Trace the Dutch footprints in Eco Tour

Most people travel to Tainan for historical buildings and local delicacies, yet, if you like Eco Tour, Taijiang National Park is the place that has more species of mangrove in Taiwan, where the Sicao Green Tunnel is my favorite place.

I have been there several times when I received VIP foreigners from many countries for the Tainan government many years ago. Many of the visitors are the Dutch because they once owned this place in the 17th century (1624-1662), their legacies still remain here such as Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort)the ancient Dutch named it “Orange” , which is from the Dutch royal family: House of Orange- Nassau at that time.



Behind Dazhong Temple, the Green Tunnel in the eco preserved area is formed by the only four mangrove species found in Taiwan: Rhizophora mucronata Lam, Kandelia candel(L.)Druce, Lumnitzera (Lumnitzera racemosa).

Along the river way, with views of the natural canopy, green sightings, and little crabs and unknown reptiles appearing on both sides of the path and under the mysterious river.

I once arranged a two-day trip for the Studio Classroom to Tainan,surely including this unexpectedly beautiful spot. And I still remembered one of them suddenly burst out “MY PRECIOUS”, as the magic scene got her into “The Lord of the Rings”.

And more mysterious is that the former Dutch ambassador Menno Goedhart, a strong, nice, generous and wisdom man, once claimed that there are some treasures still buried under the river by the Dutch during the war. 

Therefore, this is a place full of fun memories, and today I came to discover and explore it again, although the sailing route only took 30 minutes, I am always amazed by the wonderful green every time!