Zhuangwei Sand Dune Ecological Park Introduction
Zhuangwei Sand Dune Tourist Service Park is located beside the coastal highway at the 149.3K mark of Taiwan Highway 2, covering an area of about 4.8 hectares. It is a representative new attraction in Yilan with international charm. The park was designed by renowned architect Huang Sheng-yuan, with the core concept of "empty valley, see the sand dunes," integrating local natural elements to present the landscape of sand dunes and the architectural space of sand caves. Walking alongside the park, visitors can enjoy the tranquil rural fields on one side and the ponds reflecting the changing weather and the tips of the trees on the other, which not only highlights the beauty of Zhuangwei Sand Dune Tourist Service Park but also encourages a slower pace as one takes in the vast rolling dunes in front of them. The park was completed and opened in 2018, including a visitor center and a sand dune exhibition hall (curated by director Tsai Ming-liang). In addition, nearby attractions include Zhuangwei Seaside, bike paths, distinctive communities at Houpi and Luhou, and the Lanyang River Mouth Bird Watching Reserve, offering beautiful scenery. Whether during dawn, sunset, or moonrise, walking in the park while listening to the sound of the waves and enjoying the views is a wonderful experience. Here, visitors can slow down and savor the serene nature and cultural landscape brought by the sand dune architecture. The sand dune exhibition hall, centered around the imagery of "sand dunes," features six main thematic exhibition halls (Dust, Sea, Moonlight, Wind, Tide, and Rain) curated by director Tsai Ming-liang. The overall presentation primarily utilizes large video projections and incorporates natural elements of Zhuangwei like sand, windbreaks, and water in the scenic installations, allowing the public to experience nature firsthand. The walls of the different themed exhibition halls not only use the originally irregular curved spaces of the sand cave and textured sandy walls but also feature handcrafted large murals affixed to glass curtains, each one personally crafted by director Tsai Ming-liang. For instance, the "Dust" hall showcases natural imagery of the Zhuangwei sand dunes and the trees of Lintou using charcoal pencil lines and irregular paper-tearing techniques. Additionally, each exhibition hall projects scenes from director Tsai Ming-liang's "Walking Long March" series, including eight works such as Colorless, Traveler, Journey to the West, and Sand, with the short film "Sand" being the latest creation dedicated to Zhuangwei and this park by Tsai Ming-liang and actor Lee Kang-sheng. Entering the exhibition hall, visitors can simultaneously experience the visual and sensory interaction created by the space while immersing themselves in the conveyed message of "slowness." The visitor center features parking lots for large and small vehicles, a bike station, a tourism information desk, and a multimedia auditorium that can accommodate 50 people, screening a digital multimedia film "Mountain and Sea Romance" or highlights from director Tsai Ming-liang's "Walking Long March" series film "Sand." Other resources include brochures introducing tourist attractions in the Northeast Corner available for visitors to take.
