Guanxin Zaojiao Ecological Wildlife Protection Area Introduction
What does time look like? Standing in front of the Guanjin Reef, the largest algal reef in Taiwan, one is greatly shocked by the ecological masterpiece created from a thousand years of flowing time, and it makes one acutely aware of humanity's insignificance. Covering an area of about 370 hectares, the Guanjin Reef is different from coral reefs formed by animals; it is a "plant reef" formed from the calcification of non-segmented coralline algae that accumulate on gravel beaches, with an average growth rate of just 1 centimeter per 10 years. The algal reef group in Taoyuan once stretched from Dayuan and Guanyin to Xinwu, but with the development of coastal industrial areas, it has now dwindled from 27 kilometers to about 5 kilometers. To protect this 4,000-year-old marine treasure, the "Taoyuan Guanjin Algal Reef Wildlife Protection Area" was designated in 2014, making it a wall-less classroom for understanding the algal reef environment. The annual "Cherish Taoyuan Algal Reef Thousand-Person Hike" event also encourages the public to actively participate in caring for this coastline. The Guanjin Reef is located along the coast from the southern end of the Xiaofanli River in Guanyin District to the northern end of the Houhu River estuary in Xinwu District. Apart from being amazed by this precious millennium landscape, the rich biodiversity is also one of the highlights of the Guanjin Reef; currently, 10 species of algae and 129 species of animals have been discovered, with animal density being 5 times that of the Gaomei Wetlands and 8 times that of the Xiangshan Wetlands, resembling a marine ecological museum in northern Taiwan. The Guanjin Reef is divided into core, buffer, and sustainable use zones. Whenever the tide goes out, the reef emerges above the sea surface, and various coastal organisms such as algae, fish, shrimp, and mollusks can be found in the intertidal zone. Walking along the wooden path, one can reach the mangrove education area to observe mudskippers and fiddler crabs up close. Nearby attractions include the century-old stone weir of Xinwu, the sand dunes of Guanyin Caosuo, and the Xucuo Harbor wetlands, showcasing the four major highlights of coastal Taoyuan.
