By Nancy T. Lu / Taiwan News, Staff Writer
Thrilling discoveries are endless for nature-trippers at the Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan's Hengchun Peninsula. Mother Nature at Taiwan's first national park has a wonderful story to tell every step of the way from the marine environment to the uplifted coral reefs to the grasslands.
The bays, the lakes, the rivers, the primeval forests, the grassy plains, the wetlands and the coral reefs so rich in flora and fauna go through seasonal changes, making every visit a wonderful experience in ecotourism.
Harsh winds and rain pound the uplifted coral, causing it to break up and roll down to the sea to create landmark attractions. The solitary Sail (Chuanfan) Rock looking like the partially submerged profile of former American President Richard Nixon on the beach is an example.
A coral reef zone accounts for the rugged beauty of Longkeng. Here, too, can be found shoreline with almost totally seashell sand. Elsewhere, at |
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Kending sandy beach and blue water.
/Hou Tsung-hui |
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Fongchuisha, the wind blows to form sand rivers, sand cascades and sand dunes in winter. The summer rain washes the sand rivers back to sea.
Trees bow to the wind in Kending. They grow low and even slant uniformly in direction to create an interesting landscape. Roots, too, cling tenaciously to the ground, intertwining heavily to withstand the pull of the northeastern monsoon. A practical living environment for snakes is seen in Sheding Park. Snakes, in fact, often stray into the path and even the road.
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| Sand from corals and seashells./Hou Tsung-hui |
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Some trees growing in the Kenting National Park are said to be similar to species found in the Philippines, indicating seeds have been washed to the Hengchun Peninsula and blown ashore by the winds enabling them to take root.
The abundance of botanic life makes the Kenting National Park "a museum of nature" and also a virtual pharmacy of natural medicinal cures for all kinds of diseases plaguing humanity. The foliage in |
Kending supports all kinds of animal life. Insects thrive in forests and wetlands. Butterflies, however, are plentiful only starting in the month of April for they are afraid of the wind.
In autumn and winter, migratory birds arrive "without visas," staying in Longluan Park till it is time to go back and begin breeding again. The bird species which go through such a cycle include the brown shrike, the gray-faced buzzard and the Chinese sparrow hawk.
Japan, Siberia and the Chinese mainland are their original homes. The Hengchun Peninsula, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, the Bashi Channel on the south and the Taiwan Strait on the west, serves as a transit point for birds with tropical countries like the Philippines for destination and refuge from the cold winter. Others linger long enough to let the winter pass before directly flying home.
Identifying the birds, including waterfowl, through their songs and calls is what bird lovers with trained ears do when they visit Kending. Often enough, species in the vicinity are pinpointed sight unseen.
Bird watching usually has to be carried out with binoculars from a distance. The feathered flocks, which fly freely, are not used to human intruders in their wild habitat. The lucky visitor gets to spot a |
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| Flowering vegetation/Hou Tsung-hui |
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bright-colored kingfisher sitting still on a branch and then suddenly swooping down to grab with its beak a fish swimming in shallow water. Such a scenario is common enough in Kending, according to avian experts.
The blue water coastline from Maobitou to Eluanbi, two southernmost tips of the Hengchun Peninsula, is ideal for swimming, sailing, sport fishing, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Surfers also are lured to ride the waves in some beach areas. Maobitou has slumping cliffs and its shore erosion arouses curiosity. As for Eluanbi, where the Bashi Channel meets the Pacific Ocean, it is dominated by a lighthouse built in 1882. There is a 5,000-year-old prehistoric site at the Eluanbi Park as well.
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| Migratory shrike./CNA |
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The often wind-swept Kending setting must reckon with the seasonal phenomenon described as "wind dropping down the mountain." Most days, however, activities on water take place in Nanwan. The jetski is quite popular. There is also the banana boat pulled by a speedboat. An intentionally sudden sharp turn results in thrill-seeking passengers getting thrown overboard. Buggies for rough riding on the beach are also available. |
From Siaowan and Frog Rock stretching to Sail Rock (known as Nixon Rock) are locations for skin diving and snorkeling. Motorboats can take divers out to deeper waters for a look at Kending's undersea fairy garden.
Jialeshuei is a rock coast often marveled by tourists because of its unusual rock honeycombs and chessboards. If the site is ideal for watching the sunrise, the place for catching the sunset is at Guanshan with its coral tableland and odd-shaped rocks.
Those who prefer excitement on land have the option of testing the maneuverabilty of the jeep on desert terrain. The dune buggy is built for rough and steep terrain. Feel an incredible sense of exhilaration while on a desert adventure.
Coral, fish, crustaceans and seaweed thrive in the waters of the Kenting National Park. The Kuroshio ("black current"), which passes nearby, keeps the temperatures in the waters around Kending warm and stable.
There are at least two places to look at Kending's coral beds up close without diving. Visit the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Checheng. The exhibits here are presented in three sections: the Waters of Taiwan, the Coral Kingdom Pavilion and the Waters of the World. Another option is to board a vessel looking like a yellow submarine at Houbihu. The boat has a lower deck fitted with glass windows to enable tourists to catch glimpses of Kending's soft and stony coral beds.
Sometimes during the flying fish season, tourists see the creatures with special fins take flight in big groups. Such behavior is not pure showmanship. It is more about survival. The threat of predators sends the flying fish literally flying.
The Kending Pastureland tells a different tale. Grazing cows and horses on the grassy plains at the foot of Dajianshan offer a picture of Kending's bucolic charm. There is a station here for livestock research. Fresh milk and dried beef can be purchased here.
The Kenting Forest Recreation Area with its tropical plants invites exploring, too. The roots of some of the trees say a lot about how long they have been there. Find time to check out the limestone caves.
Animal life abounds in a natural haven like Kending. In fact, it is home to the endangered Formosan Sika deer. A controlled number of the spotted deer are left to roam in a forest area with clearings. One buck usually has several does. At the back of the site for display of the history of the sisal industry in Hengchun, the animals maintain a safe distance when tourists drop by.
Visitors are advised to proceed first upon arrival to the Kenting National Park Headquarters at Tanzih Bay for precise and accurate information on limited use areas, recreation areas, cultural/historic areas, significant scenic areas and ecological protection areas. Suggested itineraries go the range: forest tour, forest and coastline tour, driving tour, bird watching tour, plant tour and culture tour.
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