List of National Parks of the Republic of China
Encyclopedia
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, commonly known as "Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
", was passed in 1972 to protect the nature, wildlife, and history in its current jurisdiction.
A National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
should not be confused with a National Scenic Area
National scenic areas in Taiwan
-North Taiwan:* Northeast Coast National Scenic Area* North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area-Central Taiwan:* Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area* Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area-South Taiwan:* Alishan National Scenic Area...
: the latter fall within the control of the Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China, while National Parks fall within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China. The philosophies that govern the development of the two types of areas differ. For a National Park, the emphasis is on the preservation of natural and cultural resources, and development for human utilization is definitely a secondary priority.
The following is a list of the National Parks of the Republic of China:
- Kenting National ParkKenting National ParkKenting National Park is a national park located in the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, Taiwan, covering Hengchun, Checheng and Manjhou Townships. Established on January 1, 1984, it is Taiwan's oldest and southernmost national park, covering the southernmost area of the Taiwan island...
(326.31 km2: 177.31 km2 of land, and 149 km2 water), located on the southern tip of Taian, it is also the oldest national park on the Taiwan (Pingdong County), Kenting is famous for its tropical coral reef and migratory birds. - Kinmen National ParkKinmen National ParkKinmen National Park is a national park on the islands of Greater Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen, administratively part of Fukien Province of the Republic of China...
(37.8 km2): due to its proximity to Mainland ChinaMainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, there are historical battlefields in KinmenKinmenKinmen , also known as Quemoy , is a small archipelago of several islands administered by the Republic of China : Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen, and some islets. Administratively, it is Kinmen County of Fujian Province, ROC. The county is claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of its...
. It is also famous for its wetland ecosystem and its traditional Fujian buildings that dated back to the Ming DynastyMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. It is not located on Taiwan Island, but instead on a island just off the coast of Mainland China. - Shei-Pa National ParkShei-Pa National ParkShei-Pa National Park is a national park located in the central part of Taiwan around the peaks of Hsuehshan and Dabajian Mountain, with an area of . High mountain ecology, geology, topography, rivers, creek valleys, rare animals and plants and plentiful variety of forest types are some important...
(768.5 km2), located in the central northern part of Taiwan island, in Hsinchu CountyHsinchu CountyHsinchu County is a county in north-western Taiwan. The population of the county is mainly Hakka; there is a Taiwanese aboriginal minority in the southeastern part of the county. Zhubei is the capital of Hsinchu, where the government office and county office is located...
and Miaoli CountyMiaoli CountyMiaoli County is a county in western Taiwan. The name Miaoli was coined using two Hakka words, cat and raccoon dog , which phonetically approximate Pali , a community of Taokas people...
. It is the home of HsuehshanHsuehshanXueshan or Hsuehshan or Snow Mountain is the second highest mountain in Taiwan and in East Asia. At above sea level.It is located in the Shei-Pa National Park and it is visible in good weather from Taiwan's capital -Taipei- nearby hills....
, or Snow Mountain, Taiwan and East Asia's second tallest mountain, and of Dabajianshan and the Holy Ridge. - Taroko National ParkTaroko National ParkTaroko National Park is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park. The park spans Taichung City, Nantou County, and Hualien County....
(920 km2), a magnificent marble gorge cut by Li-Wu River, creating one of the most astounding landscape in the world. It is also the home of the indigenous Truku people. Taroko is located in eastern Taiwan. - Yangmingshan National Park (114.56 km2), the smallest and northernmost national park on the island of Taiwan; it has a volcanic landform. Yangminshan is famous for its hotsprings and geothermal phenomenon. Each spring, Yangminshan also have a dazzling flower season. It is partially in Taipei City and partially in New Taipei City.
- Yushan National ParkYushan National ParkYushan National Park is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and was named after the summit Yushan, the highest peak of the park. The Park covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range. The Park contains over thirty peaks more than 3,000 meters in...
(1054.9 km2), the largest national park in Taiwan, located on the central part of the island. it contains Jade MountainJade MountainYushan in Taiwan is the highest mountain in East Asia and the fourth highest mountain on an island. In the past, Yushan was known among English-speaking expats and missionaries as Mt. Morrison, thought to have been named in honor of the 19th century missionary Robert Morrison...
(Yushan literally means "Jade Mountain", 3952 m) which is the highest peak in East AsiaEast AsiaEast Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. - Dongsha Marine National ParkDongsha Marine National ParkThe Dongsha Marine National Park is seventh and latest national park of the Republic of China . It is managed by the Ministry of the Interior. It was established on January 17, 2007; and on October 4 of the same year a preparatory administrative office was set up to manage it...
(3536.68 km2, including 1.74 km2 of land), the first oceanic National Park. It houses about 72 species of endemic plants,and 125 species of insects. Like Kinmen National Park, it is not located on Taiwan Island. Because strict protection is being taken on Dongsha, it is currently not open to public tourism. - Taijiang National ParkTaijiang National ParkTaijiang National Park, located in the southwest coast of Taiwan, is the newest national park of Taiwan. Taijiang National Park is established in 2009....
