The beauty of a simple and natural life

Taiwan is a natural paradise with everything from white, sandy beaches to dense mountainous rainforest. The recent launch of a successful eco-tourism scheme in Taiwan has meant that exploring the island’s natural wonders has become easier and more sustainable.

Situated off the coast of the Asian continent where the tropical and subtropical zones come together, Taiwan sees a range of climates and with this, a range of complex ecosystems. Surrounded by sea and dominated by high mountainous areas, the island is rich in flora and fauna, claiming to be home to many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world.

‘There are many species which seem nothing special to Taiwanese, but are very rare elsewhere in the world,’ says Kuo Chen-meng, director of the Taiwan Ecotourism Association. ‘For example, tree ferns are rarely seen in other countries, but they are a common sight in Taiwan; you can easily see them even in Taipei’s suburbs.’

Here you can watch whales as they gracefully pass through clear, warm water and colourful coral or head inland to Doll Valley in Wulai near Taipei to be amazed by over 400 species of butterflies, 50 of which are endemic to the island. Rich vegetation means the island has an abundance of birdlife, with plenty of perfect bird-watching sites including the East Rift Valley National Scenic areas, the Guandu swamplands in Central Taiwan and the Yangming Mountain (Yangmingshan) National Park.

The eco-tourism scheme is the first that the island has seen of its kind and was launched this month in the island’s south. The increase in eco-tourism options has seen visitor numbers to Taiwan increase dramatically in the past few years, particularly from countries such as Austria, Japan and the UK who are interested in bird-watching on the island and mountain climbing.

The National Parks Law of 1972 serves to ensure that development of the tourism industry maintains within he guidelines of ecologically friendly development, by minimising the impact of human activities on the environment. In certain cases tourist numbers may be restricted or parking may be limited to discourage the use of motor vehicles.

Even if the purpose of a holiday is not specifically eco-tourism, many of the island’s attractions maintain an eco-tourist aspect. For example, a whale-watching expedition off the coast of Gui Shan Island has become a major attraction for Western travelers. Japanese and South Korean travelers are particularly interested in visiting scenic and spiritual sites such as Jade Mountain.

The island’s indigenous groups enrich the ecotourism experience in Taiwan. Four Aboriginal villages in Pintung County have been linked by a corridor that allows visitors to explore these areas that were hit by a typhoon in August in 2009 and have been rebuilt by local tribes. The area is also famous for its local cuisine, most notably sticky rice and stinky tofu, and also for its artisan craftwork.

‘Ecotourism trips involve understanding and respect for the tourist site’s local culture and the relation between local people and the natural environment,’ says Eddy Lin, vice president of the Society of Wilderness.

There are other attractions along the tourist trail that are well worth a visit, including historical chieftain houses and sites rich in Taiwan’s coffee heritage, dating back to times of Japanese rule.

If you’re more interested in exploring the north of the island, a good eco-travel option is to hire a bike and cycle your way around. Round-island tours have been increasingly popular in the last decade as visitors and locals alike have opted for the green, clean cycling option over taking buses or rental cars.

The recently launched Sanzhi-Ximen cycling route is a great option for tourists wanting a short cycling route through scenic rock formations and the beautiful white sandy beaches of the island’s northern country. This route is especially popular during the summer months.

The rise of ecotourism on the island has also been linked to the rise of NGOs working in Taiwan in the area of environmental education and sustainable travel, educating the public and tourism sector on healthy and responsible travel.

The Taiwan Ecotourism Association is currently working with tour and travel operators throughout the island to further develop this mode of travel. ‘People today have long forgotten the beauty of a simple and natural life,’ says Hardy Liu, a specialist with Skyline Travel Agency. ‘That’s why we want to do ecotourism and provide something different to the market’.