Pingtung’s Wannian River revitalized through 20 years of hard work
Pingtung’s Wannian River has been successfully revitalized after two decades of work spanning four county commissioners. Livestock and industrial wastewater used to be dumped into the river, killing fish and giving the river an infamous stench. Now that it has been revitalized, it’s lush with greenery, teaming with birds and fish, and a popular spot for riverside strolls.
A mother moorhen forages on the riverbank, her chicks waiting not-so-patiently to be fed. Another bird finds a meal upstream, taking advantage of the river’s rich resources. This is Pingtung’s Wannian River, which supports a diverse ecosystem of birds and other wildlife.
Huang Shu-ting
Bird photographer
It seems that the river has been successfully revitalized now, because we can observe some of Taiwan’s resident birds here, such as the black-crowned night heron and common moorhen.
Wannian River, a tributary of the Gaoping River, flows through central Pingtung City. Local residents once rowed boats, washed clothes, and played in its waters, until the river was heavily polluted by industrial and agricultural wastewater. Many fish died as the water quality deteriorated, and the river began to stink, earning the nickname “eternal stench,” as its name, Wannian, means eternity. Thirty years ago, then-Pingtung County commissioner Wu Tse-yuan decided to build a cover over the river, but residents formed the Pingtung Citizen Association to oppose the project. When Su Jia-chyuan later took office, he overturned Wu’s project, removed the concrete pillars, and launched a restoration plan that would span the next 20 years.
Huang Ting-lun
Pingtung Citizen Association chair
I returned to my hometown as a young adult and became aware of this issue. Many of us involved grew up along the banks of the river, so a lot of our childhood memories are here. So we thought that this river should continue existing.
When former county commissioners Tsao Chi-hung and Pan Men-an later took office, they both continued restoring the river. By guiding clean water from upstream wetlands into the river and preventing wastewater from entering it, the water quality gradually improved. Now bustling with life and greenery, the riverside has become a popular place for residents to stroll and relax.
Member of public
It’s pretty and really not bad. It wasn’t this clean before.
Member of public
It’s much more beautiful and there are even some paths so that nearby residents can exercise.
Through the combined forces of grassroots organizing and government support, the Wannian River has been given a new life. Now it can live up to its name, flowing eternally through the city and maintaining its place as an integral part of local life.
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#river #restoration #conservation #wildlife #Pingtung #birds #WannianRiver
2025-08-01
