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切換側邊選單 切換搜尋選單

Rebirth of the Bamboo Sea

Embracing the Green Shores of Hsinchu County

Embracing the Green Shores of Hsinchu County

Source:Hsinchu County Government

Hsinchu County's marine ecosystem is among the best in the country.

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Embracing the Green Shores of Hsinchu County

By Hsinchu County Government
Sponsored Content

Narrowly rectangular in shape, Hsinchu County is longer in the east and west and shorter in the north and south. Though its coastline is limited, its marine ecosystem is among the best in the country, and it connects the greater Zhubei area with products and tourism resources from the mountain regions.

A comprehensive plan on how to manage the coastal area will give the seashore of Hsinchu a different face, a sense of rejuvenation, and a vision for the sea and mountains of Hsinchu County.

Source: Hsinchu County Government

“The coastal region of Hsinchu County will be one of the areas I focus on. Rejuvenating the coastline will stimulate the economy and develop tourism and other industries. It will make up for what Hsinchu lacked in the past.” Yang Wen-ke (楊文科), the newly elected Magistrate of Hsinchu County, places great importance on coastal development. Frequent visits to the coastline have become a part of his daily job.  

Yang worked extensively in the Hsinchu Science Park and has experience working for the County Government. His philosophy is: you must identify the problem before you can come up with a solution and begin planning your future direction and goal. In the past, military control of the coastline alienated locals from their seashore.

                       

But the truth is, the coast of Hsinchu County boasts natural attractions and enjoys one of the best wetlands in the country, not to mention the diverse environmental resources of its tablelands, ponds, and waterways. In the future, a sustainable coastal corridor could be created if the various ecosystems, industries, and living spaces could be linked in a network that puts environmental protection at its center.

Yang Wen-ke, Magistrate of Hsinchu County (Source: Hsinchu County Government)

Using current coastal resources as a foundation, Yang has put a considerable amount of thought into how a “point” could be extended into a “line” and a “dimension.” For example, the Potou Fishing Port (坡頭漁港) and Xinfeng Mangrove Nature Reserve (新豐紅樹林生態保育區) on the northern tip could spearhead the development of ecological, cultural, and tourism resources in the region. Xinyue Beach (新月沙灘) in the south could be combined with nearby agritourism attractions to expand into a multifunctional leisure area that encompasses vacation spots, natural production, and tourism activities.

The 11.8-kilometer coastline could be connected by bicycle paths and other modes of transport, linking Yongan Fishing Harbor (永安漁港) in Taoyuan with Nanliao Fishing Harbor (南寮漁港) in Hsinchu City. These are the broad directions the Hsinchu County seashore could develop toward.

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The Xinfeng Mangrove Nature Reserve in Xinfeng Township covers 8.9 hectares. It is the only mangrove in Northern Taiwan to host a mix of Kandelia and black mangrove. It is also one of the best wetlands in the country. A rich ecosystem has sprung up in the swamps: there are over forty types of fiddler crabs, not to mention other animals such as mudskippers and waterfowls that coexist in the same ecosystem. It is one of the best places to learn about nature.

“Environmental protection is paramount, it is a valuable resource for Hsinchu County,” says Yang. The County Government anticipates using the mangrove’s natural resources to develop local tourism while protecting and maintaining its original natural habitat.

The first step was to repair the failing wooden walkways that wound between the mangroves, and to maintain the surrounding protection forest. The next step was to link scenic spots with local houses of worship, such as Chihho Temple (池和宮), Jiang’s Historic House (姜家古厝), and others. This turned the region into a favorite spot for ecological tourism and environmental education. Once the bicycle paths through the mangroves are complete, visitors will be able to see a rich variety of sights while conveniently passing through on their bicycles.

Connecting the Best Mangroves in the Country to a Transformed Potou Fishing Port

The Potou Fishing Port is on the northern tip of the mangrove swamps. It has retained the appearance of a simple and humble fishing village. In the future, after the completion of “The Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program: Marine Environment Construction” (前瞻基礎建設—水環境工程), the port can be transformed into a recreational tourism harbor.

Not only will this link two major harbors together—Yongan Fishing Harbor in the north and Nanliao Fishing Harbor in the south, it will also develop the local tourism industry, and turn the Hsinchu County coastline into an uninterrupted chain of tourist attractions.

Looking forward, besides dredging the harbor area of the Potou Fishing Port, a multifunctional fishing culture exhibition and recreational center can also be constructed to provide travel information and ecological education. A tourist fish market can be built to sell freshly-caught fish.

In conjunction with nearby restaurants, even the choosiest gourmets will be satisfied after their visit. Other parts of the overall hardware that should be improved include areas for cleaning fishnets, docks for repairing fishboats, and warehouses for storing fishing equipment.

Source: Hsinchu County Government

Xinyue Beach, a Multidimensional Recreational Experience

Located on the northern shore of the Fengshan River (鳳山溪), Xinyue Beach is an important coastal recreational area in Hsinchu County. When the sun sets in the west, golden rays spill on the shining sands to create pinpoints of brilliant light. The effect is very romantic. In recent years, Xinyue Beach gained additional fame for its music festival. Surfing, sailing, and other watersports are also popular here, attracting countless visitors to come and bask in the atmosphere.

In the future, tourists will not only enjoy frolicking in the water, but also have the chance to visit the nearby “agricultural recreational area.” They will learn about the unique aquacultures in Hsinchu County, and taste fresh delicacies such as mullet roe and white shrimp.

Or they can participate in activities that recreate the full experience of cultivating aquacultures. There is food to enjoy and fun to be had; the entire experience is unique in all of Taiwan. Tourists can also travel to the southern tip of the Fengshan River to visit the statue of Guan Yin, where they will enjoy a more spiritual, religious atmosphere.

Source: Hsinchu County Government

Clean Up the Seashore and Let the Spirit of Hsinchu Shine Through

Once, the coastal region of Hsinchu County was ravaged by pollution. This caused great anguish for the locals. As the newly elected magistrate, Yang is determined to show his dedication and effort by cleaning up the coast.

Two or three decades ago, large amounts of furnace dust, which is a dangerous pollutant, was dumped on the west side of Fengbi Tunnel (鳳鼻隧道). This severely impacted the surrounding marine environment and ecology.

In September of 2018, when excavation to clean up the pollution began, it was discovered that the amount of pollutants was five times greater than the initial estimate. This made the cleanup effort even more complicated.

Because of this, the County Government immediately fought to increase the budget and forged ahead with the cleanup process. Cleanup is expected to conclude at the end of 2019.

At that time, this section of the coastline will be integrated into the “Marine Environment Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program: Xinfeng Coast Maintenance Construction Plan” (水環境前瞻基礎建設計畫—新豐海岸維護工程計畫). Comprehensive planning will be done for the entire area, with the end goal of ensuring the safety of the marine environment and restoring a beautiful coastline for the residents.

“We can definitely improve the coastline of Hsinchu County. Hsinchu County will assuredly change for the better.” Though he is beset by many different challenges, Yang remains confident in his vision that the green shores of Hsinchu County will have a role to play in the oceanic era of the future.

Source: Hsinchu County Government

Translated by Jack C.
Edited by Sharon Tseng
Content sponsored by Hsinchu County Government

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