Stories from Taiwan

In recent years, public infrastructure projects in Taiwan have resulted in many remarkable architectural works. These include the Taichung Animal Shelter’s Houli Park facility, the Pingtung County Library, and the “fish scale” stairway at Nanliao Fishing Harbor. The Cover Story in this month’s Taiwan Panorama will introduce you to the stories behind these public projects, and their cultural import.

In a report on “citizen science,” we look at how the trend for citizen science in Taiwan got started, and how it is supporting the work of professional scientists in the field of nature conservation, in particular with regard to birds and other wildlife. As Lin Ruey-shing, a research fellow at the Endemic Species Research Institute, notes, the success of citizen science in any given country depends on such factors as its levels of economic development, democracy and openness, and the degree of conservation consciousness among its citizens. It is a symbol of social progress.

Collaboration between the Hakka Affairs Council and the Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association led to the creation of the 380-kilometer Raknus Selu Trail. Stretching from Taoyuan through Hsinchu and Miaoli to Taichung, it incorporates mountain paths used for transporting tea and camphor in days gone by, farm roads, and industrial roads. Read our portrait of the past and present of the Laoguanlu Historic Trail, which forms one segment of the Raknus Selu Trail, and the natural scenery, cuisine, and cultural sites along the way.

In another report in this issue, we go back to the works of three great Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial era—Kuo Hsueh-­hu, Lin Yu-shan, and Chen Chin—and see how they are viewed in retrospect. We also bring you an article featuring pianist Rueibin Chen and Lee Chun-ping, director of the Union of Chinese Music Ensemble, who have been working to link classical music with Taiwanese culture; as well as a story about a startup perfume company that is creating fragrances based on local Taiwanese products. We report on the work being under­taken by charities and social enter­prises such as Wanderers’ ­Table, Yo Wash, and the Jujiamei community cleaning service, who are quietly constructing a social safety net for disadvantaged groups in society. Meanwhile this month’s Photo Essay features readers’ photos on the theme of “The Beauty of Taiwan’s Mountain Forests.” Thus we once again present you with profound stories from Taiwan, woven from history, architecture, historic trails, citizen science, humanitarian concern, local R&D, and innovation.