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Gaomei Wetland . photo courtesy of Huang Chung Yu.

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Gaomei Wetland

Gaomei Wetland is located in the west of Qingshui Town in Taichung County. It is formed in the south of the mouth of River Dajia and is mixed with both sand and soil textures.

The wetland was established on 29 September 2005. It covers a land mass of about three hundred hectares which is only about 10% of the Dadu River Wetlands.

Gaomei Wetland is formed due to the build-up of seawall and silt which is accumulated over the past decades. This accumulation causes the enrichment of the wetlands with spectacular ecology and large groups of Bolboschoenus planieulmis in Taiwan.

It also has diverse geographical features and several ecological species. It’s a major tourist attraction due to its features and beautiful scenery.

Below are the top 10 amazing facts about the Gaomei wetland.

1. The Wetland is Characterized by Row of Turbines

Sunset of wind turbines from Gaomei Wetland. Photo taken by Maggie cchou.

The windmills are beautiful and romantic scenes, especially when taking photos of the wetlands. They are strategically placed in a row and make it a beautiful place to walk along and view.

According to the statistics, the Taiwan power Company constructed about 18 turbines in the wetland. The purpose was to harness power from the wind.

The Northeast wind brow in the winter and is normally referred to as the Wind of September.

However, in 2015 the Typhoon Souldelor destroyed six out of the eighteen turbines. The turbines are also a danger to the migrating birds which led to the death of a number of the birds.

2. Gaomei Wetland is a Famous Bird-watching Holy Place

The wetland is quite a fascinating place to watch the variety of birds. The birds migrate from different regions of the country and beyond. It is one of the best places for bird watchers.

From the statistics, Gaomei Wetland inhabits at least one hundred and twenty species of birds. However, the number of birds is greatly affected by the turning windmills which occasionally kills and injure the birds.

The migration of birds is also a spectacular view where lovers of birds come to witness and enjoy the natural phenomenon.

3. It is a Famous Sunset Viewing Place in Taichung

Sensational sunset view from Gaomei Wetland. Photo courtesy of

The wetland was selected as one of the best locations with the most spectacular view of the sunset in Taiwan. The view of the sunset is beautiful and attracts a lot of tourists who are lovers of a spectacular sunset.

It is a picturesque wetland. The phenomenal sunset allows the sky to turn from blue to orange and dark blue.

People gather together to admire and take photos of the sensational natural scenery. The light of sunset is an impressive sight where the windmills are spinning slowly from a distance.

The view is also sensational from the different species of birds flying in the atmosphere and creating patterns as they fly.

4. The Wetland is Characterized by a variety of Flora and Fauna

Apart from the variety of birds flying in the area, the wetland is resourceful with different and unique species of flora and fauna.

Among the unique plants that grow in the wetland is the sedge grass which survives in the high salty water content. It has a wide variety of habitats such as mudflats, grassy grasses, tidal streams, sandy lands, and gravel.

Visitors are encouraged not to wander around as they may destroy the vegetation.

5. It’s the Best Place for All Kinds of Benthic Organisms.

Benthic organisms can live on the ocean floor or be buried in the sediments. The benthic organisms thrive well in the wetland because of the environment that favors their growth, development, and multiplication.

The features in the wetland such as mudflats, tidal streams, sandy lands, and gravel form an environment for the breeding of a variety of benthic organisms.

6. Gaomei Wetland has a Curved Boardwalk

Gaomei wetland, boardwalk. Photo by lienyuan lee.

The boardwalk allows visitors to walk freely while enjoying the view of the wetland. The boardwalk extends eight hundred meters out into the wetland.

At the end of the boardwalk, in the sandy mud, there are fiddlers’ crabs that are seen waving their hefty claws to and flo.

The visitors walk to the end of the boardwalk and take off shoes and walk in the muddy sand. However, sometimes there are high tides in the wetland that limit access to the boardwalk.

7. It’s a Tourist Attraction Site

Tourists enjoying the spectacular sunset. Photo sourced from

A lot of tourists are attracted by the beautiful features and scenery in the area. These beautiful features include the spectacular sunset, the different variety of birds, and the slow spinning windmill.

It is one of the most peaceful and relaxing places in Taichung to visit due to its scenic environment.

According to the Taichung Travel News, the wetland draws about 1.6 million visitors every year.

8. Rainy Seasons Cause High Tides in Gaomei Wetlands

During the rainy seasons, it is difficult to access the boardwalk to have a view. The high tide rises too high and makes it dangerous for the visitors to walk to the end of the boardwalk.

The tides also lead to the death of some of the birds and other ecological features in the wetland.

9. The Wetland has other Outdoor Attractions

Apart from the features in the wetland, there are other outdoor attractions for visitors to enjoy. These outdoor attractions are along the coastal sightseeing corridor.

The attractions include Wuqi Old Streets, Daan Beach Park, Wuqi Fishing Port, and Turtle Shell Park. There is also a pleasant stroll along the top of the seawall to the north.

10. The Bridge Connecting Mainland and Wetland Failed Safety Inspection.

The bridge connecting the mainland and the wetland underwent inspection in 2019. This was 45 years after its construction.

The inspection took place in October 2019 and it failed on safety. It collapsed in the same year leading to the death of six people and the other twelve injured.

The bridge was maintained by the Taiwan International Ports Corporation.

Gaomei wetland is a fascinating place with beautiful features and sceneries. The sunset and different species of birds in the environment is a spectacular view.

It forms a good site to take photos of the spinning windmills, flying birds, and the beautiful sunset.