臺北市政府文化局

The wide, easily walkable wooden boardwalk along Wufengang Creek tells a story of restoration and rebirth.

Wufengang Creek was originally the lower reaches of Shuangxi River, which flowed into Keelung River and created a fertile sandbar originally called Zhouwei (now Zhoumei), with expansive rice fields, rare in Taipei City. The meandering course of the Shuangxi River near Dingzhouwei and Zhouweitou caused frequent flooding, so in 1965 a river straightening project was launched to divert the Shuangxi River into the Keelung River near today’s Shuangxi Wetland Park. The old river course became Wufengang Creek, and sluice gates were installed to prevent floods. With the risk of flooding eliminated, the site was forgotten by the public, allowing the local ecology to flourish and laying the foundation for future revitalization efforts. This unintended consequence of the river straightening project preserved the natural appearance of the river, creating a hidden gem within Taipei City.

The opportunity for Wufengang Creek’s renewal came on June 28, 2021, when people who would go on to be members of the future Beautiful Waterways Association visited the tranquil waterway. The blue sky and white clouds, accompanied by lush green rice paddies and naturally growing riverside trees should have made an idyllic scene. But the creek was almost empty, apart from a little dirty water and some trash. This was the scene that gave birth to the Beautiful Waterways Association.

In recent years, volunteers have taken on the responsibility to patrol and clean up the area, also maintaining the rich aquatic ecology, with rare plant species such as the powderpuff tree.  The association also organizes tours, walks, and promotional activities to transform Wufengang Creek into one of Taipei’s most beautiful waterways.

Today, visitors to Wufengang Creek can enjoy the natural environment, stroll along the trails, explore the waterways, wander among the banyan trees that line the rice fields, gaze up at the Datun Mountain range, and appreciate the harmony of variegated greenery, marveling at the beauty of this revitalized landscape.