Practical English Writing: An EFL Composition Course Assignment #4: Writing about a Place [SC]

Ilan County, Taiwan
by Lucy Chen, Annie Chien, and Tina Lin

- O R I G I N A L -

Ilan County is located in northwestern Taiwan and it faces the western Pacific Ocean. It borders Taipei County to the northwest and Taoyuan and Hsin-chu to the west and Taichung and Hualien counties to the south. Ilan county is the shape of a roughly triangle whose base is deep in the mountains of She-pa national Park. It has an area of 214.32 square kilometers, which is the 10th largest county in Taiwan. Its population is about 465,120.
Ilan county's natural scenery includes high mountains, inspiring coastlines, dense forests, geothermal sources, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and rare cold springs. The most famous tourist spots in Ilan are the Tungshan River scenic Area, Luotung Athletic Park, and Suao Cold Spring.
The Tunshan River has five different sections which are dedicated to wildlife preservation, timber forests, family recreation, fresh water recreation and coastal recreation. Now, the Tungshan River Scenic Area has also become popular for dragon boating.
The Luotung Athletic Park, located northwest of Loutung City, occupies about 47 hectares of land. The government built a park in 1995 for a social competition. Its designer is the same company which designed the Tungshan River Scenic Area. Its athletic equipment and facilities are laid out on an expansive open field, surrounded by a man-made lake and several small hills, so it is a place suitable for families to have picnics and do exercises.
The Suao Cold Spring is the only cold spring in Taiwan. It is considered a natural wonder and was discovered by the Japanese in 1928. It is known world-round for the purity of its water, which is constantly kept at 21 degrees Celsius. Suitable for bathing and drinking, many people with skin ailments come here to take a bath.
Although few people in Ilan County are very wealthy and the transportation is not convenient, it is still beautiful. Most people there are diligent and its countryside is much beloved. These are all reasons that attract many tourists to Ilan.

Reference: http://www.ilgh.gov.tw

- Q U E S T I O N S -

1. What are the names of the 3 - 4 largest cities in Ilan county and their approximate sizes?
2. In terms of population, how does Ilan county rank amoung Taiwan's county's?
3. Where is the Tungshan River Scenic Area located? How big is is it?
4. How far is the Luotung Athletic Park from Loutung City?
5. How far is the Suao Cold Spring from Suao City? Is it in the city or a few kilometers away from it?
6. How long does it take to reach central Ilan from Taipei by car or train?
7. Did you notice any English mistakes worth correcting?

- R E V I S I O N -

Ilan is a county in northwestern Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean. With a total area of 214.32 square kilometers, it resembles a triangle whose base is deep in Taiwan's central mountains. Ranking as the 10th most populated county in Taiwan, its population in 2000 stood at just under 470,000. Its main cities include Ilan (pop. 92,542), Luotung (pop. 67,569), Tungshan (pop. 51,772) and Suao (pop. 48,834).
Ilan is know for its rich natural scenery. It has majestic mountains, inspiring coastlines, dense forests, and geo-thermal springs. The most famous tourist spots in Ilan County are the Tungshan River Scenic Area, Luotung Athletic Park, and Suao Cold Spring.
The Tunshan River Scenic Area, located in the central-eastern part of the county, includes five tracts of land dedicated to wildlife preservation, forestry, family relaxation, fresh water recreation, and coastal enjoyment. Its freshwater area has become popular for dragon boat racing and also features a Japanese garden.
Luotung Athletic Park, located in the central-eastern the county and two kilometers east from Loutung Train Station, is 47 hectare sports facility surrounded by several artificial lakes and hills. Many families picnic and exercise there.
Some 47 kilometers from Suao city in central-eastern Ilan is a natural cold spring. The Suao Cold Spring is, in fact, the only cold spring in Asia. Its 21^o C waters are renown their purity. Suitable for bathing and drinking, many people with skin ailments bathe here.
Although most people in Ilan County are relatively poor by Taiwanese standards and it takes over three hours to reach central Ilan from Taipei by car, this country attracts many visitors. Those who are tired of life in Taipei's metropolitan areas often head for Ilan.

References:

Author Unknown. Cold Spa of Suao. Available online: http://media.ilc.edu.tw/yilan/etb02.htm
Author Unknown. Eye on Ilan. Available online: http://www.cyberstage.com.tw/taiwan_mape/Ilan/ilan_at.htm
China Trust Hotel. Sightseeing. Available online: http://www.chinatrust-hotel.com/english/ehlsign.htm
Cox, Steven. (June 1995) Saving the Tungshan River. Available online: http://www.sinica.edu.tw/tit/scenery/0695_TungshanRiver.html