(393.1 km2: 49.05 km2 of land, and 344.05 km2 water), this newest national park is located in southwest Taiwan on the coast of Tainan. The park's tidal landscape is one of its most distinctive features. Around 200 years ago, a large part of the park was part of the Taijiang Inland Sea. There is a rich variety of marine life, including 205 species of shellfish, 240 species of fish and 49 crab species that thrive on the marshes of southern Taiwan.
The total area of these National Parks is 7151.85 square kilometres (2,761.3 sq mi). The 3123.86 square kilometres (1,206.1 sq mi) total land area constitutes over 8.6% of the entire land area of the republic.
National Parks in Taiwan under Japanese rule
In 1937, while Taiwan was under Japanese ruleTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
from 1895 to 1945, the Governor-General of Taiwan
Governor-General of Taiwan
The position of Governor-General of Taiwan existed when Taiwan and the Pescadores were part of the Empire of Japan, from 1895 to 1945.The Japanese Governors-General were members of the Diet, civilian officials, Japanese nobles or generals...
Kobayashi Seizo designated three National Parks on the island:
- Daiton National Park (大屯国立公園): including what is now YangmingshanYangmingshanOne of the eight national parks in Taiwan, the Yangmingshan National Park is located between Taipei City and New Taipei City, Taiwan. The districts that house parts of the park grounds include Taipei's Beitou and Shilin Districts; and New Taipei's Wanli, Jinshan, and Sanzhi Districts. During the...
- Shintaka (New Highest) Arisan National Park (新高阿里山国立公園): now Yushan and AlishanAlishanThe Alishan National Scenic Area is a mountain resort and natural preserve located in the mountains of Chiayi County in Taiwan. It is 415 km² in area. It includes, among other things, mountain wilderness, four villages, waterfalls, high altitude tea plantations, the Alishan Forest Railway ...
- Tsugitaka (Second Highest) Taroko National Park (次高タロコ国立公園): now Taroko National ParkTaroko National ParkTaroko National Park is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park. The park spans Taichung City, Nantou County, and Hualien County....
and Shei-Pa National ParkShei-Pa National ParkShei-Pa National Park is a national park located in the central part of Taiwan around the peaks of Hsuehshan and Dabajian Mountain, with an area of . High mountain ecology, geology, topography, rivers, creek valleys, rare animals and plants and plentiful variety of forest types are some important...
The administration of these National Parks was no longer in force when Japan withdrew from Taiwan in 1945 after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Additional National Parks
The Council for Economic Planning and Development of the Executive YuanExecutive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
finalized the name of the first oceanic National Park – the Dongsha Marine National Park
Dongsha Marine National Park
The Dongsha Marine National Park is seventh and latest national park of the Republic of China . It is managed by the Ministry of the Interior. It was established on January 17, 2007; and on October 4 of the same year a preparatory administrative office was set up to manage it...
(東沙環礁國家公園) – to protect Dongsha’s marine ecology and its landscape features. Wu Hsiang-jen, director of the organizational committee for the oceanic park in Dongsha
Pratas Islands
The Pratas Islands or Dongsha Islands consists of three islands forming from an atoll located in northeastern South China Sea, southeast of Hong Kong. The islands are governed by the Republic of China . The People's Republic of China claims sovereignty over these islands along with all other...
, said that research and long-term monitoring were the foundation for effective management and sustainable operation of the protected area. In the future, a resource survey, ecological research, determining the environmental impact of infrastructure and the overall planning for Dongsha will be top priorities.
An eighth national park based on the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
and an ancient lagoon (now filled) near Fort Zeelandia
Fort Zeelandia (Taiwan)
Fort Zeelandia was a fortress built over ten years from 1624–1634 by the Dutch Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, in the town of Anping on the island of Formosa, present day Taiwan, during their 38-year rule over the western part of it...
(台江國家公園) was established in 2009. Tainan City.
Three other national parks were proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:
- 馬告檜木國家公園 ("Magao National Park for Chamaecyparis formosensis", opposed by local indigenous peoplesTaiwanese aboriginesTaiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied in reference to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Although Taiwanese indigenous groups hold a variety of creation myths, recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living on the islands for approximately 8,000 years before major Han...
) - 能丹國家公園("Neng-Dan National Park", opposed by the Bunun peopleBunun PeopleThe Bunun , also historically known as the Vonum, are a tribe of Taiwanese aborigines and are best known for their sophisticated polyphonic vocal music. They speak the Bunun language. Unlike other aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, the Bunun are widely dispersed across the island. In the year 2000 the...
) - 蘭嶼國家公園 ("Ponso no Tao National Park", opposed by the Tao peopleTao peopleThe Tao , originally recognized as Yami , are a Taiwanese aboriginal people, native to tiny outlying Orchid Island in Taiwan. The Tao are an Austronesian people linguistically and culturally closer to the Ivatan people of the Batanes islands in the Philippines than to other aboriginal peoples on...
)