Taiwan's 'Blue Train' combines with ecological tourism for Liugui district tours

Pingtung University of Science and Technology is partnering with Lion Travel to launch a new ecological tourism initiative, integrating the scenic "Blue Train" with the natural beauty of Kaohsiung's Liugui district. This collaboration aims to foster sustainable development and preserve the region's unique landscapes through immersive, slow-paced, and healing ecological tours.

Led by Professor Chen Mei-hui of the university's Forestry Department, the project leverages the university's extensive experience in promoting community forestry and ecological tourism. The initiative seeks to assist local communities in developing sustainable industries by utilizing their natural resources, often referred to as "mountain-root economics." This effort is part of a broader university social responsibility project, employing a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) model to connect community industries with the tourism market.

The proposed 3-day, 2-night tour package is designed for the summer season and is now available for online booking. The journey begins in Nangang, Taipei, with stops at the Tianliao Moon World Geopark and Cishan Old Street. A key highlight is the Liugui's Eighteen Arhat Mountain Recreational Area, known as "Little Guilin of Taiwan," followed by a visit to the "Bulao Hot Springs," one of the oldest in the region.

The second day involves traveling from Baolai Hot Spring Street to Meishan Pass and the scenic Tianchi Lake in the South Cross-Island Highway area. The tour continues to Guan Shan Yakou, Lidao, and the Tianlong Suspension Bridge overlooking the Wulu Gorge. The final day includes visits to Luye Highland and Jinlun Village before concluding at Fangshan Station to witness a spectacular sunset over the sea, after which travelers will transfer to the High-Speed Rail for their return journey north. This route offers a cross-Taiwan Strait experience via the South Cross-Island Highway and the South-Link Railway.

Professor Chen emphasized that Liugui's lack of heavy industry and pollution contributes to its pristine natural environment. The university's community forestry research team has been working for over 20 years to build a foundation for product and service supply in ecological tourism DMOs. They aim to create a commercial model that allows domestic and international visitors to deeply experience the "里山" (Lishan) lifestyle, opening up new possibilities for domestic tourism. The goal is to strengthen target customer engagement, continuously optimize tour packages, and maintain ecological and cultural assets, thereby building tourism products with cultural depth, local connections, and environmental sustainability.