Siangshan Wetland
A Magical Ecological Environment

17-Kilometer Coastline Scenic Area and Siangshan Wetland

The Hsinchu City coastline extends from Nanliao Village in the north to Nangang in the south. It measures 19.35 km following the curve of the coast and 14.25 km as the crow flies, which averages to 16.8 km, thus the name “17-Kilometer Coastline.” It is an emergent coastline, with an intertidal zone that is more than 1,000 ha. large and the biggest coastal wetland in northern Taiwan. The area contains a fishing harbor, a mangrove park, a birdwatching zone, beach, estuarine mudflats and cycling paths. Its wind turbines and the Kerya Water Reclamation Center are part of the city’s green initiatives. Together, these facilities contribute to ecological, industrial, economic, educational, research, and environmental industries. They not only raise quality of life but also develop non-polluting industries that preserve the environment, thus attracting tourists.

Importance

In 1996, the Ramsar Convention recognized Siangshan Wetland as an Eastern Asia-Pacific Water Bird Protection Network.

On December 14, 2001, the Hsinchu City Government announced formation of the Hsinchu City Coastal Wildlife Refuge.

In 2013, Siangshan Wetland was designated as a wetland of national importance.

Location

Extends from the mouth of the Keya River in the north (near Jincheng Lake) to Wuming Ravine in the south (at the border of Hsinchu and Miaoli), and from the coastline in the east (the border demarcation) to the limit of low tide in the west (does not include Haishan Fishing Port, Jinshui Landfill, or the Kerya Water Reclamation Center).

Area

1,768 ha.

Siangshan Wetland

Harsh Wetland Conditions

Tides make coastal wetland habitats inhospitable to most organisms. Only those that can withstand high temperatures,
a wide range of salinities, dry periods, the force of the waves, and the turbidity of ocean water can survive. While the variety of organisms in the wetland is not large, the number of organisms is high. These conditions create a distinct ecological landscape

Wetland Creatures Find Ways to Survive

Benthos organisms in Siangshan Wetland hide in the mud when the tide rises then emerge as it recedes. Crabs and snails, including hermit crabs and the Thais clavigera intertidal snail, are among the creatures to be found. Within the muddy flats are Laternula marilina, Asian hard clams, and members of the Sanguinolaria genus, while mud clams and members of the Nereis genus can be detected in deeper areas. An abundance of creatures live both at ground level and under the surface.

Numenius arquata orientalis

Bolboschoenus planiculmis