Eating rice in Taiwan is unavoidable...which is perfect because it is delicious! However, just like pasta in Italy, some rice just tastes better than the rest. For Taiwan, I got lucky enough to live right in the heart of the rice fields and be surrounded by the best rice in the world!
One of the most unique things about my mountainous rice field environment is the protection. Yes, protection. Guanshan and our neighboring towns that also have rice fields are actually protected by the government. It is illegal to build homes or building of any sort on the land because it is specifically used for agriculture. Most farmers here harvest three times a year in order to sell as much rice as possible. However, Guanshan only harvests twice a year, which according to local farmers, provides richer soil and a better harvest.
Due to its quality, the rice of Guanshan is known all around Taiwan. This has caused the area to become a popular tourist destination for those seeking to discover how exactly such tasty rice is made. People come from all over Taiwan to visit a local 'Rice House,' bike through rice fields and taste famous lunchboxes containing rice straight from the fields.
