Eco-tourism has become a trend in recent years,
and the Fataan (Fata'an) Wetlands in Hualien has been attracting more than 150 thousand visitors annually.
Converted from Amis tribal grounds,
cultural elements like the traditional "palakau" fishing traps have been kept on site;
and combined with restaurants nearby that serve Amis cuisine,
visitors find Fataan educational and fun. Michella Jade Weng reports.##

With dragonflies, butterflies, fish and shrimp hanging both above and beneath the wetlands,
this is Hualien's Fataan.

Fataan Guide
Aside from guided tours on the natural habitat,
there are also cultural performances and crafts like the blowgun for kids to make here.

Educational and fun,
eco-tourism in these parts has become a favorite among kids and grown-ups alike.

Michella Jade Weng
This is an ancient fishing method,
used by the Amis people for hundreds of years.
Basically, we have bamboos in the trap, so fish can get in but not out.

Because it traps only grown fish,
baby fish are allowed grow, preventing overfishing.

And while you're here,
you can try some Indigenous-themed cuisine using locally-grown ingredients like the Mu Bie Zi.

The Fataan Wetlands were originally an Amis village,
and after being converted into an eco-tourism park while leaving indigenous cultural elements intact,
it's been attracting over 150 thousand visitors annually.
With eco-tourism and slow travel on the rise,
Fataan has become a popular destination for people in search of more than shopping and spas.

Michella Jade Weng, Formosa TV, Hualien, Taiwan.