Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Introduction
Dapeng Bay, historically known as "Biexing Harbor," "Qieteng Harbor," "Guandi Harbor," and "Nanping Harbor," was called "Datan" during the Japanese occupation. It became a strategic military site for the Japanese Army during World War II when they invaded Southeast Asia. After the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, it was renamed "Dapeng Bay." Dapeng Bay is formed by the accumulation of sediments carried into the sea by the Linbian River and Donggang River from upstream, shaped by ocean currents and seasonal winds. Its water area covers 532 hectares, making it the largest single-mouth lagoon in Taiwan. To preserve this unique natural lagoon landscape, the "Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration" was established in 1997 as the fourth national scenic area under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. In 2000, "Xiaoliuqiu Scenic Specialty Area" was incorporated into Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area for tourism development needs. Major recreational sites in Dapeng Bay include the Hengchun Peninsula Tourism Service Center, Qingtian Coastal Recreation Area, Dapeng Bay Ocean Leisure Zone, and the Circular Bay Bicycle Path. Visitors can take boats to circumnavigate Dapeng Bay, enjoy the mangrove ecology, and visit "Oyster Shell Island" to learn about the oyster farming traditions in the waters of Dapeng Bay. Future plans for Dapeng Bay include the construction of a racetrack, international tourist hotels, themed visitor areas, a golf course, and a yacht harbor, aiming to establish Dapeng Bay as an "international water recreation resort."
