The Marine National Park Headquarters (MNPH) hosted the “Crossing Taiwan-Strait- Southern Penghu Four Islands Eco-Challenge Camp” on the 1^st and 2^nd of June. This event featured several educational activities, including a boat-ride across the legendary Black-Ditch (Taiwan Strait), snorkeling for eco-observation, and a visit to traditional villages. Participants were dazzled by the beauty of the Southern Penghu Four Islands and returned home with special memories of their voyage across the legendary migration route of the forefathers.

Participants of this eco-challenge camp set off from Kaohsiung City’s Xingda Port tracing the voyage of their forefathers of the early immigrants across the Taiwan Strait. The first destination of this voyage was Dongyuping Island where the participants dove into the water with snorkeling gear to observe the abundant marine resources and coral colonies in the seas of the Southern Penghu Four Islands. The party sailed to Dongjiyu on the next day for a tour to the traditional villages and the unique basalt geological formation. The old houses of Penghu built with coral rocks, western architecture, stone walls, religious architecture, and the grand basalt rocks are the unique features of the ecology of the Southern Penghu Four Islands.

Mr. Yang Mo-Ling, Director of MNPH, said that the Southern Penghu Four Islands, composed of Dongyuping Island, Xiyuping Island, Dongjiyu, and Xijiyu, are a network of potential destinations for the development of the marine national park. The MNPH expects to preserve the biodiversity in the seas and the Penghu islands and promote the unique sights and sounds of the culture and tribes, aiming to build a gene pool for the marine resources and a site for environmental education.

The Great Voyage was an event of the National Park Week launched by the Construction and Planning Agency, featuring innovative experience of the national parks. The event closed with success after the participants safely arrived at Kaohsiung City Xingda Port. The MNPH will continue to protect the abundant marine resources in the seas the Southern Penghu Four Islands, as well as the unique cultural heritage. Through marine environmental education and activities, the MNPH is expected to maximize the effectiveness of preservation and economic return for the local ecologies and communities. Establishment of the Marine National Park aims to promote sustainable development and we are working to raise the awareness of preservation for both the natural ecology and cultural heritage by bringing the young citizens to experience the wonders and beauty of the oceans and culture.