Beipu: A Leisurely Museum (Blue Magpie Bookstore)

For many years, the "Blue Magpie Bookstore" has dedicated itself to being a "cultural kitchen." Like a fledgling in a family of Taiwan Blue Magpies, the Blue Magpie Bookstore has grown its wings and taken flight under the warm care of the local Beipu community. The Blue Magpie Bookstore has consistently pursued its mission as a "cultural kitchen," continuously sharing local humanities, history, architecture, and ecology with travelers, while also sharing diverse cultures from outside with local friends. Through activities such as curated book selections, lectures, guided walks, handicraft workshops, and book clubs, it allows everyone to see the beauty of life. We hope that reading becomes a daily habit, enriching everyday life through books! Beipu is a leisurely museum. **Beipu: A Museum of Slow Living and Romance.** Beipu Township, located on Provincial Highway 3 in Hsinchu County, is a typical Hakka village, preserving traditional settlements and a rich collection of historical buildings. Within a 300-meter radius of the settlement's center, one can find the national historic sites "Jinguangfu Guild Hall" and "Tianshui Hall," county-designated historic sites "Jiang Ah-hsin Western-style House" and "Citian Temple," as well as historical buildings such as "Zhongshu Hall," Deng Nan-guang Photography Memorial Hall, and Long Ying-zong Literary Museum. Since its establishment as a frontier defense outpost and settlement in 1834, Beipu has a history of nearly 190 years, spanning the Qing Dynasty, Japanese colonial period, and the Republic of China era. This land has given birth to many influential figures and events, such as: - Jiang Xiuluan pioneered the development of Beipu, laying the foundation for the settlements of the three Da'ai townships (Beipu, Emei, Baoshan). - Jiang Shaozu's heroic deeds in leading the righteous army against the Japanese. - Cai Qinglin's anti-Japanese uprising during the "Beipu Incident." - Jiang Ah-hsin (the "Tea Tiger"), the prototype protagonist of the drama "Gold Leaf." - The classic works of documentary photographer Deng Nan-guang and writer Long Ying-zong. Furthermore, during the Japanese colonial period, Watanabe Kamesaku, the Beipu Sub-prefect, collected plants and insects in his spare time, with many insects even named after him, such as Watanabe's Oriental Wax Cicada and Watanabe's Great Green Click Beetle. Later, Japanese naturalist Tadao Kano also followed in Watanabe Kamesaku's footsteps to Beipu. The charisma and works of these historical figures from Beipu, coupled with each historic site or building, tell many moving stories. Whether in historical documents, academic papers, or publications, Beipu's rich cultural heritage is well-recorded. **Nature and Life.** The residents of Beipu settlement live by the rhythm of the twenty-four solar terms, inheriting traditional customs through activities like the Lantern Festival's "You-gang-huo" (oil torch) festival, the Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Puduan), and mid-autumn tea and moon appreciation gatherings in temple courtyards. Xiuluan Mountain is Beipu's landmark, resembling a "parent mountain" protecting the villagers. It is shaded by trees, features pavilions and monuments, and is an excellent place for walks and exercise, also being one of Hsinchu County's twelve scenic spots. The Wuzhi Mountain trail boasts rich forest scenery, with its peculiar rocks and forest phytoncides offering an intoxicating experience; Nanpu Village's Golden Water Township displays idyllic pastoral charm; and the tea plantations scattered across the hills cultivate the renowned Pengfeng Tea (Oriental Beauty Tea). Furthermore, Baifen Bridge in Nanpu Village spans the Daping River, where 91 bird species have been recorded, showcasing the diversity of its wild bird ecology. Beipu not only boasts a wealth of historical sites but also combines diverse natural ecological landscapes, making visitors want to linger. **"The entirety of Beipu is a leisurely museum, well worth for travelers to slow down and explore."**