Wedged between the Dadu Plateau, the Daija River and the Taiwan Strait, Qingshui District is a coastal area of Taichung City in Taiwan’s east. It encompasses an archaeological site that provides evidence of human occupation since the Neolithic Age and a sprawling wetland visited by migratory bird species during the autumn and winter.
Things to do in Qingshui District
In the heart of Qingshui District is the Taichung City Seaport Art Center, which was constructed in a Southern Fujian architectural style in the 1990s. In addition to its concert hall, exhibition space and conference facilities, it also features a courtyard and an open-air stage. Coincide your visit with a live performance or attend one of the regular arts and crafts workshops held here.
On the coast of Qingshui District is the Gaomei Wetland Preservation Area, which encompasses more than 300 hectares at the mouth of the Dajia River. Follow the 800-metre-long boardwalk that winds through the flat grasslands and marsh while keeping your eyes peeled for mud-skippers, fiddler crabs and migratory bird species. Also nearby is the Gaomei Lighthouse, a photogenic red-and-white-striped tower rising 34 metres in height.
History buffs shouldn’t miss a visit to the Niumatou Archeological Site where dwellings, graves and objects dating from around 4,000 years ago have been discovered. While archaeologists believe the site’s ancient Austronesian people relied heavily on hunting and fishing, large pottery items uncovered here suggest they were also cultivating rice and storing grains.
Getting around Qingshui District
Qingshui District encompasses Taichung International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia and is 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Taichung City. Regular trains connect to the Qingshui and Taichung Port railway stations while buses travel throughout Qingshui District.