The Xiangshan Wetland Park is now in trial operation, offering stunning sunsets and rich biodiversity that are simply captivating.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

The Xiangshan Wetland boasts rich biodiversity and is home to the most thriving fiddler crab population among Taiwan’s coastal mudflat wetlands. It nurtures a large number of shrimp, crabs, snails, and shellfish, attracting numerous waterbirds for feeding and nesting, and is also one of the essential stopover sites for migratory birds from Siberia.

In 1996, the Xiangshan intertidal zone was officially designated as part of the “East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network” during an international Ramsar Convention meeting. It is also recognized by BirdLife International as a significant habitat for wild bird conservation. In 2001, it was declared the Hsinchu City Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary, and in 2013, it was announced as a nationally important wetland.

The 1,700-hectare Xiangshan Wetland nurtures countless shrimp and crabs, making it suitable for waterbird habitats. The intertidal zone between the mouth of the Houjing River and Nangang’s Nameless Ditch has been officially listed as part of the “East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network” since the 1996 Ramsar Convention meeting. It is also recognized by BirdLife International as a key site for wild bird conservation.

The Xiangshan Wetland was originally planned to be filled in for land development. In 2001, it was designated as an Important Wildlife Habitat for the Houjing River Mouth and Xiangshan Wetland, as well as the Hsinchu City Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. The muddy intertidal zone, stretching approximately 2 kilometers in length, accumulates organic matter that serves as the foundational energy source of the detrital food web, nurturing a large number of shrimp, crabs, snails, and shellfish, and attracting numerous waterbirds for feeding and nesting.