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

Nanto: The Place That Sees No Sea
by Frank Lin, Sonia Lin, and Roger Jian

O   R   I   G   I   N   A   L

Nanto is one of Taiwan's counties. It's the center of Taiwan and the only county which doesn't have a coast. In other word, if you want to see a seashore, go some where else! The weather in Nanto is very stable and comfortable, because of the Central Mountains. Its beautiful landscape is well known by almost every Taiwanese, so we often call Nanto the "honeymoon" county.
When talking of Nanto, it's hard not to mention its forest. It has much hi-lumber quality that is suitable for making furniture. Beside that, when you enjoy walking along mountain paths you can discover a kind of peace which is hard to find in noisy Taipei. Nanto is famous for its clear and unpolluted water, which gives its rice a great quality. And many famous rice products are from this place.
Another feature of Nanto is its traffic. Although Nanto is famous for its mountains, you can still visit there conveniently, because there are many roads in Nanto. By the way, the transportation hub of Nanto is Sun-Moon Lake. Almost every visitor who comes to Nanto will arrive there.
In Nanto, there are a lot of places to have fun. This essay introduces two: Ali San and Lushan spa.

Ali San

People climb Ali San for two reasons: to enjoy the splendid trees and see the mountain sunrise. Reportedly, many trees on Ali San are over two hundred years old. And the government protects all of them. Because you can't drive to the Ali San, you must either hike or take a mini train. It may take one or two hours to arrive at the top of Ali San, but you can enjoy the scenery at a very slow pace. For urban people, it's a good way to relax. So when you come to Ali San, please take the mini train to see the giant trees.

Lushan Spa

Lushan Spa, which used to be named Fuji spa, has a long history. According to legend, a deer was healed in this spa and the natives were so astonished that they all tried to imitate the deer by taking a bath in this spa. The effect was great. The spa is located at a mountain gap, and its water is not turbid, but very clear. Some people also use it to heal stomachaches, rheumatism, and diabetes. Besides that, some people sell the water to drink.
Both Ali San and Lushan spa are very good for all sorts of travelers. There are less and less places like Nanto in Taiwan. The hoardes of people, illegal cutting of trees, and hunting have endangered much wildlife and made many places in Taiwan less and less lovely. The most unbearable thing is the increasing water pollution. So we must protect environment. When you come to Nanto country, please don't throw away garbage or destroy the natural scenery.

Q   U   E   S   T   I   O   N   S    T   O    E   X   P   L   O   R   E

1. How many people live in Nanto county? What is the largest city there? 2. Are there any famous Taiwanese from Nanto county? 3. Are there any idigenious people living in Nanto county? 4. To make this more concrete, can you mention any rare trees found in Nantou county? 5. What are some famous rice products from Nantou? (One or two examples might be good). 6. Are there references you used to obtain this information? (If so, cite them). 7. Are there any grammar or vocabulary mistakes here worth correcting?

R   E   V   I   S   I   O   N

Nanto is one of Taiwan's twelve counties. It's in central Taiwan and the only county without a seacoast. The weather in Nanto is usually comfortable, thanks to the Central Mountains. The average January temperature is about 16 and in July this rises to 24. Nanto's beautiful landscapes are well-known by most Taiwanese, and for this reason it is often called the "honeymoon county". Nanto is noted for its forests, which contain many rare trees. Besides, when you enjoy walking along mountain paths you can discover a sense of peace which is hard to find in Taiwan's cities. Nanto is famous for its relatively unpolluted water, which gives its rice a great quality. And many famous rice products are from here. Although Nanto is very mountainous, you can still visit it easily from Taipei or Gaohshiung by car, because there are many roads in Nanto. The transportation hub of Nanto is Sun-Moon Lake. Almost every visitor coming to Nanto passes by there. Nanto offers many places to have fun. This essay introduces two: Ali San and Lushan spa. Ali San People usually climb Ali San to enjoy the splendid trees and mountain sunrise. Many trees on Ali San are over hundreds of years old and are government-protected. Though you can't drive to the mountain top, you can hike or take a special train. It may take one or two hours to reach the summit by train, but you can enjoy the scenery at leisure on foot. Lushan Spa Lushan Spa, which was once named Fuji spa, has a long history. According to legend, a deer was healed in this spa and the natives were so astonished that they started bathing here. The spa is located at a mountain gap, and its water is very clear. Reputed to have good medical effects, people also use this spa to heal stomachaches, rheumatism, and diabetes. Others sell the water to drink. Both Ali San and Lushan spa attract all sorts of travelers. There are less and less places like Ali San and Lushan spa in on the island of Formosa today. Taiwan's rising population density, rampant illegal tree cutting and hunting have endangered much wildlife. Water pollution is also a serious problem. As a result, many places in Taiwan are becoming increasing ugly. So we must protect the environment. When you come to Nanto country, please don't throw away any garbage or destroy the natural scenery.

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Updated 15 March 2002