Taiwan Food Atlas

Xinpu Persimmon Industry

Orange-hued romance under the autumn sun — Taiwan's largest persimmon-drying village in Hankeng Li
📍 Hsinchu · Xinpu Township · Hankeng Li🎨 Cultural Park🔖 Persimmon Cake · Agricultural Culture · Seasonal

Hankeng Li in Xinpu is Taiwan's largest persimmon-processing area. Every autumn (roughly September–November), processing farms peel tens of thousands of persimmons and lay them out on bamboo racks to sun-dry. Layers of orange persimmon cakes glow in the sunlight in a spectacular scene. Wei Wei Jia Persimmon Farm offers guided tours that give visitors an up-close look at the complete traditional sun-drying process.

What to see at Xinpu Persimmon Industry

Hankeng Li's terrain facilitates good sunshine and ventilation, and the Hakka community's diligent farming tradition has gradually made it a persimmon-processing hub. Late September through November is peak sun-drying season; cool temperatures and ample sunshine — the classic clear autumn weather — are key to producing high-quality persimmon cake. Farms are scattered throughout the Hankeng Li settlement, each with a slightly different production style and flavor profile.

Wei Wei Jia Persimmon Farm offers guided tours in which guides walk visitors through the entire process from peeling and stringing to sun-drying and finished product. They also sell persimmon cake, dried persimmons, and persimmon-based products. In addition to persimmon cake, nearby farms also produce jujubes, olives, and other traditional Hakka agricultural products, all worth buying as souvenirs.

Tips for making the most of your visit

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Autumn sun-drying spectacle (September–November)Rows of orange persimmon cakes covering bamboo racks are a seasonal-only sight. Plan your visit for late September to November; the scene is most striking on sunny days.
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Farm tour experienceFarms like Wei Wei Jia offer guided tours covering peeling, stringing, sun-drying, and shaping — a hands-on way for families to learn about traditional agriculture.
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Shopping for souvenirsEach farm's persimmon cake has a slightly different flavor. Try samples at several before choosing, and consider pairing purchases with jujubes, olives, and other Hakka agricultural products.
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Best time for photographyBetween 9 and 11 in the morning, sunlight hits at an angle and the color of the persimmon cakes is richest and most vivid — the best window for agricultural landscape photography.

Practical information

Getting there and timing

  • By car from downtown Xinpu Township toward Hankeng Li — about 5–10 minutes. Signage points to each farm, and most farms have parking.
  • Persimmon season runs September–November. Farms are generally open during this period. Visiting outside the season or on weekdays may mean only finished products are on sale; call ahead to confirm.

Nearby connections

  • Xinpu Township also has Liu Family Ancestral Hall and other Hakka ancestral halls, as well as Fangliao Yimin Temple — all combinable into a half-day cultural theme trip.
  • Head to neighboring Guanxi Township for grass jelly dishes, extending the Hsinchu County Hakka agricultural culture corridor.

Source: Text compiled from the Wikipedia article on Xinpu Township and publicly available agri-tourism information. Please refer to each farm's latest official announcements for opening times. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.