Guanxin Zaojiao Ecosystem Wildlife Sanctuary Introduction
What does time look like? Standing in front of the largest algal reef in Taiwan, the Guanshin Algal Reef, the ecological masterpiece formed by a thousand years of flowing time is truly breathtaking, making one feel the insignificance of humanity. Covering an area of approximately 370 hectares, the Guanshin Algal Reef is not formed by animals like coral reefs, but is a "plant reef" made of non-jointed coralline algae that have died and calcified, accumulating on the gravel beach to form limestone reef structures, taking an average of 10 years to grow just 1 centimeter. The algal reef clusters in Taoyuan once stretched from Dayuan and Guanyin to Xinhui, but due to the development of coastal industrial zones, only about 5 kilometers remain out of the original 27 kilometers. To conserve this 4,000-year-old marine treasure, the "Taoyuan Guanshin Algal Reef Ecosystem Wildlife Protection Area" was designated in 2014, becoming a wall-less classroom for understanding the algal reef environment. The annual "Cherish Taoyuan Algal Reef Thousand-Person Hike" also engages the public in physically protecting this coastal area. The Guanshin Algal Reef is located along the coast from the Xiaofanli Creek in the Guanyin District to the mouth of the Hohuk Creek in the Xinhui District. In addition to being amazed by this precious millennium landscape, the rich biodiversity is one of the highlights of the Guanshin Algal Reef; currently, 10 species of algae and 129 species of animals have been discovered, with animal density being five times that of the Gaomei Wetlands and eight times that of the Xiangshan Wetlands, resembling a marine ecological museum in northern Taiwan. The Guanshin Algal Reef is divided into core, buffer, and sustainable use areas. When the tide recedes and the reef emerges above the surface, various coastal organisms such as algae, fish, shrimp, and mollusks can be found in the intertidal zone, and a boardwalk leads to the mangrove education area, where one can closely observe mudskippers and fiddler crabs. Recommended nearby attractions include the century-old stone weir in Xinhui, the Guanyin Caoluo Sand Dunes, and the Xucun Harbor Wetlands, highlighting the four major coastal attractions of Taoyuan.
