here!
0 留言