National parks of Taiwan


National parks of Taiwan are protected spaces for their nature, wildlife, and history in its current jurisdiction. Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan, all are under the administration of the Ministry of the Interior. These national parks covers. The total land area constitutes around 8.6% of the entire land area of the country.
The first national parks were established in 1937, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. After World War II, the voice for protecting the natural environment was suspended due to the autocratic rule and the Martial law in Taiwan. The National Park Law was passed in 1972 and finally the first new national parks were reestablished in 1984.
National parks should not be confused with national scenic areas. The national scenic areas are administrated by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. There are also different philosophies that govern the development of the two types of areas. 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.

History

The first national parks in Taiwan were appointed in December 27, 1937 by Governor-General Seizō Kobayashi. This was when Taiwan was under Japanese rule, thus these three national parks are designated to be the national parks of the Empire of Japan.
NameJapaneseTaiwaneseToday's equivalent
Daiton National Park大屯國立公園Toā-tūn Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gYangmingshan National Park
Nītaka-Arisan National Park新高阿里山國立公園Sin-ko A-lí-san Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gYushan National Park and Alishan National Scenic Area
Tsugitaka-Taroko National Park次高タロコ國立公園Chhù-ko Thài-ló͘-koh Kok-li̍p Kong-hn̂gTaroko 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The administration of these national parks was no longer in force when Japan withdrew from Taiwan in 1945 after World War II. There were no national parks in Taiwan since then until the new national parks law in the 1980s. The first new established national parks at that time were on similar places to the Japanese establishments.

Current national parks of Taiwan

Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan. There is also one national nature park, which is designed for areas with fewer resources compare to a full national park.
NameChineseTaiwaneseHakkaDate establishedAreaDescriptionImage
Kenting National Park墾丁國家公園Khún-teng Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gKhén-tên Koet-kâ Kûng-yènJanuary 1, 1984, 180.84 km2 of land, and 152.06 km2 waterLocated on the southern tip of Taiwan, it is also the oldest national park on the Taiwan, Kenting is famous for its tropical coral reef and migratory birds.
Yushan National Park玉山國家公園Gio̍k-san Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gNgiu̍k-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yènApril 6, 1985The largest national park in Taiwan, located on the central part of the island. It is named after Mount Jade which is the highest peak in East Asia at 3,952 metres.
Yangmingshan National Park陽明山國家公園Iûⁿ-bêng-soaⁿ Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gYòng-mìn-sân Koet-kâ Kûng-yènSeptember 16, 1985The 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 located partially in Taipei City and partially in New Taipei City.
Taroko National Park太魯閣國家公園Thài-ló͘-koh Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gThai-lû-kok Koet-kâ Kûng-yènNovember 28, 1986A 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雪霸國家公園Soat-pà Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gSiet-pa Koet-kâ Kûng-yènJuly 1, 1992Located in the central northern part of Taiwan island, in Hsinchu County and Miaoli County. It encompasses Xueshan, the second tallest mountain in Taiwan and East Asia, and Dabajian Mountain.
Kinmen National Park金門國家公園Kim-mn̂g Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gKîm-mùn Koet-kâ Kûng-yènOctober 18, 1995Located on an island just off the coast of Mainland China, it includes famous historical battlefields in Kinmen. It is also known for its wetland ecosystem and traditional Fujian buildings that dated back to the Ming Dynasty.
Dongsha Atoll National Park東沙環礁國家公園Tang-soa Khoân-ta Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gTûng-sâ Fàn-chiâu Koet-kâ Kûng-yènOctober 4, 2007, including 1.79 km2 of landTaiwan's first marine national park. The atoll and the adjacent waters provide for a rich biodiversity of marine life from fish, jelly fish, squid, sicklefin lemon sharks, and rays to sea turtles, Dugongs, and cetaceans. Because strict protection is being taken, it is currently not open to public tourism.
Taijiang National Park臺江國家公園Tâi-kang Kok-ka Kong-hn̂gThòi-kông Koet-kâ Kûng-yènDecember 28, 2009, 49.05 km2 of land, and 344.05 km2 waterLocated in southwest Taiwan on the coast of Tainan City. 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澎湖南方四島
國家公園		Phêⁿ-ô͘ Lâm-hong Sù-tó
Kok-ka Kong-hn̂g		Phàng-fù Nàm-fông Si-tó
Koet-kâ Kûng-yèn		October 18, 2014, including 3.70 km2 of landLocated in the south of the Penghu Islands. The seas around the islets 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.

National Nature Park

Proposed national parks

Five other national parks were proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition:
Another national nature park was proposed but the plans of formation were halted due to opposition: