Continuing north from Yuli along the Rift Valley, cross the Xiuguluan River and you reach Ruisui Township. Off the interchange, stretches of pasture open up on both sides of the road, and black-and-white dairy cattle graze in the barns. Ruisui is Hualien's most important dairy township, and the "Ruisui Fresh Milk" commonly seen on shelves at supermarkets and convenience stores across Taiwan originates here. Tourists make the trip to Ruisui Farm specifically to touch the cows and drink the milk straight from the source.
What is Ruisui Fresh Milk
Ruisui Fresh Milk is not a single brand — it's the collective name for the dairy-farming area of Ruisui Township, Hualien. Locally operating farms include Ruisui Farm, Jicheng Farm, and others; Uni-President Enterprises also produces a nationally distributed product called "Ruisui Fresh Milk" (the brand name taken directly from the place name). Local freshly drawn milk is characterized by a slightly higher fat content and rich milky aroma, and because transport distances are short and handling times fast, the on-site "fresh milk" you drink at the farm has the most complete flavor. In addition to plain milk, you'll often find panna cotta, pudding, and ice cream made from local milk.
Why did Ruisui become the dairy hub? Hualien Tourism Information Network lists Ruisui Farm as a major tourist attraction in the township; the Wuhe Plateau sits at roughly 250 meters above sea level, with a large day-night temperature differential and quality pasture, making it the largest dairy-farming area in eastern Taiwan since the 1960s. The Ruisui Township Farmers' Association has long supported dairy cattle raising and quality management. Uni-President Enterprises using "Ruisui" as a brand name effectively carried this place name onto shelves in every convenience store in Taiwan, turning Ruisui Fresh Milk from a local product into a nationally recognized byword.
How to drink it the authentic way
Local know-how
Verified endorsements (ad-free)
- Hualien Tourism Information Network lists Ruisui Farm as the main tourist attraction in Ruisui Township.
- Uni-President Enterprises launched "Ruisui Fresh Milk" as a national product with a brand name taken from the place name, cementing Ruisui as the byword for dairy in Taiwan.
- The Ruisui Township Farmers' Association has long supported the local dairy industry; Ruisui is the most important dairy township in Hualien and eastern Taiwan.
Practical tips
- Ruisui Farm and Jicheng Farm are only 10 minutes apart by car — you can visit both on the same day for comparison.
- Glass-bottle fresh milk that has been out of the cold chain for more than an hour will noticeably change in flavor; in summer, bring an insulated cooler bag when purchasing.
- Weekend crowds at the farms are heavy after 10 a.m.; weekdays or after 3 p.m. are more comfortable.
Data compiled from Hualien County Government Tourism Department, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.