PINGTUNG (TVBS News) — In a bid to restore the pristine image of one of Taiwan's most famous coastal destinations, Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園), a protected scenic area at the southern tip of Taiwan, has implemented a visual makeover of Nanwan Bay (南灣). Park officials on Thursday (April 10) unveiled a comprehensive aesthetic upgrade that replaces the chaotic mishmash of colorful beach umbrellas with standardized off-white sunshades, addressing years of complaints about the cluttered appearance created by competing water sports businesses.
Park administrators had long battled the visual chaos that detracted from the natural beauty of the popular beach destination, with previous regulatory attempts yielding limited success. Following months of negotiations with local business owners, officials finalized the umbrella standardization program in early 2025. The comprehensive beautification effort extends beyond just sunshades, incorporating elegant white pavilion structures that now house the water sports equipment that previously cluttered the shoreline.
The aesthetic improvements are already garnering positive reactions, according to reporting by udn.com (聯合新聞網), a major Taiwanese news portal. A Taipei resident identified only by his surname Liu told reporters that the transformed beach environment feels noticeably more serene and uncluttered. Local business owner Pan Feng-tien (潘豐田) emphasized the urgent need for such enhancements, revealing that tourism has plummeted, with foreign visitor numbers down by a staggering 60 percent. Pan expressed optimism that the visual upgrades might help revitalize the struggling destination.
The initiative represents just the first phase of a broader beautification strategy, according to Chen Chun-shan (陳俊山), deputy director of the national park. Chen revealed that similar visual standardization will soon be implemented at other popular beaches in the park, including Baisha and Chuanfanshi. The park administration has partnered with the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (國立高雄餐旅大學), a specialized academic institution, to redesign and upgrade visitor amenities. To showcase the revitalized beach, officials will launch a six-week Nanwan Beach Carnival starting April 19, offering sporting competitions, environmental education programs, and various recreational activities.
