Mudstone in badland and wild geese gate in fog The Features of Mudstone
Mudstone refers to green limestone formation. In terms of ecological age, mudstone is comparatively younger than the others and the cemented structure is not solid enough. Therefore, the surface is soften and disintegrated whenever its surface gets wet. In this sense, heavy rain brings terrible soil erosion and soil loss, and high sand content in the rivers nearby. However, after the wet mudslide gets dry, it turns to be rock-hard soil and even causes debris avalanche. On the grounds of the interaction between the soil weathering and debris avalanche in dry season and the erosion and soil loss in wet season, the surface of the slope flaked off. As a result, the surface thus is shaped with sharp features and seems to undergo the river degradation. Because of the mutual effects of the landscape and ecological quality, it is commonly to see meanders, oxbow lakes, and river channel migration in this area. With the inferiority of weather and ecological conditions, mudstone provides badly difficult environment for plants and thus become infertile land.
To bear the bad conditions in mind, mudstone impedes the economic development. Luckily, Moon World in Yanchao Dist. in Kaohsiung City and some other mudstone volcano serve as famous tourist attractions, and bring benefit of tourism. However, the rest of the area has been suffering from a problem of severe out-migration, for its bad conditions make it unsuitable to develop agricultural industry and make it have less and less residents. Therefore, mudstone area is also called as “badland”, or “land cancer”.
Here is a VIEDO About Badlands mudstone.
The soil consistency of mudstone is tested nearly alkali and its ph is determinated between 8 and 9, so this kind of soil is not suitable for growing plants, and vegetations can't be adhered to its bald face, either. Therefore, the landscape is totally barren, desolate, and uncultivated.
Owing to the dual effects of geology and climate factors, the mudstone area has the most diifficult biological remediation and revegetation.
Wild Geese Gate in Fog
The green limestone range connects Neopu community in Longqi Dist. in Tainan, 308 highland in Zuozhen Dist in Tainan, and Moon World in Yanchao Dist. in Kaohsiung City. Mudstone mountains with steep slope and without plants are regarded as top eight attractions in Southern part of Taiwan. During Qing dynasty, the ancients reclaimed here and found that the landscape was too bad for wild geese to fly through. Wild geese then took a rest here. In light of those wild geese, here is called “wild geese Gate”. What is more, it rained a lot in summer and it looked foggy. Here then was also called “wild geese gate in fog”.
Originally the above is quoted from poetry. The following is our explanation:
Wild Geese Gate in Fog by Cian Ci
Who moved to the savage village?
Ruins were found in fog.
Mountains were like in paintings.
Visitors enjoy the scenery.
The best scenery hides behind mountains.
Gaze at the beautiful scenery.
Poetic feeling comes up.
The scenery of dusk makes people down.
“Wild geese gate in fog” ranked among the top eight attractions in Qing Dynasty. “Wild geese gate in fog” refers to the “wild geese gate”, which now is located in Neopu in Lonqi Dist. in Tainan. It was firstly mentioned in “Amendment to Taiwan Log” which was rewritten by Wang, Bi-Chang in 1752.
This log lists eight sceneries, that are boats, netting, sunset, cloud, moon, fog, spring and fall. The “wild geese gate” listed by Cian Ci refers to gate between Fu-Cheng (Tainan City) and Luohanmen (Neimen Dist. in Kaohsiung City). “Wild geese gate” can also be found in Amendment to Taiwan Log.
The original texts as the above are quoted from ancient books. The following are our explanation:
There are so many unknown mountains behind Luohanmen.
Walking through the path surrounded by mountains, you can see many rock monkeys.
After going through Wild Geese Gate, it’s so great to see high mountains and the sky.
The path is so narrow that be aware of your steps, or you will fell off the cliffs.
Keep walking to the east, you can see Luohanmen.
Fog in the mountains is too beautiful to be true.
Those lines can be found in numerous logs. It seems safe to conclude that most authors consulted each other’s logs. The original one is believed to be written by Huang Shu Jing (1682-1758). According to Huang’s log, Wild Geese Gate seems likely a highland between Longqi Neopu and Neimen Yanshuibu
So far, this area is belonging to Veterans Affairs Council and a factory producing bombs with 300 hectares is located there. Now, to make a visit is not permitted. Sometime in the future, this military area might be open. Then, we can go and find out where the ruins are still there.
This diagram is taken from: Ancient map of Taiwan written by
HONG YING SHENG This is a piece of an ancient map shows the distribution of mudstone.
See the picture of “Wild Geese Gate in Fog” (Neimen Log, 1989, P. 235). Interestingly, this picture shows the landscape of Longqu Dist.
The picture below shows the landscape of “Wild Geese Gate”. Longqi military factory occupies about 300 hectares, including Sialiaozih and Wushan. In this picture, the route from Tuloushan to Jhangtan, of which the name and dotted lines are indicated in lavender, is believed to be depicted in Huang Shu Jing’s work.
Picture from Sinica: http://gissrv4.sinica.edu.tw/gis/twhgis.aspx
Conclusion
In the past, the landscape of Neopu was so bad. Even wild geese could not fly through directly and a rest in the valley appeared a must. Neopu therefore was also called “Wild Geese Gate”. What is more, green limestone range makes fog circulate in the valley. The valley then seems like a paradise depicted in poetry. It appears easy for us to imagine why “Wild Geese Gate in Fog” ranks among top eight attractions in Southern Taiwan. Although the scenario of a flock of wild geese resting in fog is hardly seen again nowadays, you will still be impressed by the beautiful view and vivid ecological environment. Hurry up and make a visit!
