【Article by College of Foreign Languages & Literature】

On November 9, 2025, a bright and breezy Sunday afternoon, local and international students of NCCU gathered for an intercultural outing called “Let’s Go to Maokong 貓空攜手小旅行.” The event was co-organized by the College of Foreign Languages and Literature, the Office of University Social Responsibility (USR), the Language Tables, and the German Taiwanese Student Exchange Society. Taking place at Hongzhi Tea Farm and Zhinan Temple in Maokong, the event brought together undergraduate and graduate students from Taiwan, Germany, France, Turkey, the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Finland, and Switzerland, making it a beautiful journey of intercultural and multilingual exchange.

On the morning of the event, students gathered at the Maokong Gondola Station and took a 15-minute walk to Hongzhi Tea Farm. The owner warmly welcomed the group and gave a detailed introduction to Taiwanese tea and the tea-making process. To ensure that students from different countries could fully understand the explanations, the organizers arranged an accompanying English interpreter. The participants listened attentively and experienced firsthand how to distinguish between Oolong tea and Pouchong tea. During the tea-brewing session, students from all corners of the world engaged in lively English conversations, naturally sharing stories and insights from their daily lives and cultures.

After the tea-tasting session, the group walked to the Maokong Gondola boarding area. Along the way, they were surrounded by lush greenery and expansive mountain views. As the students enjoyed the scenery, they continued chatting, with cheerful conversations flowing naturally and the atmosphere being lively and warm. Thanks to the pairing arrangement by the organizers, local and international students who were initially unknown to each other gradually became friends. During the gondola ride, the layered mountains and magnificent landscape outside the window offered a breathtaking view. Many students took out their phones to capture the unforgettable moment. Shio Minori, a student from Japan, remarked, “Wow! It's not every day you get to see Taipei like this, surrounded by all these trees and beautiful flowers.”

Upon arriving at the Zhinan Temple Station, the organizers led the students in a fun “temple quest” activity. Each participant received a trifold brochure that introduced the temple and included questions for them to answer during the visit. The correct answers were revealed later in a prize quiz session. During the guided tour, students learned about the history and architectural features of Zhinan Temple. Shio Minori from Japan, upon seeing the temple, shared with peers the differences between a shrine and a temple in Japan, sparking lively discussion in the group. Through this cultural exchange, participants learned from each other and broadened their horizons. As the well-known Taiwanese author Lin Liang once said, “Friends can expand your knowledge and enrich your life experience. Each friend is like a good book. The more friends you make, the more books you read. The more new friends you meet, the more new books you read.”

At the end of the event, students gathered at the pavilion of Zhinan Temple for a quiz session with prizes. Students participated eagerly, and the lively atmosphere was filled with laughter and applause. Smiles and warm conversations accompanied them on their way down the mountain back to campus, marking the perfect close to a day filled with learning and joy.

The “Let’s Go to Maokong 貓空攜手小旅行” event not only allowed local and international students to experience the tea culture and natural beauty of Wenshan, but also provided a valuable opportunity for intercultural exchange. Through games, participants enjoyed a unique tour of Maokong, building connections with each other and with the local culture. The event concluded successfully, leaving students with fond memories and expectations for more. Many expressed their wish for similar cultural and language exchange activities in the future, where English can naturally be used in their life in NCCU, further enriching the university’s global learning context.

*The current press release has been refined with the assistance of ChatGPT*