Taipei Travel

Visiting Waishuangxi Park for Eco-Themed Wetland Tour

Waishuangxi Park, located right across the National Palace Museum, is one of Taipei’s ecological wetlands for educational and recreational purposes. Sponsored by Rotary Club District 3480 with professional assistance provided by The Society of Wilderness, a conservation area was established inside the park in 2008. The venue has since become an important hub of ecological restoration and a natural classroom promoting the concept of wetland protection.

According to Parks and Street Lights Office (PSLO) Director Huang Li-yuan, not only has the Waishangxi Park transformed from an ordinary park with only the basic amenities into a green space with exuberant life for locals, but it has also become a “halfway house” for wetland plants and animals.

The chief of the Horticulture Management Division noted that Waishuangxi Park boasts three ecological pools, which are home to a variety of aquatic plants – including Taiwan indigenous species. These range from Small-leaved Barringtonia, buttonbush, water willow, yellow water lily, Taiwan native rice, Taiwan Toad lily, crested floating heart, to the endangered Da-Ann Hygrophila.

The seemingly haphazardly-growing plants at the wetland provide an ideal habitat for amphibians, shielding them from great egrets among other avian predators, noted an expert from The Society of Wilderness. Growing ligneous plants around the edge of the pools also serves to reinforce the soil embankment in the event of typhoons. In addition, birds can be seen resting on the platforms in the ponds.

PSLO invites the public to embark on an eco-exploration at the Waishuangxi Park to learn about how wetlands help to mitigate the impact brought upon by extreme weather.

• Source: Department of Information Technology, Taipei City Government