Once voted as a destination of a lifetime by a foreign website, Gaomei Wetland's visitor center, experience hall, and the south-park-cum-transfer parking lot officially opens its doors to the public today (27th). "Since it is the destination of a lifetime today, why not leave right now to admire its beauty rather than putting it off!"

According to Mayor Shiow-yen Lu, Gaomei Wetland is a world-class scenic destination, therefore the city hall has invested NT$360 million to build the Gaomei Wetland Visitor Center, south and north parking lots, offering innovative and interactive services as well as gourmet delicacies to welcome visitors from across the globe to come to Gaomei Wetland!

With Taichung Shopping Festival underway, the Construction Bureau hosted the Voyage of Love – Cherish Gaomei inauguration press conference at the front lawn of the Gaomei Wetland Visitor Center today, where Mayor Lu signed the Love Boat prop to kick off the event. The aim of the press conference is to promote Gaomei Wetland's ecology and tourism, therefore a dazzling array of performances and market activities were planned to attract as many visitors as possible. Guests and city officials including City Councilors Tien-chung Yang, Pi-ling You, Ting-hsiu Chen, Construction Bureau Director-General Ta-tien Chen, Development Bureau Director-general Ssu-hsiang Kao, and Labor Affairs Bureau Director General Wei-chih Wu all turned out to support the function.

Mayor Lu commented that Gaomei Wetland has been voted by international media as the destination of a lifetime, and it is also a favorite world-class destination of Japanese tourists, therefore the city hall has perceived great importance in the wetland and strived to preserve its pristine conditions. From former Mayors Jason Hu and Chia-lung Lin to the incumbent Mayor, they have endeavored to develop Gaomei Wetland by constructing the visitor center, parking lots and parks, etc. Today, by announcing its official opening, the wetland not only demonstrates the people of Taichung's hospitality in welcoming global travelers to visit Gaomei Wetland but also goes to show that the local cuisine, cultural and creative products, and education ecology are worth revisiting.

After more than 2 years of construction, the Gaomei Wetland Visitor Center, south and north parking lots have finally been completed, and the city hall has awarded the management of the visitor center's cultural and creative affairs to the successful bidder Baomei Enterprise Co., Ltd. The visitor center is a 2-story building with spiral-shaped ramp design as if it is rising out of the ground like a gentle wave. The observation deck on the second floor is an ideal location to admire the sunset of Gaomei, the windmills or the evening stars. The outdoor plaza features fiddler crab and shell-inspired art installations and an ecological pond, allowing visitors to observe wetland ecology up close.

According to the Construction Bureau, in addition to travel information and guided tour, the Gaomei Wetland Visitor Center also has an ecological experience hall to provide visitors with comprehensive wetland and ecology-related knowledge. Internally, the ecological experience hall is divided into a panoramic cinema, interactive experience area, and ecological education center. Step inside the panoramic cinema, and you will be able to appreciate the awe-inspiring, immersive experience. The cinema displays the rich beauty of Gaomei Wetland in different seasons, as well as its changing appearance during the morning and at dusk. The images embody the Wetland' unique, ethereal landscape.

At the visitor center's interactive experience area, the Wetland Knowledge Wall by the entrance presents wetlands around the world and the flight path of migratory birds to the visitors. Next, they are introduced to the development history as well as the flora and fauna of Gaomei Wetland. In particular, the 3 interactive games entitled Wetland Plants, Dancing with Crabs and Spreading Your Wings and Fly proved to be most popular among children. The application of somatosensory devices helps to cement the image of wetland ecology in children's mind.

The visitors may also take photos at the Memories of Gaomei installation with their friends and loved ones. On the other hand, the ecological education center by the exit hosts various ecological lectures and activities from time to time to convey accurate wetland-related knowledge through diverse means.

The Construction Bureau reminds the public that the visitor center is equipped with south and north parking lot in order to accommodate people's parking needs, providing 54 bus parking spaces, 550 car parking spaces, 210 scooter parking spaces, and 118 bicycle parking spaces. Shuttle service is available between the Gaomei Wetland and the parking lots for the public's convenience.