The Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) has incorporated and linked the tourism resources and scenic sites of Hsinchu and Miaoli to encourage the general public to visit the areas' many Hakka communities and enjoy the beautiful scenery there, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated today.
The Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park is at the center of this effort to boost tourism in Hakka communities of northern and central Taiwan, said the premier, who made these remarks while attending the opening ceremony for the park's Hakka garden.
In order to promote exchanges, research and development, and transmission of Hakka culture, the HAC has established two national-level Hakka cultural parks: Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park in Tongluo Township, Miaoli County in northern Taiwan, and Liudiu Hakka Cultural Park in Neipu Township, Pingtung County in southern Taiwan.
Moreover, the HAC is promoting a development plan for Hakka youths to return to their hometowns to inject new dynamism into these communities, the premier pointed out.
The government will continue to promote the integration of Hakka cultural parks with Hakka communities' human and ecological environments, Premier Mao reiterated. The administration will contribute to developing and passing on Hakka culture so it will flourish in these communities.
The HAC stated that the Miaoli Hakka Cultural Park has attracted more than 3.58 million visitors since it opened on May 12, 2012. The park is now developing its second-phase plan. Its first-phase development covered 4.3 hectares, encompassing a huge indoor exhibition hall for display of Hakka culture; in the second phase, the park will expand 6.88 hectares to integrate traditional Hakka villages and natural scenery in the surrounding hills. In this way the park will have ample space to showcase Hakka culture and provide tourists with a diversified experience.
Besides planting trees for the Hakka garden, Premier Mao also viewed an exhibition of 400 years of Hakka development with its traditions and innovations, as well as an HAC-assisted Hakka specialty product show.