Xinyu Century-Old Stone Weir Group Introduction
Instead of just watching the sea, why not play in it? Come to the time travel journey of the stone weir in Xinqiao, Taoyuan. In addition to wading and watching the sea, you might want to take a stroll through the century-old stone weirs, renowned as the "Great Wall at Sea." This intertidal zone, with over 300 years of history, is not only a seaside landscape but also a series of legendary cultural memories. The seemingly inconspicuous stone piles contain the wisdom of our ancestors' use of local materials and co-existing with nature; they still quietly stand, narrating tales of past hardships and resilience. The century-old stone weirs are a reflection of fishing wisdom. The origins of the Xinqiao stone weirs can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty when Han Chinese ancestors hand-built the pebble structures, measuring hundreds of meters in length, with the highest record catching 1,000 tai-jin (approximately 600 kilograms) of fish! This fishing method is both eco-friendly and clever, utilizing the tides to lure fish into the weirs and trapping them during low tide. The intertidal secret, an ecological treasure. Don't think that the stone weirs are only for fishing; they are also an excellent spot for observing coastal ecology. On the stone weir, you can frequently find creatures like oyster, snail, and crabs, and during high tide, you can see sea anemones blooming like flowers, a breathtaking sight. This rich ecological landscape makes the Xinqiao stone weirs not only culturally rich but also an experimental classroom for families to explore nature. Restoration and rebirth, the Great Wall at Sea regains its glory. Over time, the originally more than 40 stone weirs have dwindled to only nine. To preserve this precious cultural heritage, the Taoyuan Stone Weir Association initiated a restoration project in 2019, mobilizing over 6,000 participants to complete the restoration using traditional hand-building methods. By 2023, they successfully restored the nine stone weirs at Kanjiali, totaling 1,941 meters in length, all registered as a cultural landscape of Taoyuan City. This is not only a rebirth of the stone weirs but also a joint preservation of the local culture. Dance with the sea, a new cultural experience from a high perspective. Visiting Xinqiao means not only seeing the stone weirs but also participating in guided fishing tours to personally experience the joy of traditional fishing methods. As you walk the stone path and pull nets during the ebb and flow of the tide, it feels like fighting side by side with ancestors from a hundred years ago. Additionally, there is a two-story observation platform and a 200-meter-long walkway for visitors to gain a bird's eye view of the entire stone weir landscape, providing safety and comfort while adding a visual highlight to the overall journey. This attracts more people to this coastal secret, allowing them to experience the charm and magnificence of stone weir culture.
