Six national scenic areas selected for 2023 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories

Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area
Transformation of an Abandoned Military Camp at Bitou Cape

By renovating a military camp that had lain idle for ten years, the scenic area administration has attracted businesses to move in and turn the spot into a hiking rest stop. The administration has invited local residents to visit the site, restored native Taiwanese lilies, and reestablished the emotional ties of local residents and the nearby fishing village with the former camp. The venue attracted nearly 200,000 visitors in 2020, generating tourism revenues of NT$309 million. (courtesy of Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Headquarters)

East Coast National Scenic Area
Moonlight Sea Concerts on Taiwan’s East Coast—Sustainability in Action

Concerts designed for low noise and low lighting are held on a mountaintop in Eastern Taiwan. The stage has no back wall, and disposable tableware is forbidden. Monique Chen reveals that vendors who do not comply with the strict rules may be banned by the organizers. With these rules in place, over the four years of its existence this musical event has witnessed a fourfold increase in both vendors and attendees, raising the visibility of local indigenous cultures. (courtesy of East Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

Penghu National Scenic Area
Penghu’s Nazca Lines—Restoring Stone Fish Weirs

Penghu’s many stone fish weirs (traditional tidal fish traps) fell out of use and into disrepair because of technological advances in the fishing industry. Since their restoration, the fish weirs within the Penghu National Scenic Area have become valuable educational venues, where local people teach visitors about the history and craftsmanship of the weirs. This not only enables craft skills to be passed down to future generations, but also invigorates the local economy. Since the launch of environmental education classes in 2014 and an innovative tourism itinerary in 2022, the fish weirs of Jibei Islet have brought NT$2 million in economic value to the local community. (courtesy of Penghu National Scenic Area Headquarters)

Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area
The Economy in the Forest: Sustainable Tourism Brings New Opportunities to Indigenous Communities

After launching measures for carbon reduction, waste reduction, and reducing the use of disposable tableware, the scenic area headquarters has worked with the four largest local indigenous communities to guide tourists to see another side of Sun Moon Lake. Building on the status of maqaw (mountain pepper, Litsea cubeba) as a symbol of vitality, the tours teach visitors about the local indigenous cultures and create job opportunities for local residents. (courtesy of Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Headquarters)

Southwest Coast National Scenic Area
Dancing with Water—Management of a Post-Typhoon Wetland

The scenic area administration has used eco-friendly engineering methods to transform a subsided area that remained waterlogged after a typhoon into a water detention pond to deal with flooding. They have also built bicycle paths and a round-the-lake hiking trail, and worked with local communities to launch the Kankujen brand of local products and offer a series of experiential activities, including environmental education classes. The detention pond reduces land subsidence and helps to maintain local biodiversity. It preserves the local natural environment and has generated NT$450 million in economic value. (courtesy of Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Headquarters)