Shou Shan

The Shou Shan seen from the entrance to the Sun Yat -sen University from

The Shou Shan (Chinese寿山, Pinyin Shou Shān, "Mountain of Long Life " ), also called Chai Shan (柴山), is a mountain on the southwest coast of Taiwan port city of Kaohsiung. He is geologically a coral reef. For a long time military zone, the mountain has become a very popular destination for residents Kaohsiung, but also foreign visitors, and is nicknamed " the green lung of Kaohsiung ".

Geography and climate

The Shou Shan is located in Gushan Kaohsiunger district on the southwestern coast of the city, between the Taiwan Strait in the west and in the east of downtown Kaohsiung. Thanks to this location offers from several places of the mountain a good view of the city and the sea. The Shou Shan extending 6 km from north to south and 2 km from west to east, at an altitude of 356 m above sea level. At the southwestern foot of the mountain, the Sun Yat -sen University is located. In the south, the northern portion of the Kaohsiunger port connects.

The Shou Shan has a subtropical monsoon climate. Hottest month is August with an average temperature of 29.4 degrees. The coldest is January with an average temperature of 17.5 degrees.

Name and history

The Dutch colonialists called the mountain early 17th century due to the occurring there macaques the Apenberg ( Monkey Mountain ), a name which has survived to this day in some foreign guides. From the Chinese of the mountain in reference to the former name of Kaohsiung ( Takao ) Takao mountain was named. During the Japanese colonial period in the mountain寿山, Mountain of Long Life was ( Japanese: Juzan, high Chinese Shou Shan) renamed in honor of the Japanese crown prince and later emperor Hirohito, who had visited the place in 1923. The next in the vernacular common name柴山Chai Shan ( mountain firewood ) suggests that local residents be procured from the mountain forest firewood in earlier times.

The northern section of the mountain was after the Second World War due to its strategic location on the coast of the strait long time military zone. This fact benefited the nature, because in the restricted area, many species of flora and fauna could get undisturbed. As of 1989, the area was largely cleared by the military and made ​​available to the public. To protect the nature of the Shou- Shan Nature Park was established in 1997. In 1998, the city of Kaohsiung hung up the mountain to a network of hiking trails.

Geology, flora and fauna

Prior to about 1.25 million years ago, the area now Shoushan a shallow-water area, rich in coral, algae, foraminifera and shells. The remains and fossils of these organisms form the hard limestone of the present crust of the Shou Shan. Following several Erdaktivitäten the Shou Shan was gradually lifted from the water and got in over the millennia by weathering, erosion, corrosion, Erdablagerungen and vegetation its present form, which is characterized by jagged cliffs, caves, gorges, limestone and stone columns under dense vegetation.

The rich vegetation of the Shou Shan includes native species such as Vitex quinata that Kleinhovia hospita, the paper mulberry, the Macaranga, the Taiwan acacia, Lagerströmien, fig species Ehretia and taro, as well as imported from outside species, for example Kassien and Flamboyant.

There are also a variety of animal species, some of which are endemic to Taiwan and are protected. The best known and most striking are the Formosan macaques that inhabit the mountain slopes and have become so accustomed to the flow of visitors that they like to approach the tourists and beg for food or steal this. In addition, there is an abundance Scheuerer wild animals, such as the Pallas squirrel, bats, Terns, the Schopf hawk, the Chinese bamboo chicken, the yellow-headed Fruit Dove, the Taiwan - Augenbrauenhäherling and many others. The Shou Shan is also the habitat of some reptiles, such as the Chinese tree viper, rat snake, or pit viper, and of several species of insects, including dragonflies, Spring terror, mantis, butterflies, beetles and ants.

Attractions

At the foot and on the eastern slopes of Shou Shan there are some temples and other attractions, such as the Longchuan Temple, the Qianguang Temple, the Faxing Temple, the Yuanheng Temple and the Martyrs' Shrine. The most popular destination for families is undoubtedly the Shou Shan Zoo.

At the southwestern foot of the mountain lie the campus of Sun Yat -sen University and the Bay Xiziwan, observe from which the northern entrance to the harbor Kaohsiunger and a variety of ships of all types and sizes, both up close and in the distance can. A special attraction of the bay is the picturesque sunset.

Historic attractions in the immediate vicinity of Shou Shan and the Xiziwan Bay are a product from the time of the late Qing Dynasty gun Rondell and the former British Consulate Takao, which now houses a restaurant.