Special Exhibition room in the Visitor Center 2nd floor, the room can accommodate group sizes of 10-15 people , will be scheduled to launch the theme special exhibition, in a dynamic, static, interactive and other ways to display.
► Special Exhibition Room (2F) @ Shoushan Visitor Centor
【”Chaishanism”- the Soushan Conservation Movement】
Shoushan National Nature Park officially opened in December 2011. It was Taiwan’s first national nature park and the first national level nature park to be established though the efforts of local conservationists.
The concept of Chaishanism is humanistic thinking on the encounter between the people of Kaohsiung and Chaishan and the process of familiarization, using writing and images to record the preservation of Chaishan’s ecology/culture/ history. It is the movement through which the people of Kaohsiung willfully returned to nature.
The fact that the exhibition “Chaishanism-the Shoushan Conservation Movement” is being specially held as the Shoushan National Nature Park Headquarters opens gives it special significance.
Shoushan Discovery
Shoushan (Chaishan) has been a paradise for adventurers since ancient times. Formed by Shoushan (Mt. Shou) and Qihoushan (Mt. Qihou), Takao Port was where fishermen sheltered in earlier times when they bravely crossed the black ditch (Taiwan Strait) and also a beautiful place where the people of the Makatau tribe lived happily.
As a trading port in the Qing Dynasty, it naturally became the entry point for foreigners when they explored Taiwan's interior. Later, in the Japanese Colonial Period and after the National Government withdrew to Taiwan, Shoushan was ruthlessly exploited in the form of large scale mining. Since ancient times, Shoushan’s destiny has been inseparably linked to this port city.
Shoushan Lifeline
Shoushan has diverse flora and fauna ecology. All around jagged rocks, caves, gorges, cliffs and potholes can be seen. It is a treasure trove of biodiversity, however, after military restrictions were lifted, it was damaged to an unprecedented degree, sparking an ecological conservation movement driven by local people.
The ecological conservation movement did not only protect the plants and animals of Shoushan, it also inspired and awakened the people of Kaohsiung with respect to literature, ecology, history and other aspects. The “Chaishanism” that followed is a song that describes the peaceful coexistence between people and nature.
Sothern Green Revolution
In 1992, a group of local cultural workers, including veteran journalists, doctors, image workers, writers and cultural history researchers, established the Chaishan Nature Park Promotion Society with the main aim of protecting Chaishan (Shoushan). These people were not professional conservationists nor were they politicians with far reaching influence, they were ordinary citizens who lived their daily lives in Kaohsiung, breathing and gasping along with the footsteps of the city.
When faced with pressure from Taiwan Cement Corporation’s mining, the city government and various quarters pushed for economic development of Chaishan, and local people needs, made this group of intellectuals even more sensitive to the importance of ecological conservation and they began a long period of communication with the local government.
Following this spiritual strength, other green groups in Kaohsiung launched a series of environmental protection movements such as protect the “Gaopin River”, "Weiwuying Metropolitan Park", "Cultural Love River" and "Protect Wetlands", in what can be described as a southern green revolution.
Looking back over the course of the movement that promoted the establishment of Chaishan Nature Park, and led to the establishment of today’s "Shoushan National Nature Park", undoubtedly it was a pioneer and set a fine example for other environmental protection movements in Taiwan.
Group Booking Guided Tours
1. The Centre provides a group appointment guided tour service. For details, please contact the booking website (http://snnp.cpami.gov.tw).
2. If in doubt, please call our office for advice: +886(0)7-522-1010