Only quality can ensure sustainable development: Jiang Deli says Taiwan’s future lies in in-depth independent travel

Reported by You t
ru / Special Feature

There is a type of architecture that doesn’t need to be meticulously cleaned every day of the year. Instead, it finds its most beautiful form through the passage of time. In Miaoli, there is a guesthouse that has been open for eight years, blending green building concepts with a humanistic and ecological atmosphere, displaying different moods and unique aesthetics throughout the seasons. This architectural approach, which harmonizes with nature, takes on its colorful “makeup” from the shifting mountain mists, elegantly showcasing a sustainable ecological sentiment.


▲ Jiang Deli, Chairman of Tai’an Guanzhi Hot Spring Resort and Director of Miaoli County Tourism Association. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Targeting the top-tier clientele, Miaoli’s “Tai’an Guanzhi Hot Spring Resort” is located in a tranquil and beautiful natural environment. With green building design and the environment as its theme, it focuses on humanistic culture as the main architectural axis. Jiang Deli, Chairman of Tai’an Guanzhi Hot Spring Company and Director of Miaoli County Tourism Association, is the designer of the entire building. He used fair-faced concrete and wooden lattice facades as the main visual elements. “The natural wood exterior can develop different hues and fragrances over time.”

The luster of the wood combined with the simplicity of fair-faced concrete gives Tai’an Guanzhi an appearance of singular yet distinctive beauty. Approaching the building, one can also smell the elegant fragrance wafting from the timber. After eight years of accumulation, the originally clean and simple structure has been quietly adorned by creeping wisteria and moss. “The presence of moss does not detract from the building’s appearance; instead, it adds a sense of fashion, which is exactly the kind of green architecture we’ve always wanted,” said Jiang Deli.

Viewed from different angles, it conveys varying aesthetic qualities of color. Jiang Deli said the reason it’s named “Guanzhi” (meaning “breathtaking”) is because the transformation by natural forces never ceases. The natural elements that cling to the structure, combined with the essence of the original design, convey a level of comfort rooted in the basics of air, sunlight, and water—essentials for life. “Luxury without showing off, where the sense of natural context runs deeper than architectural context—that’s what we aim to achieve.”


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Targeting the top-tier clientele, Jiang Deli has his own approach and positioning when it comes to sales. For domestic tourism sales, Tai’an Guanzhi Hot Spring Resort mainly draws from the independent travel segment, accounting for about 60% of total guests, followed by group travelers from travel agencies and incentive tour participants. “The number of independent travelers is increasing, and this will be the trend for domestic tourism in the future.”

By offering packages like one-night stays with four meals or adding aromatherapy services at the resort, Jiang Deli has created tailor-made products distinct from mass-market offerings, taking into account the vacation needs of different demographics. Jiang Deli analyzed that the 2014 Taipei International Travel Fair showed clear growth in domestic tourism demand. Taking Tai’an Guanzhi Bay Spring Resort as an example, growth reached 56%. This was due to lower unemployment rates and an economic upturn leading to increased consumer spending. “The tourism industry is the most sensitive sector. When the economy is good, it creates a virtuous cycle and boosts consumer power.”