The Yunlin Saltwater Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival has not yet opened, but the flower fields have already been trampled into paths.

The 2018 Saltwater Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival is set to kick off on February 10th. Recently, the installation of major themed lanterns and flower fields has been in full swing. In particular, the flower fields planted annually by the Tainan City Government Agriculture Bureau along Xinyi Road have now blossomed beautifully, attracting many visitors eager to take photos. However, before the lantern festival has even begun, the flower fields have already been trampled into numerous small paths, a sight that has left many shaking their heads.

In recent years, in conjunction with the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival, the Agriculture Bureau has planted large areas of cosmos flower fields along both sides of Xinyi Road in Saltwater. The flower landscapes for this year have recently begun to be set up, and the cosmos flowers are blooming quite beautifully. The pink and red blooms sway gently in the wind, captivating many passersby who stop to admire them.

However, since the flower fields are located right by the roadside and lack any fencing for protection, many people, wanting to immerse themselves in the flower-filled scenery, have stepped into the fields to take photos. Flower beds that were arranged just days ago have already been trodden into multiple paths. Local residents lament that the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival hasn’t even started, yet the flower fields are already struggling to hold up.

After learning of the situation, the Yunlin Saltwater District Office quickly set up warning signs around the flower fields to remind the public and also erected barriers for protection. However, many tourists continue to step into the flower fields to take pictures. The Saltwater District Office stated that this year’s flower fields bloomed over 20 days earlier than expected. Although they are still able to coincide with the lantern festival, they hope the public will show civic-mindedness and remind each other not to trample the flowers. The district office will also step up its efforts to advise against such behavior.

The Agriculture Bureau pointed out that this year’s Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival flower fields feature zinnias and cosmos flowers. The 0.5-hectare area of cosmos flowers has recently burst into bloom, but no pathways were designed. Meanwhile, the 2-hectare zinnia field has designated walking trails to allow the public to enjoy the flowers up close. The bureau hopes people will make use of these paths, as maintaining the beauty of the flower fields requires everyone’s collective effort.