Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Ecological Park

The Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Ecological Park is located next to the 149.3K mark of Provincial Highway 2 Coastal Road. Covering an area of approximately 4.8 hectares, it is a representative new international tourist attraction in Yilan. The park was planned and designed by renowned architect Huang Sheng-yuan, centered on the concept of 'Emptying the Valley, Seeing the Dunes'. It integrates Yilan's local natural elements to present a dune landscape and create sand-cave architectural spaces. As you walk through the park, tranquil rural fields lie on one side, while on the other, pond water reflects the changing weather and the continuous tips of screwpine trees. This scenery not only enhances the beautiful scenery of the Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Tourist Service Park, but the vast, undulating sand dune landscape before your eyes also unconsciously encourages visitors to slow down. The park was completed and opened in 2018, featuring spaces such as a visitor center and the Sand Dunes Exhibition Hall (curated by director Tsai Ming-liang). Additionally, surrounding the park are other unique scenic spots, including Zhuangwei Beach, cycling paths, the distinctive Houpi and Buhou communities, and the Lanyang River Estuary Bird Sanctuary. Whether at dawn, sunset, or moonrise, strolling through the park, listening to the sound of ocean waves, and enjoying the scenery for relaxation are all exquisite pleasures. Visitors coming here can slow down and savor the serene nature and cultural ambiance evoked by this dune architecture. Sand Dunes Exhibition Hall: Curated by director Tsai Ming-liang, with the 'dune' imagery at its core, it features six major themed exhibition halls (themes include Dust, Sea, Moonlight, Wind, Tide, and Rain). The overall presentation primarily uses large-scale video projections and incorporates Zhuangwei's natural elements like sand, windbreaks, and water in its set installations, allowing visitors to experience nature firsthand. The projected walls in different themed halls not only utilize the building's original irregularly curved sand-cave spaces and textured sand-patterned walls, but more uniquely, also feature hand-drawn large-scale graphics affixed to glass curtains. Each graphic was personally attached and drawn by director Tsai Ming-liang. For example, the 'Dust' hall uses charcoal lines and irregularly torn paper collage techniques to showcase the natural imagery of Zhuangwei's sand dunes and screwpine trees. Furthermore, each exhibition hall screens director Tsai Ming-liang's 'Slow Walk Long March' series films, such as 'Colorless,' 'Walker,' 'Journey to the West,' and 'Sand,' totaling 8 works, based on different spatial atmospheres. Among these, the short film 'Sand' is the latest creation dedicated to Zhuangwei and this park by director Tsai Ming-liang and actor Lee Kang-sheng. Entering the exhibition halls, visitors can simultaneously experience the interactive visual and sensory effects created by the space, while also immersing themselves in the 'slowness' conveyed by the artworks. Visitor Center: It is equipped with parking lots for large and small vehicles, a cycling station, a tourist information desk, and a multimedia audio-visual room that can accommodate 50 people. The room plays digital audio-visual multimedia films such as 'Mountain and Sea Love Scenery' or the 'Sand' behind-the-scenes film from director Tsai Ming-liang's Slow Walk Long March series. Additionally, there are informational brochures introducing tourist attractions in the Northeast Coast for visitors to pick up.