Hongchailiao Pit Introduction
Hong Chai Keng is an unassuming little village with a population of just over 300 residents. The local inhabitants primarily make their living through fishing, so the nearby Hong Chai Keng Fishing Port sees fishing boats returning laden with catches every day to meet market demands. This is the most ordinary scene of daily life in Hong Chai Keng. However, beneath the calm surface of the sea lies a rich and varied underwater landscape, teeming with countless rare and beautiful corals and brightly colored tropical fish, gradually transforming the area into a tourist port and a famous diving destination. "Red Cypress" (Hong Chai) refers to a type of tree, also known as the Taiwan tree orchid, which is native to Taiwan and commonly found in Orchid Island and the Hengchun Peninsula. It primarily functions as a coastal windbreak, and the area earned its name due to the abundance of red cypress in the past. However, Hong Chai Keng has developed into a tourist hotspot because of its vibrant underwater ecology. The waters around Hong Chai Keng feature the most extensive, diverse, and concentrated coral reef distribution in the Kenting area, undoubtedly attracting many visitors. Due to the unfavorable conditions for forming good harbors along the coral reef coastline, there are only two fishing ports on the western side of the Hengchun Peninsula: Shan Hai and Hong Chai Keng. These two ports face west and are sheltered by hilly terrain, creating a unique phenomenon where, during the season when strong mountain winds blow down from the Kenting urban area, Hong Chai Keng remains unusually calm and peaceful. If you don't plan to participate in snorkeling activities, you can stroll around the village to see the local temple architecture, historical old houses, and check out the fresh catches at the fish market. For those who wish to feel the sea breeze, you can go to the breakwater at the port or relax in a pavilion, quietly listening to the whispers carried by the sea breeze, while the strangely shaped clouds in the harbor sky take a journey along with the winds of Hong Chai Keng.
