Nanke,  the southern Taiwan Science Park which lays across Tainan and Kaohsiung, not only consists of factories in various industries, but is also a fun place for traveling. Within the Tainan park, prairies, grasslands and lakes, along with public landscaping, art installation, as well as ancient artifacts founded during the development of the park, are all very interesting. “As we rode the bikes, chased the bell, through the blossoming flowers, full of familiar laughters, in the crowded classrooms, we celebrated.” This is probably our usual pace of life~

One day, not catching the train, plodding alone on the Siraya Avenue, worried about exams and being tardy, looking up from time to time at a diminishing distance from the school… Suddenly, out of the corner of my eyes, the bushes next to the school rustled. It was just sparrows, and I felt down again. After bidding the sparrows goodbye, I packed away the depressed feelings and went to class, filled with hope. While flipping through an encyclopedia to look for inspiration for my research, something on the pages caught my eye - the Oriental pratincole. Turns out, the sparrows I saw the other day were really Oriental pratincoles. I smiled, delighted by my discovery…

Nanke Aerial photo　Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau offer  

If you think that in a Science Park, there are only tech buildings or factories, then you are wrong. When we first encountered the Oriental pratincoles and were introduced to Nanke, we thought so too. Based on physical characteristics, Nanke was not densely developed. Instead, it set up fields and lakes, increasing large areas of “greens”, with conservation parks and wetlands. As of now, there are seventy-nine species of birds, including seven ring-necked pheasant birds marked protected by the Council of Agriculture (COA). Recently, we have also welcomed the Formosan sika deer and bred fireflies.

Nanke, is not simply a science center with factories, but a park filled with green grasslands, diverse ecology, where you can fish, jog and bike. Nanke has become a place of industry yet still prospering with life, shining with a different and special light.

Nanke wetlands

Nanke had long been merely a science park, and in fact, is known as “Lungs of Nanke” or a sanctuary for birds. Besides protecting the ecology, Nanke is also the initiating "artificial wetland”, using wastewater from factories to conserve more than 20 species of aquatic plants. Not only can the wastewater be repeatedly purified to decrease amounts of ammonia, it can also be used as a source of nutrients for the aquatic plants. Currently, about 2,000 tonnes of water per day have proven successful in creating a habitat for the diverse ecology.

Artificial wetlands that create land, waters, and riparian environment (mudflats and gravel lands), offers plants and animals a habitat. In various ponds, you can see water lilies, India Nymphoides, bamboo shoots, and dozens of plants, as well as the common moorhen, Ischnura senegalensis, black-winged stilt and other animals. In 2014, we have recorded the ring-necked pheasant, oriental pratincole, greater painted-snipe, brown shrike, black-winged kite, peregrine falcon, mandarin duck and seven other kinds of COA protected birds. (International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN Red Listed species).

Nanke detention basin

Twenty years ago, when it has yet been developed, Nanke was merely a sparsely populated, vast piece of land located in Chia-Nan. Due to the relatively low geography, it easily floods in heavy rainfall. When the science park was built, they had to resolve this issue immediately as it always flooded during the first few years of development. They used detention ponds and the dug up soil to elevate the surrounding factories, effectively riding the problem.

Nanke Detention basin		Nanke environment

To protect the safety of vendors within the low-rise areas, they improved the situation in neighboring villages in order to solve the flood issue within Nanke. They used the ecological engineering building for 7 detention ponds: Lake Toya, Xiake Lake, Yingxi lake, SanBaoZhu Lake, AnDing Lake, Shu Lake and Lake dyke. Once the ponds were completed and drainage and flood control monitoring systems were installed, we have solved the flood problem in Nanke as well as the neighboring villages. Let's introduce the Yingxi Lake, Xiake Lake, and Lake Toya.

1. Provide drainage and help areas outside the detention ponds

2. Prevent disasters and provide water in emergencies

3. Protect flood pumping stations and flood protection center

4. Provide recreational and exercise purposes

The science park has a total of seven detention ponds, the most famous being Yingxi Lake. The name comes from it facing east and welcoming the sunrise, signifying“facing towards the future with hope and vigor”.

Settled upon Ying-Tsi Lake is this large public art built in 2008 by Taiwan's CECI Company, with length of 440 meters, height of 33 meters, width of 12 meters and an area approximately of 10 hectares. There are lots of different interpretations upon this art work, some said it's like a long golden python or dragon, others said it's a roller coaster or a yellow ribbon.

Xiake Lake

Xiake Lake, located northwest of the park across the TSMC Lake, covers a large surface and is surrounded by buildings. At sunset, many couples come for a date to watch the light reflect off its surface, casting colourful bims on the coastal plants. The water stage presents another reason to lounge by the lake.

The most representative part of Xiake Lake is the public restrooms. You might think, how appealing can restrooms be? Are they five-star rated like in the Purple Palace? Even though the Xiake Lake restrooms are not five-stars, they are practically on par. They are built with aesthetic and multiple layers of materials to bring out a modern vibe.

Daoye Pond

Daoye Pond lies on the west side of South Nanke Road, in between two prominent optoelectronic industries. Its most distinguished landmark must be the colorful water tower, and a few large ficus trees planted way before the implementation of the Science Park. Other than that, Daoye Pond provides a great stand for not only birdviewing but also a wetland for many other organisms to thrive and migrate to. It's simply breathtaking.

Questionnaire-1

According to " You know Tainan Science Park has seven Detention basin? " Nearly 55.5% of respondents didn't understend, which there were 11.4% of the people is very unclear that .

According to " You know Yingxi Lake, Xia off Lake Road, Lake Toya Tainan Science Park detention pond is it? " Nearly 50 % of respondents didn't understend, which there were 11.4% of the people is very unclear that .

Green Science Park

Regarding the fact that the Science Park encapsulates a variety of multi-purpose wetlands, conservation parks, and actual parks, you might wonder, in a scientific industrial zone filled with metropolitan buildings and factories with chimneys puffing gray smoke, how do organisms thrive, even if sanctuaries are established?

Ecology Wetland Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau offer

Due to the Southern Taiwan Science Park's background of a sugar cane field, it provides an excellent fertile land for many animals, especially birds of endangered species, to migrate over and rest during the summer. Furthermore, butterflies, beautiful flowers, and the shades of large trees, gives the science park a green, paradise-like atmosphere, the perfect combination of nature and industry.

According to " Did you know there are a Tainan science park called "the lungs of the Nanke" ecological protection zone it? " Nearly 80% of respondents didn't understend, which there were 20% of the people is very unclear that .

According to " You know Tainan science park has 79 kinds of birds, and even record to the Phasianus colchicus, Glareola maldivarum, Rostratula benghalensis, Lanius cristatus,Elanus caeruleus,Falco peregrinus and Aix galericulata . COA Bulletin seven kinds of wildlife conservation?" Nearly 85% of respondents didn't understend, which there were 30% of the people is very unclear that .

Reference material：Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau