臺北市政府文化局

Guandu Nature Park is a wetland nature reserve located at the confluence of the Danshui and Keelung Rivers that has gained international recognition and is home to a rich variety of migratory waterfowl and native wildlife. If you visit the park in April or May, you’ll see the mallard ducks with their dark green heads and yellow bills on their passage through Guandu. In autumn and winter, you can spot the charming red-tailed shrike—identifiable by its small size, black eye-patch, and attractive red-brown tail feathers—as it migrates south for the winter. Other common sightings also include the moorhen, with its bright red shield and beak, and the white-breasted waterhen with its white face and belly. 

From the second floor of the nature center, you can watch the birds through high-powered telescopes. Alternatively, you can opt for the birdwatching huts, which provide a tranquil environment where you can watch birds peck and preen while you forget the passage of time.

In the 1980s, as birdwatching rose in popularity, conservationists noticed the rich ecological environment of this area and began advocating for Guandu to be designated a protected area that would incorporate education and recreation, all while facing down the threat of urban development. 

Finally, in 1996 the city government established Guandu Nature Park and initiated long-term habitat maintenance and research, even recruiting volunteers to help protect the pristine area. In 2002, the park successfully bred black-winged stilts, which have since become a symbol of the park.

In addition to birdwatching, the park’s rich natural environment includes freshwater ponds and a crab-watching area, where visitors can see a variety of aquatic plants such as the purple-petaled water lily (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea), the white-petaled pygmy waterlily (Nymphaea tetragona) and the native yellow water lily (Nuphar shimadai). 

Guandu Nature Park also runs activities that allow visitors to interact more closely with the wetland environment, offering firsthand nature experiences. One of the highlights is the annual lotus root harvest held in November and December, a great parent-and-child memorable experience.

Since 2006, Guandu Nature Park has also hosted the conservation-centred Guandu International Nature Art Festival, where international artists are invited to use natural materials to create outdoor installations that foster a dialogue on the space between humans, art, and nature.

With its rich variety of natural and cultural offerings, Guandu Nature Park is the ideal destination for a weekend family outing.