Go treasure hunting in a straw hat！ Get up close to crabs at Xiangshan Wetland & enjoy oysters with the most beautiful sunset

▲Xiangshan Wetland in Hsinchu.

Reported and photographed by Yu Jiayun, reporter in Hsinchu

Not long ago, in an online poll, Hsinchu in northern Taiwan was voted the hardest city in Taiwan to have fun in — with even some locals casting votes against their own hometown. But is Hsinchu really that unenjoyable? Though it may lack Tainan’s rich culinary scene, Hualien and Taitung’s mountain-and-sea landscapes, or Taichung’s bustling commercial districts, Hsinchu is a place where you can slow down and soak in the local culture. This time, at Xiangshan Wetland in Hsinchu, we’ll learn to experience every inch of its natural charm with our feet, hands, and eyes — and discover a different side of Hsinchu.

▲Viewing Xiangshan Wetland from the overpass.

Located beside the highway, Xiangshan Wetland used to be just another scenic spot travelers passed by. But if you’re willing to stop and take a closer look, you’ll uncover its hidden surprises. Stretching 15 kilometers in length and covering 1,600 hectares, Xiangshan Wetland boasts not only rich biodiversity but is also the largest oyster farm in northern Taiwan. Moreover, the wetland is home to a wide variety of crabs. As soon as you step onto the wetland, you can see them crawling all around your feet — a truly amusing sight.

▲There are many different types of crabs here.