An aerial view of Hsieh Tung-ching's tea garden in the town. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Cross-Straits integration

Yongfu has become a place of intensive investment by entrepreneurs from Taiwan, and is the mainland's biggest production base for Taiwan high-mountain oolong tea.

In 2008, a Taiwan farmer entrepreneurship park was launched. It is now home to over 70 Taiwan-funded tea companies.

In March, the central government rolled out measures to provide equal treatment for agricultural enterprises from Taiwan, including the use of land and forests, and funding. The moves are aimed at supporting their participation in the development of agriculture and forests on the mainland and boosting rural vitalization.

"Many policies have been tested in Yongfu before being rolled out nationwide, because a large number of people have arrived from Taiwan," Yang said. The March policy includes allowing people from the island to obtain forest rights certificates on the mainland, which can be used as collateral for bank loans.

"The policy was piloted in Yongfu in 2017, and I was the first to get a certificate, which gave us a sense of belonging," Yang said.

Last year, Yongfu's tea farmers helped draft the national food enforcement standards for Taiwan oolong tea, which also apply if such tea is brought to the mainland from the island.

The town is at the forefront of cross-Straits exchanges, attracting visits from tea experts from Taiwan along with college students majoring in rural planning and landscape design.

Yang said the local government is working to improve the tourism infrastructure, including building a sightseeing train like the one at Alishan Mountain. This year, he plans to build a campsite, so visitors can pitch tents or park trailers, and introduce smaller attractions including a paddling pool.