On the Road—Scenery of the North Coast of Treasure Island Taiwan For our final itinerary in Taiwan, we arrived at Yehliu Park located in Yehliu Village, Wanli Township, Taipei County. The first thing that caught our eye was the boundless sea—the Pacific Ocean along the northern coast. The water was azure, merging with the sky. Waves of white foam surged from afar, crashing directly onto the coastal rocks, stirring up massive waves and producing thunderous sounds. Standing on the rocks, we admired this vast and beautiful seascape, letting the sea breeze brush against us. The feeling of novelty and excitement was indescribable. |
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| The geological layers in this area are formed by the accumulation of sandstone. Influenced by orogenic movements, sedimentary rocks buried deep under the sea rose to the surface, creating nearby coastal features such as cuestas, sea cliffs, and sea caves. After long-term erosion and weathering by waves, steep sea cliffs and wide, flat rock beds formed along the coast. The beach is densely covered with strange rocks and stones—honeycomb rocks, tofu rocks, mushroom rocks, ginger rocks—some resembling humans, some animals, and some objects. Viewed from above, they look like clusters of black mushrooms drying on the sand, making one marvel at the wonders of nature’s craftsmanship. |
Such beautiful scenery must be seen by ‘flying’ over! |
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| Birds have become a unique scenic feature along the Yehliu coastline, adding infinite liveliness to the beach. Prince of Love Songs, are you singing a duet with the birds? |
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Watching the egrets spread their wings and fly, our Jingjing also waved her arms. Beautiful, isn’t it? |
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| Xiao Jing: ‘Birds, don’t sleep anymore, come and enjoy this beautiful scenery!’ |
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It was time for lunch, but Leilei and Xiao Shen were missing from the dining table. Where had they gone? It turned out that after the bumpy journey, both of them were too dizzy to move, slumped at the next table. Seeing them unable to eat or drink anything, their colleagues felt very sorry for them and kept offering hot tea and soup… In the afternoon, we arrived at our second stop of the day—Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, located by the sea at the northern end of Taipei City. The first group photo amidst the fun! |
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| Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf is an important leisure and sightseeing venue in Taipei County. The wharf is lined with many fishing boats and cruise ships. The guide said that the wharf has different scenery during the day and at night—the sunset and evening glow at dusk, and after the lights come on at night, couples strolling on the wooden boardwalk with the gentle early summer breeze blowing, creating a truly beautiful and romantic atmosphere. |
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| Fisherman’s Wharf features a beautiful floating pier, a long wooden boardwalk, and a large harbor park, forming a circular route that allows people to perfectly and smoothly experience the fishing port ambiance. At Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, the Lover’s Bridge connects the harbor park and the floating pier’s wooden boardwalk. The bridge is a white cable-stayed structure, offering views of the Tamsui River estuary and the boundless sea. |
 Standing on the bridge, with its wide-open views and fresh air, it is an excellent place to vent one’s emotions. |
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Tamkang High School, where Asian pop king Jay Chou once studied, became our third attraction of the day. Founded in 1914, Tamkang High School was originally a Presbyterian missionary school. The campus is beautifully scenic, but since the school is not open to tourists, we couldn’t tour the entire grounds. This teacher, who somewhat resembles Ma Ying-jeou, talked to us about Jay Chou’s past, sparking our curiosity about the superstar’s school life. During the chat, everyone took photos with him, feeling as if they were taking a picture with Ma Ying-jeou! Not far from Tamkang High School is Fort San Domingo, built during the Ming Dynasty. Fort San Domingo has a rich history; it is one of the oldest existing buildings in Taiwan and is listed as a first-class historical site in the Taiwan-Fujian region. On the road connecting Tamkang High School and Fort San Domingo, signs that are both warm and serve as warnings are everywhere, deeply impressing us out-of-town visitors with Taiwan’s strict anti-smoking measures. |
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| Fort San Domingo was originally named Santo Domingo. In 1629, the Spanish invaded Tamsui from Keelung and built this fort as their base for colonizing northern Taiwan. In 1642, the Dutch drove the Spanish northward. At that time, Taiwanese people called the Dutch ‘red-haired,’ hence the name Fort San Domingo. It not only embodies Tamsui’s historical culture but also serves as a microcosm witnessing over three hundred years of Taiwan’s vicissitudes. |
 The first impression Fort San Domingo gives is that it is sparsely populated and clean, so no matter how you take photos, there won’t be any interference from others. |
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| The four old-style discarded cannons outside the fort and the aging red building create an exquisite atmosphere that has long solidified into an indelible mark of Tamsui’s history. |
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Another highly distinctive feature of Tamsui Town is Tamsui Old Street. This is arguably the liveliest area in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. The street is filled with various Tamsui snacks such as Tamsui fish crisps, shrimp rolls, and iron eggs, as well as antique shops and art stores. During holidays, it is always packed with people, bustling and lively. Beside the park on the other side of the old street, a different atmosphere emerges—quiet and peaceful. |
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| After tasting all kinds of delicious food, let’s take a group photo with the colleagues from the Quality Management Department! |
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| Bathing in the golden sunlight of Tamsui Old Street and watching the pedestrians coming and going, this beautiful scene probably only exists here. |
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| On the way to the dinner gathering, the car drove slowly, passing by the Presidential Office Building of Taiwan. Under the cover of night, the Presidential Office appeared solemn and majestic. The entire building is filled with colonnades, gables, arcades, and arched windows. The guide explained that this is a representative building from the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan. |
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The guide half-jokingly said he would take us to the Taipei City Government cafeteria for lunch, allowing us to enjoy high-level treatment in Taiwan. Everyone was skeptical. About ten minutes later, the car stopped in a parking lot. As soon as we got out of the car and looked up, we were surprised to find the Taipei City Government right in front of us, with the famous Taipei 101 building not far away. Entering the first-floor lobby of the Taipei City Government, we were greeted by the Shen Baozhen Hall. Shen Baozhen was a famous official in the Qing Dynasty who handled Taiwan’s coastal defense. We thought we would also visit the Shen Baozhen Exhibition Hall, but after turning a corner, we found the cafeteria. |
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| The dinner gatherings during every trip are the happiest times for all Maixin members—drinking freely, chatting heartily, playing games, receiving gifts… At such moments, we truly feel fortunate to be part of Maixin!~~ |
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The journey to Treasure Island Taiwan has ended. In just a few days, besides being constantly filled with novelty and excitement, we were even more touched and moved. The various experiences along the way seemed to bring Maixin members even closer together. The bustling streets of Taiwan’s urban areas, the crowded crowds, the fast-moving vehicles, the towering commercial buildings on both sides—every scene and object felt familiar to us. The enthusiastic guide, the beautiful scenery, the orderly traffic, the clean and tidy roads, the unique snacks, the traditional Chinese characters everywhere… endless uniqueness and unforgettable images. Taiwan has flowed into the hearts of every Maixin member like a clear spring, leaving a deep and indelible mark. On the return journey, the plane gradually ascended, and Taiwan slowly faded from view. Looking out through the window, the sea was calm and vast. Our group silently bid farewell to the beautiful island of Taiwan in our hearts: Goodbye, Taiwan! However, the ‘journey’ of us Maixin members continues, and the感动依然继续……
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