Xiangshan Wetland Park Trial Operation – Breathtaking Sunsets and Rich Ecology

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots / Compiled and Reported

Xiangshan Wetland boasts rich ecology and is home to the most abundant 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 vital habitat for wild bird conservation. In 2001, it was declared the Hsinchu City Coastal Wildlife Protection Area, and in 2013, it was listed as a National Important Wetland.

The 1,700-hectare Xiangshan Wetland nurtures countless shrimp and crabs, making it suitable for waterbird habitats. The Xiangshan intertidal zone, located between the mouth of the Houjie River and the unnamed ditch in Nangang, was officially included as part of the "East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network" during the 1996 International Ramsar Convention meeting and is also recognized by BirdLife International as an important habitat for wild bird conservation.

Originally planned for land reclamation, Xiangshan Wetland was designated in 2001 as an Important Wildlife Habitat and the Hsinchu City Coastal Wildlife Protection Area, encompassing the mouth of the Houjie River and Xiangshan Wetland. The muddy intertidal zone, stretching about 2 kilometers, accumulates organic matter that serves as the energy base of the detrital food web, fostering a large population of shrimp, crabs, snails, and shellfish, which attract numerous waterbirds for feeding and nesting.