Gifting in Halcyon Days at Taoyuan is one of those systems that looks simple and then quietly punishes you for guessing. A lot of NPCs hate way more things than they like, and yes, I learned that the hard way.
This guide is very much work-in-progress, based on what’s been tested so far. If something isn’t listed as “Loved,” assume you’re gambling.
Halcyon Days at Taoyuan Guide Wiki – best gifts to give
Before we even get into specific NPCs, a few patterns become obvious after a couple of bad gift days:
- Foraging items are risky. A lot of characters straight-up dislike most foraged stuff.
- Fish is polarizing. Some NPCs love it, others hate almost all of it.
- Peach and Little Berry show up a lot — sometimes liked, sometimes disliked.
- If someone is marked as “dislikes a lot”, believe it. They mean it.
If you’re unsure, cooked dishes tend to be safer than raw items.
Bachelorettes – Who’s Safe to Gift (and Who Isn’t)
Chu Youfeng
Honestly? Avoid experimenting here.
She dislikes most foraging and most fish, which rules out a huge chunk of early items. I stopped guessing and waited until I had better options.
Chu Muyue
Peach and Little Berry work.
Most foraging does not.
She’s one of those NPCs that looks easy to gift to and then isn’t.
Jiang Zhezhi
Another “don’t guess” character.
Most foraging is disliked, and there aren’t many safe picks yet.
Liu Chulan
Shockingly easy.
She doesn’t dislike anything.
All foraging, fish, and crops are fine. If you’re early game and just want stress-free gifting, she’s your safest bet.
Li Jie’er (Birthday: Spring 14)
Same situation as Liu Chulan.
Nothing disliked, everything basic works. Makes birthdays much less stressful.
Long Xizhi
Cooked dishes work well here.
Fish Broth Noodles are confirmed good.
Raw foraging items? Bad idea.
Su Min (Birthday: Spring 5)
Red-Cooked Pork is the standout.
Peach and Little Berry are disliked, which caught me off guard because they’re “safe” gifts for others.
Bachelors – Read the Warnings Carefully
Ma Yao
This one’s dangerous.
He dislikes a lot of items.
Spanish Mackerel and Prawn are safe, but random gifting here is how you tank friendship fast.
Sheng Wuqiang
Copper Ore works.
Raw Jade does not.
He only dislikes one thing, which almost makes it worse because you’ll assume everything else is fine.
Sheng Wenxiu
Most foraging, fish, and crops are disliked.
I’d honestly wait until you unlock more refined items before gifting regularly.
Yue Hongdi (Birthday: Spring 3)
Steamed Rice, Brewed Tea, and Pea Flour Cake are good picks.
He dislikes most meat-based foods, which feels very specific and very intentional.
Xiao Dalan
Pearl Oyster is a loved gift.
Abalone and Babylonia Lutosa are liked.
Most other fish and foraging items are disliked, so stick to shellfish.
Zhang Huilong
Another “dislikes a lot” warning NPC.
Peach is disliked. I learned that one by accident.
Zhang Linghu
Peach and Little Berry work.
Most foraging and crops don’t.
Other Locals – Don’t Ignore These
Some of these NPCs are way pickier than you’d expect.
Chu Liuyun
Pea Flour Cake works.
Peach and Little Berry are liked.
Most foraging and fish are disliked.
Jiang Zhengyang
Golden Wheat is safe.
Most foraging isn’t.
Lin Yaqing
She dislikes only one thing, but everything else is fine.
Foraging and fish are generally safe here.
Xiao Yuanyi
Special Fish works.
Most foraging does not.
I wouldn’t freestyle gifts here.
Xia Yingjie
This one’s brutal.
Dislikes most fruit, crops, and food.
All herbs are disliked.
I stopped gifting entirely until I had better info.
Zhu Baohua
Green Pepper is disliked.
Most foraging, fish, and crops also don’t go over well.
This guide is not complete, and that’s intentional. This is exactly how gifting knowledge builds up while playing:
- Some NPCs are forgiving
- Some are traps
- Some punish curiosity
If you’re unsure, don’t force gifts just to fill the daily quota. Waiting is better than nuking friendship by accident.
I’ll keep updating this as more gifts get tested — and if you discover something that works (or absolutely doesn’t), it’s worth sharing. This game clearly expects the community to piece this together the hard way.