Laonong River Rafting is going to kick off again on June 1, 2016! Once an important even in Liouguei, Kaohsiung that helped to attract visitors, the event was suspended for quite some years since Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan in 2009. To promote the event, a press conference was held at 10 am, May 28, 2016 by Maolin National Scenic Area Administration under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transport and Communications at the Tulongwan Leisure Field. Xinkai Tribe Reconstruction Association, Liouguei Community Development Association, and Julin Fruit Shop brought locally produced farm products to the conference site to sell. Students from Laonong Elementary School performed drumming and the others from Jianshan Elementary School dedicated indigenous dance, marking the start of Laonong River Rafting.
Laonong River was once Southeast Asia's most sought-after rafting place. However, because Typhoon Morakot devastated southern Taiwan, where it locates, Laonong River suffered severely. Rafting at Laonong River has since then been suspended. After years of repair and flood-prevention work, this year the river is finally ready to receive rafters. To ensure all visitors with a safe and quality recreational space, a new rafting route has been designed, and now it starts from a different point than before, at the Tulongwan Leisure Field. The route ends at Shibaluohan Mountain. It is 10 to 12 kilometers long and the highest and lowest points are roughly 65 meters apart. On May 26, 2016, the Administration’s director Chien Ching-fa led a few senior officers and representatives of the Kaohsiung Association of Travel Agents to take a 100-minute pilot ride, immersing in the beautiful views of green mountains such as Shibaluo Mountain, as well as waterfalls and rushing waters along the way. It was simply a feast for the eyes. The Administration has set up quite a few facilities at Tulongwan, such as a service station, showers, toilets and a parking lot, so that visitors can feel refreshed and comfortable after rafting. From now until September 30, 2016, rafting at Laonong River is NT$700 per person on weekdays and NT$800 on weekends and holidays. For registration info, please visit "Rafting Heroes" at http://www.heroes-rafting.com.tw/.
According to the Administration, this year local travel agencies are ready to offer rafting package tours combined with sightseeing and farming experiences. Story Tour has a unique one-day rafting tour at NT$888 per person on weekdays and NT$999 on weekends and holidays from now until June 30, 2016 (for at least 40 attendants; single travelers may register first and see if they can make a group with others). Plenty of guesthouses and mountain resorts give special discounts to rafters, too, hoping to attract more business. Overall, the people of Liouguei look forward to gaining overseas presence with this event. Liouguei's rafting awaits the world's exploration.
