北投文化英文導覽培訓

關渡平原穿越之旅

今天是社團的關渡平原穿越之旅活動，預計出發時間是下午兩點，社團夥伴們在出發時間前陸陸續續到達集合地－捷運忠義站。前一天的陰雨，還讓我們著實擔心了一下，因為今日活動預定要穿越關渡平原，其中還會沿著水稻田圳道步行。在今日活動主辦人Yvonne與引導人Alfonso的帶領下，我們一行人開始奇幻的關渡平原穿越之旅。

由捷運忠義站2號出口走過天橋，迎面而來的是成排的木棉花，這裡的木棉花花色較淡，不似一般市區內木花棉花花色較深，據說是受土壤酸鹼值影響，想到植物與土壤彼此連結的關係，覺得很奇妙。走出捷運站，旁邊的農家圍牆上種著火龍果，可惜不是結果季節，不然應該相當繽紛漂亮。接著我們開始正式進入關渡平原稻田區，我們一夥人駐足於公正福德宮前的廣場，仔細聆聽Alfonso為我們說明台灣民間土地公廟的習俗及特色。

貴子坑溪、水磨坑溪及磺港溪為關渡平原三大灌溉渠道，其中有兩條重要河川－貴子坑溪及水磨坑溪，目前看到的河道已經經過整治，是因為北投地區自日據時期即為重要的陶瓷業集中地，但於民國六十六年薇菈颱風造成嚴重的土石流，於是禁止瓷土開挖，也結束了北投的陶瓷歲月，接著政府決心進行整治工程。整治工程包括全面禁止採礦，各種已開挖的山坡地進行坡面重建及坡面種植植物，還有貴子坑溪及水磨坑溪河床水流控制工程，在這裡我們可以清楚的看到整治工程截彎取直的河道。

走入水稻田區，我們看到秧苗大約兩周左右大小，水稻田中正在進行放水的作業。一望無際綠油油的稻田，搭配著遠方的大屯山、七星山，看著真是令人心曠神怡。在一個左轉後，我們開始沿著圳道邊步行，圳道邊大約寬50公分，一邊是稻田、一邊是水圳道，稻田中不時飛來幾隻白鷺鷥，而水圳道裡則有小魚戲游，我們大夥一面留意著腳步，一面享受難得的田野風光，途中大家忽然哼唱起英語老歌－Take Me Home Country Road，真是首應景的歌!

走出田間銜接至一水泥步道，出口及在大業路十信高中對面，因為還有一些時間，大家就再續行田心仔自行車道與櫻花步道，這條步道整理完善，但人卻不多，途中還看到許多可愛的小花及黑冠麻鷺。最後回到北投捷運站向Yvonne領取今天的小獎品－蔥油餅，在大家一面吃蔥油餅一面回味今天的活動內容中，結束充實而快樂的關渡平原穿越之旅。

關渡平原可說是台北地區所存在的「最後一塊」大片水稻田，耕作面積約兩百多公頃，僅存不到十名農人耕作。關渡平原其實是經歷1694年4月(清朝康熙33年)的一場地震，陷落變成了台北大湖的湖床。不斷的土地開發其實已令台北盆地綠地盡失，關渡平原成為台北僅存的最後完整大片綠地。衷心的期盼關渡平原能繼續扮演台北綠心臟的角色，未來還有機會和今天一樣，眺望綠色稻田與遠山相應的綺麗風光。

Crossing the Guandu Plain

We(ETGBC)held an activity of crossing Guandu Plain (關渡平原) on March-27-2017.  Our members came to the meeting place – MRT Zhongyi (忠義) station one after  another before the reunion time 2:00 pm.  Because the event was scheduled to cross the Guandu Plain, including walking along the water channel, we really worried about the situation of the roads.  Fortunately, the roads were dry enough.  Under the leading of event organizers Yvonne and guider Alfonso, we started a fantastic journey of crossing Guandu Plain.

Exiting through the bridge of MRT Zhongyi station, oncoming was a row of kapok.  Here the flower color of kapok was lighter, not like those in the central city. It was said that the color was affected by the acid value of the soil.  It was really interesting to think about the natural affection between the soil and the flowers.  Out of the MRT station, we saw a lot of pitayas (火龍果) on the walls of the farm. They should be beautiful and colorful if on the season.  Then, we began to enter the paddy fields of the Guandu Plain.  We stopped at a square to listen carefully to Alfonso’s explanation on the customs and characteristics of the Village Deity (土地公) in Taiwan.

There are two important rivers in Guandu Plain - Guizikeng Creek (貴子坑溪) and Shuimokeng Creek (水磨坑溪).  During the period of Japanese occupation, the ceramic industry in Beitou was flourishing.  In 1977, a typhoon destroyed Beitou area seriously and brought debris flow into the town.  Accordingly, the government was determined to carry out remediation projects. It included the banning on clay-mining, slope reconstructing and planting, as well as Guizikeng Creek and Shuimokeng Creek water flow control construction.  We can see clearly nowadays the straightened water channel of these rivers.

Walking into the paddy field, we saw the seedlings and the fields were executed the watering operation.  It was really spectacular to look at the endless green fields matching the distant high mountains.  After a left turn, we began to walk along the edge of the water channel.  The edge of the water channel was about 50cm wide.   One side was the green fields where some egrets stopped and the other side was the water flow where fishes played.  An old song jumped into our mind - Take Me Home Country Road – super suitable for this moment!

               Out of the field, the roads were merged into a single trail.  The ending of the trail is at the opposite side of the ShiXin high school (十信高中).  Because there was still some time, we continued to walk to the Tian Xin Tsai trail (田心仔) and the cherry tree trail.  These two trails were neat and quiet.  On the way we saw a lot of lovely flowers and Malaysian Night Heron (黑冠麻鷺).  Finally we arrived at the Beitou MRT station and received small prizes - scallion pancake (蔥油餅) from Yvonne.  By eating and reviewing the activity, we ended the happy and abundant activity of crossing Guandu Plain.

We may say Guandu plain is the last large piece of green field of Taipei area.  Sincerely hope that Guandu Plain can continue to play the important role – the lung of Taipei. Thus, we will see again and again the same scene we saw today.