List of national parks in Taiwan

Yangmingshan

The National Park Law of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan", was passed in 1972 to protect the nature, wildlife, and history in its current jurisdiction.^[1] The total area of current nine national parks is 7,489.49 square kilometres (2,891.71 sq mi).^[2] The 3,103.76-square-kilometre (1,198.37 sq mi) total land area constitutes around 8.6% of the entire land area of the republic.

A National Park should not be confused with a National Scenic Area: the latter fall within the control of the Tourism 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.^[3] 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.^[3]

Current National Parks

The following is a list of the National Parks of the Republic of China:

Name	Area	Year established	Description	Photo
Kenting National Park	332.90 km^2 (82,261.4 acres), 180.84 km^2 of land, and 152.06 km^2 water	1984	Located on the southern tip of Taiwan, it is also the oldest national park on the Taiwan (Pingtung County), Kenting is famous for its tropical coral reef and migratory birds.
Yushan National Park	1,031.21 km^2 (254,817.5 acres)	1985	The largest national park in Taiwan, located on the central part of the island. it contains Jade Mountain (Yushan literally means "Jade Mountain", 3952 m) which is the highest peak in East Asia.
Yangmingshan National Park	113.38 km^2 (28,016.8 acres)	1985	The 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.
Taroko National Park	920 km^2 (227,337.0 acres)	1986	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.
Shei-Pa National Park	768.5 km^2 (189,900.5 acres)	1992	Located in the central northern part of Taiwan island, in Hsinchu County and Miaoli County. It is the home of Xueshan, or Snow Mountain, Taiwan and East Asia's second tallest mountain, and of Dabajian Mountain and the Holy Ridge.
Kinmen National Park	35.29 km^2 (8,720.3 acres)	1995	Due to its proximity to Mainland China, there are historical battlefields in Kinmen. It is also famous for its wetland ecosystem and its traditional Fujian buildings that dated back to the Ming Dynasty. It is not located on Taiwan Island, but instead on an island just off the coast of Mainland China.
Dongsha Atoll National Park	3,536.68 km^2 (873,932.7 acres), including 1.79 km^2 of land	2007	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 Park	393.1 km^2 (97,137.1 acres), 49.05 km^2 of land, and 344.05 km^2 water	2009	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.
South Penghu Marine National Park	358.44 km^2 (88,572.5 acres), including 3.70 km^2 of land	2014	Located in the south of Penghu. The seas feature large clusters of Acropora coral and a diversity of fish and shells living among the reefs. The islets are also known for magnificent basalt terrains and unique low-roofed houses built by early inhabitants with coral stone and basalt.[4]

National Parks in Taiwan under Japanese rule

In 1937, while Taiwan was under Japanese rule from 1895 to 1945, the Governor-General of Taiwan Seizō Kobayashi designated three National Parks on the island:

• Daiton National Park (大屯国立公園): including what is now Yangmingshan
• Niitaka (New Highest) Arisan National Park (新高阿里山国立公園): now Yushan and Alishan
• Tsugitaka (Second Highest) Taroko National Park (次高タロコ国立公園): now Taroko National Park and Shei-Pa National Park

The administration of these National Parks was no longer in force when Japan withdrew from Taiwan in 1945 after World War II.

Proposed National Parks

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 peoples)
• 能丹國家公園("Neng-Dan National Park", opposed by the Bunun people)
• 蘭嶼國家公園 ("Ponso no Tao National Park", opposed by the Tao people)
• 綠島國家公園 ("Green Island National Park", opposed by the inhabitants.)
• 北方三島海洋國家公園（"Three Northern Islets Marine National Park"）

Current National Nature Parks

Name	Area	Year established	Description	Photo
Shoushan National Nature Park	11.23 km^2 (2,775.0 acres)	2011	Kaohisung

References

1. Reference on Act Title from Kinmen Park website
2. 各國家公園基本資料表 (PDF) (in Chinese). Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, R.O.C.(Taiwan). June 6, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
3. "Taiwan's National Scenic Areas: Balancing Preservation and Recreation". Academia Sinica. 1995-06-01.
4. "Beauty of south Penghu islets on display at new national park". Central News Agency. October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.

External links

• National Parks of Taiwan