Longshui Village, formerly known as Longxuan Water or Longquan Water, is named for its inclusion of the Longluan Lake. With its flat terrain and abundant water supply, it was a prosperous area during the agricultural era. In recent years, organic farming has been promoted, cultivating the renowned “Langliao Rice 琅嶠米” on the southernmost organic rice fields in Taiwan, in a low-pollution environment.
Due to the minimal use of pesticides, the village has a rich freshwater ecology, and one can observe the ecosystem simply along the paddy ridges. The nearby Longluan Lake Nature Center is a special scenic national park area. Every winter, migratory waterfowl fly thousands of miles from the cold north to winter at Longluan Lake. This provides an opportunity to observe a rich variety of ducks and geese, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise in southern Taiwan.
Since ancient times, this place has been an important rice production area in Hengchun. In the scorching summer days, you can walk into the cool water channels and experience the early joys of ‘searching for clams while washing pants’. During the rice planting season, stepping barefoot into the paddy fields, people would be surprised at how soft and elastic the land is. In the summer, you can see vast fields of golden, full rice spikes. This abundant view is the most beautiful gift the land gives to the people.
"Ecological Tour of the Organic Rice Cultivation Area
Within the Kenting National Park, the rice cultivation area of the Longshui community might be one of the few remaining most beautiful “organic rice cultivation zones” in Taiwan. Natural springs, waterfowl habitats, original earthen embankments for rice canals, and even “touching lā-á” (picking clams), small fish swimming in rice channels, and frogs, allow older visitors to reminisce about their childhood joys and memories of sweat dripping onto the soil.
The moisture-rich land makes barefooted youngsters marvel at how genuinely elastic farmland can be, as if walking on a spring mattress. Particularly in May, Longshui is at the peak of the rice harvest season. The vast organic rice cultivation area will undoubtedly touch the hearts of visitors in an inexplicable way.
Particularly in May, Longshui is at the peak of the rice harvest season.
Traditional Rice Cuisine Experience
The most famous granary in the Hengchun area is located in Longshui. Historically, Longshui had a lower terrain and abundant water sources. After each flood, a lot of organic matter and inorganic salts were brought to the land of Longshui. This natural fertilizer provided an advantage for Longshui to develop organic rice cultivation.
Consequently, Longshui has produced a variety of dishes starring rice. In the process of experiencing rice food production, in addition to enjoying self-made delicacies, one can also understand the wisdom and past lives of the ancestors through the development and characteristics of rice dishes.
Red Turtle Cake and Clam Touching Experience
A combination of the coolness of canal water and the warmth of the Red Turtle Cake. Apart from experiencing the handmade Red Turtle Cake, during the waiting time for the cake to be steamed, one can head to Longshui’s ecological canals to experience clam touching.
Red Turtle Cake (Rice Cake)
Legend has it that there was a black dog that found a water source during a drought. This water source nurtured the entire Longshui region, prospering its agriculture and producing top chefs. Longshui boasts organic rice fields, and its religious beliefs center around the Kitchen God, a deity associated with food.
The sky filled with rosy dawn, the fields full of young rice shoots.
In Longshui, green rice seedlings touch the sky.
Photography by Longshui Community Guide – Lin Qiuyue Poetry by Longshui Community Guide – Lin Qiuyue.
Clam picking in Logshui
Sisal Industry Exhibition Hall Tour and Bag Weaving
Among the three treasures of Hengchun, sisal is the most famous and historically significant. However, with Taiwan’s industrial changes, it gradually declined. Now, only the “Sisal Industry Historical Exhibition Hall” remains for tourists to understand the past development and rise and fall of kenaf, witnessing its past prosperity. After the profound impression of the visit, use sisal threads to weave handmade bags, marking a perfect conclusion to the exploration of the early kenaf industrial hub.
Sisal industry exhibition hall
If you are interested in Sisal Industry History, be sure to visit also Sisal Factory ruins, located a bit more far away in Manzhou side.
Head Chef Cultural Tour
The Longshui community, known for rice cultivation, has historically been one of the wealthiest villages in Hengchun. The local Bao Ling Temple worships the kitchen god, and nearby neighborhoods have the saying “Longshui produces head chefs.”
Given the abundance of culinary talents in the community and its renowned local dishes, the local head chefs, also community guides, lead tourists to understand local culture and specialties. Using seasonal ingredients, focusing on fresh local materials, combined with exquisite craftsmanship to prepare delicious meals, tourists making their own rice balls will be an unforgettable local flavor experience.
Radish Pulling Experience (November to February)
Rice Planting (January) / Rice Harvesting (May) Farming Experience
Longshui retains rare rural scenery within the Kenting National Park and is an excellent place to observe various ducks and waterfowl. In recent years, there’s been an active promotion of organic rice cultivation.
Unlike other places, Longshui insists on using traditional methods to build canals, cultivating organic rice in a natural and pollution-free manner. Through rice planting and harvesting experiences, tourists can understand the hard work of rural rice farming in the past.
Flavorful Meal
A restaurant without a menu, selecting seasonal ingredients for dishes. Using local ingredients within a hundred miles, aligning with the eco-friendly concept of low-carbon food miles. Every dish is a balance of color, aroma, and taste, proving that food can be healthy, eco-friendly, and delicious. 350 NTD/Group of 15 people.
How do I participate in Longshui Eco-friendly activities?
I suggest driving over to the community & activity center, which address i gave in below google maps, and from there they should guide you what activities are available at the moment. Some of them may need a group, or booking in advance.
Longshui Ecofrienly activity price table
| Activity | Duration | Price | Group Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Paddy Field Tour & Egret Forest Bird Watching | Approx. 1.5 hours | 400 NT$/person | Group of 5 | |
| Red Turtle Cake & Clam Touching Experience | Approx. 2 hours | 450 NT$/person | Group of 6 | |
| Deep Experience of Red Turtle Stove Cake | Approx. 3 hours | 800 NT$/person | Group of 6 | |
| Hey Yo~ Hey Yo~ Radish Pulling | Approx. 1.5 hours | 450 NT$/person | Group of 10 | Limited to November to February of the following year |
| Sisal Industry Exhibition Hall Tour & Handbag Weaving | Approx. 2.5 hours | 550 NT$/person | Group of 5 | |
| Chief Chef Cultural Tour (with meals) | Approx. 2 hours | 650 NT$/person | Group of 15 | |
| Rice Planting (January) & Rice Harvesting (May) Farming Experience | Approx. 1.5 hours | 400 NT$/person | Group of 10 | Book 3 days in advance, activities according to the farming calendar |
| Gourmet Meal | 350 NT$/person | Group of 15 |
屏東縣恆春鎮龍水里龍泉路284號, Pingtunghsien, Taiwan, 946
0978 935 922