Lin Te-Ching (3rd from the right), deputy director of the First River Management Office, engaged in fitness walking with the public. (Photographer: Liu, Mei-Hsia)
[Reporter: Liao, Wei-Yin / Location: Ilan] Annong River is located in SanxingTownship and Dongshan Township of Ilan County. It has won the first place in the National Rivers and Streams Assessment for several years, and its picturesque scenery has become a highlight of sightseeing for tourists. On June 22nd, the First River Management Office held the the activity of fitness walking along the “Annong River,” which attracted nearly 600 people from the local and foreign counties and cities to participate in such an event. The people on the scene appreciated the beautiful scenery of the river, because it resembled the scene of the Left Bank in Paris.
People set off on fitness walking from the left bank of the flood-diversion dike, and appreciated the beautiful scenery of the Annong River along the way. The whole journey is about 5 kilometers in distance. (Photographer: Liao, Wei-Yin)
In the morning with a breeze and warm sunlight, Li Chih-Yung, the township head of Sanxing Township in Ilan, and Lin Te-Ching, the deputy director of the First River Management Office, appeared in casual wear to engage in fitness walking with the public. They set off from the left bank of the Annong River and passed through the channel gate to reach the right bank. Along the riverside trail, they went upstream, passed through the Yiyin Bridge and the Xingjian Bridge, and then arrived at the Courier Station to drink coffee before they finally returned to the left bank. The whole journey is about 5 kilometers in distance.
The participants one by one completed their fitness walking and reached the end point. (Photographer: Liao, Wei-Yin)
Li Chih-Yung, the head of the township, said that thanks to the First River Management Offic, the river can become clean again. He also offered thanks to the volunteers who took the initiative to clean and maintain the environment. He hoped that the Annong River could become a popular sightseeing spot in Taiwan.
Lin Te-Ching, the deputy director of the First River Management Office, stressed that "Annong River always takes the first place in the annual river adoption competition. The total area has reached nearly 100 hectares. The whole river is about 14 kilometers in length. Such a beautiful river can exist thanks to selfless dedication of the public sector and more than 400 volunteers from the development association.”
You Chih-Chien, chairman of the General Development Association for Annong River, said that in the past, there were weeds everywhere, and you could not see the other side of the river from your side. After 10 years of hard work, each villager cooperated with the First River Management Office and became fully committed to the greening and beautification of Annong River. Now, every villager is proud of the Annong River, and hopes that Annong River can become the pride of Ilan County.
Ms. Chiang, the Assistant Manager of Life Insurance, said that to finish the whole journey would take 1 hour and 10 minutes. "The air quality is very good and the scenery is beautiful. I hope everyone can come to Annong River and experience the beautiful landscape.” Wu Hung-I, director of the Ilan County Calligraphy Association, said that volunteers were very enthusiastic about maintaining Annong River. "I hope that the scenery of Annong River will become famous in Taiwan.”
Wu Hung-I, director of the Ilan County Calligraphy Association, and Ms. Chiang, the Assistant Manager of Life Insurance, completed the fitness walking and encouraged the public to come to Annong River and experience the beautiful landscape here. (Photographer: Liao, Wei-Yin)
Ms. Kao from Zhonghe District in Taipei said that in addition to knowing the local history, she could also exercise this time during the fitness walking. "The scenery along the way attracts me. I saw the lotus pond, the verdant green onion fields, and the first-crop rice paddies. Farmers have begun to harvest the crops. The scenery is very beautiful, and it really makes me happy after I finish the fitness walking!”
In the morning, people gathered beside the river for fitness walking. (Provided by the First River Management Office, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs)
Join fitness walking along the Annong River. Pass through the checkpoints to obtain great gifts from the First River Management Office. (Photographer: Liao, Wei-Yin)