Taiwan's Stunning Fish Market Makeover: A Lush Landscape's Demise Sparks Debate

A revamped fish market in Kaohsiung sees its award-winning indigenous plant landscape replaced, raising questions of public spending and design integrity.

The transformation of the Gushan Fish Market, now rebranded as "Shinbinting Ocean Kitchen" under the management of Han-Lai Property, has sparked controversy in Taiwan. The most significant point of contention surrounds the removal of the market's outdoor garden, which was originally landscaped with over NT$1.4 million worth of native Taiwanese plants.

The removal of these plants, which were specifically chosen for their resilience to the harsh coastal environment, and their replacement with palm trees and cacti has drawn criticism. Local officials have voiced concerns about the perceived waste of public funds, given that the original landscape was in place for only two and a half years.

Wu Shuyuan, the landscape architect who designed the original Gushan Fish Market's surroundings, expressed disappointment. He stated that the changes demonstrated a lack of respect for the original design. He suggested that the city government should enforce the restoration of the original landscape when the lease expires.

The original landscape design for the outdoor plaza of the Gushan Fish Market was conceived as a "floating island by the harbor." It incorporated native plants like Taiwan Zelkova, *Leea*, *Melia azedarach*, *Pittosporum tobira*, *Machilus zuihoensis*, *Artemisia capillaris*, and *Imperata cylindrica* to withstand the sea breeze and high temperatures. This design aimed to extend the feeling of the ocean waves into the land. However, the new management, Han-Lai Property, decided that the new outdoor landscape would better match the interior decor, attract more tourists and meet commercial needs, leading to the costly redesign.