Popular tourist landmark in Hualien to shut by month’s end

Popular tourist landmark in Hualien to shut by month’s end

2024-08-23

A popular tourism attraction in Hualien has been forced to shut, amid dwindling visitor numbers and constant blows from natural disasters. The Pine Garden, is a historical site dating back to the late Japanese colonial era, which is now popular for its lush scenery. The landmark will close at the end of August, as repairs continue to fix the damage dealt by Typhoon Gaemi. Visitors and locals say it’s a real shame.

As you take a stroll among the century-old pine trees, you can hear frogs croaking in the pond. Birds chirp up above and the scent of flowers fills the air. This is the Pine Garden, a well-known tourist landmark in Hualien. The Pine Garden’s operator has announced the site will close at the end of August. Visitors say it’s a real pity.

Visitor
They are closing at the end of August, so I decided to take the opportunity to come. It’s pity. The trees are beautiful, and so is the house. It’s gorgeous here.

Visitor
It’s a pity, it really is. The pictures here are lovely. It’s such a shame.

A recent typhoon uprooted several trees in the garden, leaving fallen branches and debris everywhere. Visitor numbers have also dwindled, putting a strain on the operator. With damage and repair costs piling up, the site has decided to close up for good.

Lo Man-ling
Pine Garden operator
The Pine Garden has always been here, and we hope that one day we’ll be able come back. For now, we’ll be doing some work inside, and making repairs so that the trees can grow well.

Huang Chia-jung
Historian
If it’s impossible to keep operations running in the near term, it will be quite a disappointment for tourists visiting Hualien, or for students here.

The Pine Garden is located on the foothills of Meilun Mountain. It was built in 1942, in the latter stages of World War II, and was used by the Japanese colonial administration as the Hualien Harbor Military Command. Currently, the site comprises a two-story main building, a martial arts hall, an air-raid shelter, and the site’s famous towering pine trees. A local councilor says the site should be integrated into a network of local attractions to boost tourism to Hualien.

Wei Chia-hsien
Hualien councilor (Independent)
Nearby we have the Taiwan Water Corporation complex, and the old radio broadcast station for the port. I think all these sites together would make for a nice itinerary for a short trip.

Natural disasters have dealt blow after blow to Hualien tourism, prompting many businesses in the hospitality sector to shut. Even the best-preserved Japanese military complex in Taiwan has not been able to hold on. Local tourism operators say they hope crowds will return to Hualien soon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

花蓮松園別館不敵強震重創.遊客銳減 8月底歇業

2024-08-23

花蓮知名景點松園別館，傳出即將在八月底歇業。這裡曾是日據時花蓮港陸軍兵事部，不僅具有歷史意義，也因多棵老松樹參天美景，深受許多遊客喜愛，不過0403大地震重創花蓮，加上凱米颱風老樹倒塌，加上震後觀光人數不如以往，經營團隊不得決定暫時休園。

園區內，在百年老松樹環繞下，不僅有生態池畔聽蛙鳴，還可以感受鳥樹花香氣息，這裡是花蓮知名景點松園別館。但經營團隊宣布，將只營業到在8月底，消息一出，許多遊客紛紛感到惋惜。

[[遊客]]
“他們說八月底就要結束了，所以說趁這個機會趕快過來看一下，很可惜，這樹木都很漂亮，房子也是很漂亮，(環境也很美) 很美很美”

[[遊客]]
“可惜，很可惜，這邊拍照都很漂亮，我們覺得捨不得”

由於颱風過後，處處有斷木倒樹，連根拔起，遊客人每況愈下，業者苦不堪言，考量林木受損要整修，忍痛退出營運。

[[花蓮松園別館經營團隊羅曼玲]]
“就像我們說的松園它一直在，那我們也是希望是說，我們還會有回來的一天，那至於現在目前，可能是在內部一些整理、整修維修，讓我們的樹能夠再好好的成長”

[[文史工作者黃家榮]]
“近期如果說還沒有辦法維護營運的話，那其實是對花蓮的這個觀光客來講，或是說對學生來講，其實是一個蠻大的一個遺憾”

松園別館位在花蓮美崙山麓，興建於1942年二戰後期，曾是日治時花蓮港陸軍兵事部，園區內，保存了當時兵事部的兩層樓主建築、武道館及防空壕等，還有最具特色的參天老松樹。當地民代建議，應由統一單位統整規劃，將附近的景點串聯起來，成為花蓮旅遊的新亮點。

[[花蓮縣議員(無) 魏嘉賢]]
“因為這附近還有自來水公司，還有早期的花蓮港放送局，那我相信是可以成為一個小旅行，而且是很有賣點的地方”

天災接續重創花蓮觀光，不僅多家住宿餐飲業者熄燈，連花蓮僅存最完整的，日據時代軍事建築物「松園別館」也撐不下去了，當地觀光業者期盼花蓮能盡早恢復昔日人潮。

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