Penglai River Fish Protection Trail Introduction
Penglai Creek is located in the southwestern part of Nanzhuang, and it is the upstream section of the Zhonggang River. Due to its remote location nestled among the mountains, the steep peaks on both sides of the creek are surrounded by a mix of sweet-scented bamboo forests and natural broadleaf forests, creating a lush canopy. The intertwining scenery of mountains and rivers allows visitors to occasionally hear the forest conversing with the mountain winds or to listen to the creek water singing along with the fish. The naturally beautiful landscape encourages one to cast aside all stress and let the chaotic mind settle. Here, one simply wishes to take deep breaths, touch the cool creek water, and admire the elegant presence of the "bitterness flower," traversing through the woods and crossing the water, before returning home filled with essential oils and energy. Looking at the clear waters where schools of fish swim, one would hardly believe that fish once disappeared from this area. The beautiful scenery we see today is the result of the hard work of the Nanzhuang community. Initially, a group of locals who loved their hometown became aware of the ecological destruction of the creek and voluntarily formed the "Penglai Creek Guardians and Fish Protection Patrol" to patrol the creek, reminding and advising visitors engaged in activities to minimize pressure on the creek's ecology, hoping to restore the stream to its original state. In 2001, the Miaoli County Government also announced the implementation of a fish protection closure in the middle and upper reaches of the Penglai Creek, completely prohibiting any fishing or angling activities in the protected segments of the creek, making it the first stream in Miaoli County to implement fish protection measures. Thanks to the residents' active efforts, the fish protection in Penglai Village has been successful, earning the Ministry of the Interior's "Charming Township Award for Excellent Natural Scenery" in 2002. Today, the creek water is crystal clear, allowing visitors to see schools of fish swimming freely. The bitterness flower and stonefish glitter in the water, mesmerizing onlookers, and one may even witness fish leaping over stones. The fish protection pathways stretch a total of 2.4 kilometers. If you walk briskly, you can make a round trip in about an hour and a half. However, since you are here to hike, exercise, and experience nature, it is sincerely suggested that you slow down, pause at various spots, and explore the fish, insects, and plants that greet you along the way, as well as the shy little animals hiding behind trees and stones. The wonders of nature's ecology offer surprises at every turn! The "water spirits" of Penglai Creek are the Taiwan knifefish, commonly known as bitterness flowers. Due to the position of their mouths being lower, they tend to bump their heads when feeding on algae on stones. They have evolved a survival mechanism to escape by flipping their bodies, creating a moment where their silvery underbelly shines in the water, thus being referred to as "fireflies of the water." The Taiwan dace prefers cold waters, swimming strongly and adeptly. They mostly inhabit the upper reaches of rivers and tributaries, being omnivorous with a carnivorous tendency, primarily feeding on aquatic insects. Their distinctive characteristic is a somewhat wider blue-black longitudinal stripe extending from the gill cover to the end of the tail, and they can grow up to 20 centimeters in length. The stonefish, a species endemic to Taiwan, is found in fast-flowing, clear waters and deep pools in the middle and upper reaches of streams. They are omnivorous and mostly feed at night. Juvenile fish exhibit seven black horizontal stripes on their sides, while mature fish darken and the stripes become less distinct. Along the way, one can observe various plants. The common calamus, belonging to the family Araceae, is a perennial evergreen herb that loves low-elevation stream environments. Its rhizome is creeping, and the leaves are linear, about 30 centimeters long. Because they are sword-shaped, they are also called "water sword grass." The whole plant has a distinct fragrance and can be used medicinally. Calamus has been favored by scholars since ancient times and is collectively known with orchids, chrysanthemums, and narcissus as the "four elegant flowers." The large-flowered mandrake belongs to the nightshade family and is an evergreen shrub. Its leaves are arranged alternately, and the flowers are solitary and drooping, trumpet-shaped, and white, blooming year-round. At night, it emits a strong fragrance to attract nocturnal insects for pollination. The entire plant is toxic, especially the flowers and seeds, and people often mistakenly confuse it with lilies for culinary purposes, so caution is advised. The Taiwan nest fern, also known as the Tai Mountain Sphagnum, grows in Taiwan's low-elevation natural broadleaf forests, often found on tree trunks or rocks. It is an indicator species of subtropical broadleaf forests. The dragon's blood plant, belonging to the rue family, is a green and climbing shrub. Its leaves are arranged alternately, compound, with leaflets that are oval in shape and measure 4-6 centimeters in length. It grows in secondary forests or coastal hilly areas at low to mid-elevation across the island. Caution must be taken when encountering the dragon's blood plant, as its "thick vines enclose sharp thorns" can lead to severe bleeding if one is not careful, which is how its name comes about.
