Guanxin Zaojiao Ecological System Wildlife Sanctuary Introduction
What does time look like? Standing in front of the Guanshin Coral Reef, the largest coral reef formation on Taiwan's main island, the ecological masterpiece formed by millennia of flowing time is truly astonishing and reminds us of humanity's insignificance. Covering approximately 370 hectares, the Guanshin Coral Reef is not formed by animals like coral reefs but is a "plant reef" made up of calcareous deposits created from the death and calcification of non-jointed algae on gravel beaches, taking an average of 10 years to grow just 1 centimeter. The coral reef cluster in Taoyuan once extended from Dayuan and Guanyin to Xinyu, but due to the development of coastal industrial zones, only about 5 kilometers remain from the original 27 kilometers. To conserve this 4,000-year-old ocean treasure, the "Taoyuan Guanshin Coral Reef Ecosystem Wildlife Protection Area" was established in 2014, turning it into a wall-less classroom for understanding coral reef environments. The annual event "Cherish Taoyuan Coral Reef Thousand-Person Hike" also encourages the public to take action to protect this coastal area. The Guanshin Coral Reef is located along the coast from the south of the Xiaofanli River in Guanyin District to the north of the Hohudong River in Xinyu District. Besides being amazed by this precious thousand-year landscape, the rich biodiversity is also one of the highlights of the Guanshin Coral Reef; currently, 10 species of algae and 129 species of animals have been discovered, with animal density being five times that of the Gao Mei Wetlands and eight times that of the Xiangshan Wetlands, making it like a marine ecological museum in northern Taiwan. The Guanshin Coral Reef is divided into core, buffer, and sustainable use areas. When the tide recedes, the reef emerges above the sea surface, revealing various coastal organisms such as algae, fish, shrimp, mollusks, and green algae in the intertidal zone, while a wooden walkway leads to the mangrove education park, where one can closely observe mudskippers and fiddler crabs. It is recommended to visit the century-old stone weir in Xinyu, the sand dunes in Guanyin Ciao-Run, and the Huxiang Port Wetlands to take in the four major coastal highlights of Taoyuan.
