Expanding living space
Camping’s greatest charm lies in allowing people to expand their living space. Taiwan isn’t a large nation, but those who camp as they explore the mountains certainly don’t feel that Taiwan is small. Taiwan has high mountains, lakes, rich wildlife and scenery, and convenient transportation. All these conditions make it well suited to camping. There are many spots to camp in scenic areas. Nantou County, the island’s most mountainous, also has the highest number of campgrounds.
According to the Camping Association of the ROC, Taiwan’s number of frequent campers has already surpassed 2 million, making camping one of the nation’s most important leisure activities. “Over the past three years, the number of people camping has grown by 60–70%,” says Lin Chin-chang, the association’s former president. Meanwhile, sales of camping equipment grew 50% from 2013 to 2014.
Apart from the camping equipment industry, which was already well established, in recent years the auto industry has introduced one vehicle after another suited to camping. The makers of these campers, after years of lackluster sales, have seen their profits soar. And tour operators, seeing the potential in camp touring, have begun to organize camping trips. In particular, they offer itineraries for those new to camping.
Customization of vehicles for camping has likewise increased. “And in recent years camping fees have reflected the overall trend,” Lin says. Fees for vehicle spaces in campgrounds have continually risen. The average price was NT$700 in 2014 but is expected to jump to NT$800 in 2015. The best campsites are also harder to get into these days, with most booked far into the future.
The Taipei City Government works with the Camping Association to operate a campground by the Huajiang Bridge, which reopened in September after refurbishments. No campground in Taiwan is located in a more bustling area. It provides access to the bike paths in Huajiang Riverside Park, as well as fields and courts for all manner of sports. It is aimed at the family camping market, “especially newbies,” says Lin.
The campground was well planned. Apart from an area for traditional tent camping, there is an area for camping vehicles with water and electric hookups. It fully meets the standards of the International Federation of Camping and Caravanning (FICC). Especially notable is that the Camping Association has worked with businesses to offer campers for rent. From a distance, the campground resembles a gypsy camp at the edge of a European city.
The campers it has on offer are popular in Europe and America. They are luxuriously appointed inside with a spacious living area, a soft sprung double mattress, flat-screen televisions, and air-conditioning. Some of the vehicles come equipped with comfortably sized bathrooms and even Jacuzzis, so that this “urban gypsy lifestyle” is a cushy one, something akin to staying in luxury hotel.
“Apart from the camping public, on weekdays we open the campers as places to sleep, giving the public the opportunity to experience what it’s like to spend the night in a camper,” says Lin. “The package also includes a breakfast. Even people on business trips have chosen to spend the night here.”
In October the campground was an important site for the FICC’s 17th Annual Asia–Pacific Rally. It drew participants from 12 nations, including Portugal, Britain, Finland, Poland, Turkey, Sweden, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Macao, Malaysia and Singapore, who created a festive air.
In 1991, the Camping Association of the ROC was hosting the FICC International Camping Rally, so it worked with the government to build the Longmen Riverside Camping Resort at Fulong on the east coast of Taipei County (now New Taipei City), which can accommodate 1000. The center was outfitted to meet international standards. It’s Taiwan’s best campground and it has also pushed domestic camping activities to move in a more family-friendly direction. “We hope that the Huajiang Bridge Campground, on which we cooperated with Taipei City, will become a model for the future, just like Longmen,” says Lin.
On weekends and holidays, call some friends together to go camping. Cook, eat and enjoy the beauty of the mountains together.