Chenglong Wetlands, Yunlin / 雲林成龍溼地

我在部落格上安靜了一個多月，可是在每日的生活裡玩得很兇。五月初去雲林北港參加朝天宮的媽祖遶境，也順道拜訪了成龍溼地，發現自己雖然去了兩次雲林，對這個地方的認識卻是相當有限。

Though I have been quiet on my blog for more than a month, much has been going on in my real life. I visited Yunlin back in early May to have a look at the traditional ritual of the Matsu Pilgrimage, which I will introduce in another post soon. I checked out Chenglong Wetlands nearby as well. The trip made me realize that I actually knew little about Yunlin County despite the fact that I had traveled there twice in the past two years. 

        成龍溼地原本是耕田地，但因為地勢偏低，長年超抽地下水導致地層嚴重下限，加上水患不斷，造成海水倒灌，最後形成了溼地。

     Chenglong Wetlands, developing wetlands of over 100 hectares located in rural Yunlin County on the south-central coast of Taiwan,  used to be low farmland. However, overpumping of groundwater and ceaseless floods caused seawater intrusion, which eventually turned this part of the county into wetlands. 

        水面上布滿了紫菜，當地居民拉竹木舟把紫菜撈起。

     In this season, the surface of the water is covered with seaweeds. The locals use bamboo rafts to collect them. 

        紫菜裝袋後會賣給九孔養殖戶，作為九孔的食物。

     After the seaweeds are packed, they'll be sold to the cultivators of small abalones as the latter's food. 

        雖然是後來才轉型的溼地，但是這裡有很多溼地特有的植物，其實我帶了兩名植物家教，當天是邊走邊學的，事過境遷，現在卻什麼也記不得了。

     It's interesting that Chenglong Wetlands weren't wetland until more than a decade ago, but many wetland plants have found their home here. I had two botany tutors with me that day. Although I had the privilege of learning each plant's name on my way, to be honest, I don't remember a thing now. 

        成龍溼地的國際環境藝術節很有名，小村子裡的屋厝也有當地的藝術氣息，紅瓦屋上都有陶類裝飾品。為了準備藝術節，全成龍村的居民都動了起來呢！

     Chenglong Wetlands International Environmental Art Project has been hosted for six years, which explains why the small village possesses an artistic feel. Lovely pottery designs can be found on the walls of red-brick houses. In fact, to welcome the artists every year, many villagers participate in the preparation of the project. 

        房子的外牆就是最立即的藝廊，上面鑲著孩子們的創作，主題就是保護成龍溼地。

     The roadside is the best gallery. On it children's drawings based on the theme of protecting the wetlands are displayed. 

        室內的畫廊也很有風格，貴美說雲林是全台灣最窮的縣，我卻深深為這樣的設計著迷。

     Even the indoor gallery is unique. Guei-mei said this shows that Yunlin is the poorest county in Taiwan, but I found the idea fascinating to turn an abandoned house into a gallery. 

        成龍溼地國際藝術節今年邁入第六年，主題是「易碎品，小心守護」，呼籲大家關切脆弱的環境，並以正面的能量和行動保護環境。我們沒有找到所有藝術作品，倒是覺得這件名為彩虹船的作品很有意思，是日本藝術家Tsuneo Sekiguchi的設計。

     The theme of 2015's art project is "Fragile, Handle with Care." It is to call for attention to the fragile environment. The selected artists convey the message of protecting the environment with positive energy. We didn't get to see all the artworks, though. The Rainbow Boat, designed by the Japanese artist Tsuneo Sekiguchi can be seen in the center of the village. 

        成龍村有很多居民靠串蚵殼打零工，蚵殼可以重複利用於蚵田。

     Chenglong Village is also known for its oyster-growing industry. The locals sort through piles of shells left from the industry and find shells that can be used again to grow oysters. 

        成龍村獨特的蚵殼風景。

     This is the unique scene that can only be found here.