Shoushan (Kaohsiung)
| Shoushan | ||
|---|---|---|
 The Shoushan viewed from the entrance to Sun Yat-sen University |
||
| height | 356 m | |
| location | Taiwan | |
| Coordinates | 22 ° 38 '44 " N , 120 ° 15' 45" E | |
|
||
The Shoushan ( Chinese 壽山 , Pinyin Shòu Shān , mountain of long life ), also called Chai Shan (柴山), is a mountain on the southwest coast of the Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung . Geographically it is a coral reef . For a long time a restricted military area, the mountain is now an extremely popular destination for the residents of Kaohsiung, but also for foreign visitors, and is nicknamed "Kaohsiung's green lung".
Geography and climate
Shoushan is located in Kaohsiung's Gushan district on the city's southwestern coast, between the Taiwan Strait in the west and downtown Kaohsiung in the east. Thanks to this location, there are good views of the city and the sea from several parts of the mountain. The Shoushan extends over 6 km from north to south and over 2 km from west to east, at an altitude of 356 m above sea level. Sun Yat-sen University is located at the southwestern foot of the mountain . The northern section of Kaohsiung Harbor connects to the south.
The Shoushan has a subtropical monsoon climate . The hottest month is August with an average temperature of 29.4 degrees. It is coldest in January with an average temperature of 17.5 degrees.
Name and story
The Dutch colonialists called the mountain early 17th century due to the occurring there macaques the Apenberg ( Monkey Mountain ), a term that has survived to this day in some foreign travel guides. The Chinese called the mountain the Takao Mountain , based on the name Kaohsiungs ( Takao ) at the time . During the Japanese colonial era , the mountain was renamed 壽山, Mountain of Long Life (Japanese: Juzan , Shoushan in Chinese ), in honor of the Japanese Crown Prince and later Emperor Hirohito , who visited the site in 1923. The next common in the vernacular name柴山Chai Shan ( firewood Mountain ) indicates that local residents be procured in earlier times from the mountain forest firewood.
The northern section of the mountain was a restricted military area for a long time after World War II due to its strategic location on the cross-strait coast. This fact benefited nature conservation, because many species of flora and fauna could be preserved undisturbed in the restricted area. From 1989, the area was largely cleared by the military and made accessible to the public. To protect nature, the Shou Shan Nature Park was established in 1997 . In 1998, Kaohsiung City laid a network of hiking trails on the mountain.
Shoushan National Natural Park
On November 1, 2011, the Shoushan National Natural Park ( 壽山 國家 自然 公園 ) was officially established. The park covers 1,123 hectares and includes Shoushan, Banpingshan Park ( 半 屏山 自然 公園 ), Gueishan ( 龜山 ), the old town area of Zuoying District ( 左 營 ), the former British Consulate in Takao ( 打狗 ) and Cihoushan ( 旗 後 山 ) a.
Geology, flora and fauna
About 1.25 million years ago, the area of today's Shoushan was a shallow water region, rich in corals , algae , foraminifera and mussels . The remains and fossils of these organisms form the hard limestone of today's crust of the Shoushan. As a result of several earth activities, the Shoushan was gradually lifted out of the water and, over the millennia , received its present shape through weathering , erosion , corrosion , soil deposits and vegetation, which is characterized by jagged rocks, caves, gorges, stalactites and stone columns under dense vegetation.
The rich vegetation of Shoushan includes native species such as the Vitex quinata that Kleinhovia hospita , the paper mulberry , the Macaranga that Taiwan Acacia , Lagerstroemia , fig species , Ehretia and taro , as well as from outside introduced species, such as Kassien and Flamboyants .
There is also a variety of animal species, some of which are endemic to Taiwan and are protected. The best known and most striking are the Formosa macaques , which populate the mountain slopes and have become so used to the flow of visitors that they like to approach tourists and beg for or steal food. In addition, there is a wealth Scheuerer wildlife, such as the Pallas's Squirrel , bats , terns , the crested goshawk , the Chinese bamboo chicken , the yellow-headed fruit dove , the Taiwan Augenbrauenhäherling and many others. The Shoushan is also the habitat of some reptiles , such as the Chinese tree viper , the rat snake or the pit viper , and of several species of insects , including dragonflies , Spring terror , mantis , butterflies , beetles and ants .
Attractions
At the foot and on the eastern slopes of Shoushan there are some temples and other attractions, such as Longchuan Temple , Qianguang Temple , Faxing Temple , Yuanheng Temple and the Martyrs' Shrine . The most popular destination for families is undoubtedly the Shou Shan Zoo .
At the south-western foot of the mountain are the Sun Yat-sen University campus and Xiziwan Bay , from which one can observe the northern entrance of Kaohsiung Harbor and a multitude of ships of all types and sizes both up close and in the distance can. A special attraction of the bay is the picturesque sunset.
Historical sights in the immediate vicinity of Shoushan and Xiziwan Bay include a roundabout of cannons dating from the late Qing Dynasty and the former British consulate in Takao, which now houses a restaurant.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.town-all.org.tw/92viewweb/view114/moun1.htm ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ The Pioneer of Taiwan Shoushan National Nature Park. National Parks of Taiwan, Retrieved December 22, 2011 (Chinese).
- ↑ Lee I-chia: Opening ceremony held for Shoushan National Park after years of hard work. Taipei Times, accessed July 14, 2018 (Chinese).
- ↑ Website of the Shoushan Nature Park (English)
