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Tourists welcome to enjoy 100km stretch of flowers
WHO'S COUNTING? :
An official said the colossal field of blooms could be a contender for a world record, stretching over thousands of hectares
By Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTER
Monday, Dec 31, 2007, Page 2
Starting on Friday, visitors to the East Rift Valley (花東縱谷) -- a narrow passage between the Central Mountain and Coastal Mountain on the East coast -- will have the opportunity to see 7,000 hectares of rapeseed fields in full bloom when traveling between Shoufong (壽豐), Hualien County, to Luye (鹿野), Taitung County.
The fields were grown at the behest of the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration and the Hualien and Taitung county governments.
A FEAST FOR THE EYES
In addition to the rapeseed flowers, cosmos and other varieties of flowers have been planted in various patterns.
Administration Director Chang Jenn-chyan (張振乾) said the rapeseed flowers were planted while the fields were fallow.
Many have already begun to bloom.
Chang said that the field of rapeseed flowers -- approximately 100km in length -- could be a contender for a Guinness World Record as the largest "sea of flowers."
FERTILIZER BONUS
Hualien County tourism bureau chief Cheng Hsin-hsing (鄭新興) said in a statement that farmers like to grow rapeseed because they can use the flowers as eco-friendly fertilizer.
Cheng said that using the flowers for fertilizer has become increasingly common in the East Rift Valley.
GOODBYE HOKKAIDO
"The visual effect created by rapeseed fields has made them a favorite with photographers," Cheng said.
"Now, people don't have to go to Hokkaido to appreciate the beauty of large flower fields," Cheng said.
A series of events to celebrate the flowers as they come into full bloom will continue through Feb. 7.
FINDING THE WAY
The administration has printed maps with locations of flower fields and events along sections of Provincial Highway No. 9 and Hualien County Road No. 193 -- the two main roads through the area.
Tourists can pick up the pamphlets at airports, railway stations and hotels.
For more details and suggestions on travel arrangements, visit the East Rift Valley National Scenic Administration Web site at www.erv-nsa.gov.
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