Xinyu Century-Old Stone Weir Cluster Introduction
In addition to beachcombing and sea viewing, what else can you do in Xinyu? Come and listen to the legendary stories of the century-old stone weirs. You will discover how harmonious the relationship between nature and humanity can be, and you will be amazed that what seems like a pile of stones actually conceals the wisdom of our ancestors. Even after a hundred years, it still astonishes. The largest group of stone weirs in Taiwan awaits your exploration. The establishment of the Xinyu stone weirs dates back to the Qing Dynasty, when Han Chinese settlers came to Taiwan to cultivate the land, stacking locally sourced river stones into stone dikes hundreds and even thousands of meters long by hand. In an era without transportation equipment, completing a stone weir almost required the mobilization of an entire village, inadvertently continuing the bonds between people. The principle of stone weir fishing utilizes the rising tide to bring fish into the shore, where fishermen can capture the trapped fish when the tide recedes. Currently, there are nine stone weirs from the north coast of Shenzhen in Xinyu to the surrounding areas of Kejian, with the best-preserved ones located at Kejian, all still functional for fishing. This century-old group of stone weirs, stretching along Taiwan's west coast like a "Great Wall at Sea," not only embodies cultural richness but is also a great place to observe coastal ecology. On the stone dike, you can see intertidal creatures such as stone oysters, moon snails, shrimp, and crabs. During high tide, you can also witness the breathtaking blooming of sea anemones, showcasing a rich and diverse ecosystem with many highlights. Today, while the stone weirs no longer play the role of sustaining fishermen's livelihoods, they stand as historical relics witnessing the wisdom of our ancestors. (Photo source: Taoyuan Stone Weir Association)
