Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port

Formerly known as Yuanli Port, it was named for its location at the mouth of Yuanli River. It served as the local port of entry and exit after Tudigong Port. Cai Zhenfeng's 'Records of Yuanli' states that Yuanli Port was relatively wide and deep without obstructions, thus attracting many merchant ships. Masts stood like a forest, and boatmen swarmed like ants, making 'Boats Moored at Yuangang' one of the Eight Sights of Pengshan. After the Japanese colonial period, trade with China was prohibited, leading to its decline. Around 1991, it was developed into a tourist fishing port, offering visitors seafood snacks, sea fishing, beach seining, and other recreational activities. Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port is located at the northern end of Yuanli Township's coastline. Originally a simple river mouth-type boat dock, it gradually developed into a tourist fishing port after planning and construction. It features a fishermen's activity center, a sea-viewing tower, children's play equipment, a grilled fish area, shaded trellises, a performance plaza, a processing and packing facility, a direct sales center, shellfish aquaculture ponds, a camping area, parking lots, walking paths, an arch bridge, and pavilions. The western plaza also boasts green spaces, a sports plaza, and a nostalgic rail-bike path, providing opportunities for morning jogs, exercise, kite flying, sunset viewing, and listening to the waves. It is truly a multi-functional recreational fishing port. Here, visitors can not only buy fresh seafood but also enjoy seaside activities, encompassing both land and sea – fishing from the shore, taking children to fly kites, or going to the beach to dig for clams, catch shrimp and crabs, and play in the sand, sharing family fun. However, as a fishing port, the most appealing aspect is undoubtedly the fresh seafood! The market seafood auction at Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port takes place daily at 6:30 AM, selling freshly caught, lively seafood to market vendors, restaurant owners, and of course, many locals who purposely wake up early to select seafood for their home cooking. The seafood here is cheaper and fresher than what's sold in regular markets, making it well worth an early morning trip. The Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port Activity Center also has a restaurant that offers visitors a taste of freshly caught seafood. The menu depends on what the fishing boats catch that day, guaranteeing—fresh, delicious, and 'the freshest'! If you visit the fishing port in the afternoon, be sure not to miss the beautiful sunset views at Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port. Golden rays shimmer on the glass-like water, and as you listen to the sound of the waves and watch the light gradually transition from passionate ochre red to soft golden yellow, your mood will relax, feeling infinitely comfortable. Many visitors come specifically to admire the sunset here! 'Yuanli Fish Balls' are famous. Yuangang Tourist Fishing Port is a typical sandy coast on the western shore, characterized by large tidal differences, gentle and wide beaches, and long and deep intertidal zones, which contribute to abundant coastal fisheries. The main fish species in spring include fourfinger threadfin, mackerel, pomfret, and hairtail. Summer and autumn seasons bring conger eels, flounder, shrimp, and crabs. In winter, mullet, fourfinger threadfin, mackerel, pomfret, and hairtail are predominant. With abundant fish all year round, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood in all seasons. The Yuanli area has an abundant production of sandbar sharks and double-fin sharks. However, in the early post-restoration period, due to inconvenient transportation and the sharks' short shelf life, oversupply during peak fishing seasons led to an imbalance in production and sales. To solve this problem, fishermen began making fish balls using shark meat as raw material. Since the fish balls are made from fresh local shark meat, they are fragrant, chewy, and delicious, offering superior texture and elasticity. This made them highly popular, and the reputation of 'Yuanli Fish Balls' quickly spread, making them a famous specialty of Yuanli throughout Taiwan.