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Leaving the fictional descriptions of the Central Plains, earth ovens were also very popular in Taiwanese countryside. In the past, after the autumn harvest, it was the peak season for earth oven activities. On one hand, after the harvest, farmers had more free time. On the other hand, after harvesting rice, as long as the soil was plowed loose with a plow and the harder mud blocks were dug out to dry, the soil blocks with a solid texture could be used to build an earth oven. Although the standard of living was not high in the past, and it was not always possible to have earth oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was an important entertainment activity for rural children. In today's society, children do not have the experience of making earth ovens, and it's likely that very few have even touched mud. Fortunately, Hsinchu County, which focuses on leisure agriculture, has several farms where you can make earth ovens, allowing older people to relive their childhood experiences and younger people to get close to the land and create their own earth oven experiences. On Google's search engine, if you type in "earth oven," "番薯伯焢窯" (Fan-shu-bo Earth Oven) in Beipu will appear at the top of the search results. Yes, not only has Fan-shu-bo Earth Oven been around for a long time, but it is also highly praised for its complete facilities and thoughtful service. Many tourists have posted their experiences on their websites, which is why it ranks high on the search engine. Located in Nanpu Village, Beipu Township, on the south side of Provincial Highway 3, after passing through the lively old street and Dapingxi Creek, you'll enter the peaceful and rural Nanpu Village. Nanpu Village is known as the "Golden Water Township," and through community cooperation, the water canals here have been dredged and repaired, providing a steady supply of water for the fields. Therefore, whether it's rice, citrus, or vegetables, the harvest is excellent. As you walk along the field road, you'll see different crops depending on the season. After a little crop identification competition, you'll arrive at Fan-shu-bo Earth Oven. Fan-shu-bo is a real person, an elderly Mr. Zhuang, who was born and raised in the village and spent his life as a farmer. He built this leisure farm with his own hands. Although his son has taken over now, you can still see him helping out from time to time, whether it's making niangao (sticky rice cake) or tending to the earth oven fire, warmly welcoming guests. One of the benefits of coming to Fan-shu-bo Earth Oven is that the ingredients are already prepared, and the earth oven is half-built. Visitors just need to complete the earth oven, watch the flames, and put in food before sealing the oven. Then, they don't have to guard the oven and can participate in other farm activities. In rural areas, there's no shortage of rice straw. At first glance, the straw-made Guan Dao (a type of traditional Chinese spear) made by the farm workers seems difficult to make, and visitors shake their heads in amazement. However, with the guidance of the workers, even an 80-year-old elderly man and children as young as six or seven can make one within half an hour. The kids excitedly brandish their straw spears, reminiscent of the children in the song "Childhood," who worried about who would get the sword. After making the Guan Dao, the workers invite everyone to make straw people on another empty field. With two bunches of straw, one for the upper body and one for the skirt or pants, and some accessories from the visitors themselves, modern straw people with flower hats, sunglasses, and branded bags are created, and they all join the party in the field, which is quite lively. If there are enough people, they can even ride a cow cart for a stroll or participate in farm-themed obstacle courses, ensuring that everyone has a great time enjoying their food and fully experiencing the joy of farm activities. On the opposite side of the farm, there is the Jinxiu Hall, built in 1882 by Fan-shu-bo's ancestor, Mr. Zhuang. What's astonishing is that the wooden structure of this hall comes from a single camphor tree. It's hard to imagine how big the tree must have been to build such a grand hall. Interested tourists can visit this ancient house, which has both historical value and architectural beauty.