Tunglin Community Development Association, Wufeng District, Taichung City Introduction
Tonglin Community is located in the northeastern foothills of Wufeng in Taichung City, originally known as Beigou Pit. During the Japanese colonial period, the area was abundant with Chinese parasol trees, hence the name Qing Tong Lin (Green Parasol Forest). The elevation gradient in a short span of three to four hundred meters showcases diverse forest types and topographical changes, creating a natural classroom. The upper reaches of the Tonglin Beikeng Stream: to the east is the Jiu Jiu Peak Nature Reserve, where the geological structure of Touqian Mountain (formed millions of years ago) has collapsed into spectacular badlands; to the west is the Qing Tong Lin Ecological Industrial Park, which has become a green recreational area after long-term afforestation and trail construction. In earlier years, farmers overcame poor soil conditions to create a legendary chapter in Taiwanese agriculture through excellent orchard management, producing "premium" exportable fruits such as bananas in the 1960s and longans and lychees in the 1980s and 1990s. In the new century, Tonglin has shifted towards agricultural processing, with "Zhang Chunxia" using top-tier drying technology to elevate their brand to flagship products in high-end supermarkets, and their dried lychee served as a secret weapon that helped Wu Pao-chun win the championship at the World Bread Competition. The Wufeng Agricultural Association has recently produced wine from lychee and honey, earning accolades in international liquor awards, making Tonglin a "light of Taiwan" production area. Taking advantage of this, seven agricultural associations in Taichung jointly established Taiwan Agricultural Innovation Company to set up an international-level Tonglin Distillery, scheduled to begin construction in 2025. Wufeng's local revitalization DNA, encompassing culture, agriculture, and ecology, positions Tonglin as a leader in ecology, integrating agricultural and cultural elements to build an "environmental education base" with sustainable spirit based on twenty years of operating an "ecological community." Tonglin Community won third place in the Ministry of Culture's "Walk through Taiwan" program for 2022 and 2023, with the 2023 award being the only recipient from the Central Taiwan region, earning a reputation as a representative team of Central Taiwan. In 2023, Tonglin Community was selected by the Taichung City Government as the only demonstration community case for the Ministry of Culture's community building site visit that year, receiving unanimous praise from the committee members, with member Lin Cheng-yi exclaiming, "It must become the Tonglin of the world." Tonglin is renowned as the first place in Taiwan to use the community's strength to hang artificial nests for the conservation of the endangered raptor "owl," complementing the community building initiative launched in 2003, which has expanded conservation efforts to species such as flying squirrels and snake-necked turtles. Community partners promoting environmental education include several top ecological survey teams, in addition to local volunteer guides, making Tonglin one of the few successful communities in Taiwan that "cares for both people and wildlife." Several ecological documentaries have been filmed here, including local director Li Wei-chieh's film "Jiu Jiu Feng Ying," which has won awards in Taiwan and Japan. Apart from the historical site of Ling Shan Temple (Tonglin Guanyin Temple), founded by the Wufeng Lin family under Lin Chao-song (Lin Chi-sian), the most representative site is "Beigou Former Palace," where the former palace guardians lived solemnly, and famous painter Zhang Daqian visited and drew "Tonglin Picking Herbs," while literary master Qi Bangyuan also served in Beigou and left touching memories. The historical building remains of the former Palace Museum artifact collection cave, as well as the Taiwan Provincial Film Studio (Taiying) and the Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra (now National Taichung Symphony Orchestra), reflect the history of the provincial government’s relocation to central Taiwan after the war. Today, the Central Taiwan Film and Television Base (which includes the wave pool built for Ang Lee's "Life of Pi") has established itself here, continuing the spirit of cultural base venues.
05 Owl Car Charity Coffee Edition
06 Tonglin Village Hiking Trail leads to the community hub - Photo by Li Bo-Cheng
