1.Opening hours of the promotion center: Saturday and Sunday (14:00–21:00)
2.If you wish to make a reservation to visit the center during closing hours, contact Director Cheng on 09-27019388.
3.Parking information: There are large parking lots and bus parking on both sides of the center, as well as public toilets.
To enjoy collecting rocks, one must also understand the rock appreciation culture. Let’s get to grips with the concept of culture first. Culture is the general term describing the way of life of people in a particular region. For instance, we use chopsticks to eat and are less talkative while eating, this is culture. Many people mix up knowledge with culture – this is incorrect. For example, the fact that foreigners know Chinese people eat with chopsticks is considered as a type of knowledge, but if the foreigners know how to eat with chopsticks while enjoying Chinese cuisine, they have adapted to and mastered part of the Chinese culinary culture.
Awareness is knowledge, while compliance and execution are considered as culture. Rock appreciation culture consists of certain essential elements that are accrued over time during rock appreciation. Picking up rocks, admiring rocks, naming them, putting them on stands, maintaining them, composing poems, and exhibitions are all an integral part of rock appreciation culture.
More and more people are enjoying and appreciating rocks. Although the enjoyment of rocks is closely associated with rock appreciation culture, many rock enthusiasts are not familiar with the term rock appreciation culture as it appears to be lofty. As a matter of fact, they merely don’t understand the concept and scope of rock appreciation culture; the process of enjoying and appreciating rocks is a part of rock appreciation culture, and they have already engaged in the promotion and advancement of rock appreciation culture without knowing it.
Why are more people interested in unusual rocks? Unusual rocks are non-renewable natural resources that are rare, unusual, aesthetic, and artistic; since they are considered as artworks, they also offer exceptional economic value, and therefore they can maintain or increase in value. Besides enjoyment, unusual rocks can also facilitate self-cultivation, dispel loneliness, decorate homes, environments, and appreciate as a type of investment. These are the reasons why more people are passionate about unusual rocks. An understanding of the rock appreciation culture is necessary to enjoy unusual rocks because it provides us with a sense of direction to continue developing and advancing rock appreciation culture.
Hualien is also known as the hometown of rocks. Two orogenies and crust compressions have resulted in Hualien’s majestic mountainscape and seascape. The boundless treasures of Mother Nature are embedded within mountains, oceans, valleys, and creeks, culminating in myriads of marvelous unusual rocks and gems that have in turn started the trend of enjoying and appreciating rocks.
Rock art is the most prominent local culture of Hualien, and you cannot claim you have visited Hualien without seeing rhodonite, unusual rocks, Taiwan jade, and translucent rock paintings. The rock art industry not only continues and propagates the county’s unique culture but also serves to elevate the county’s tourism revenue. The association will organize an exhibition of our members’ exquisite collections in January 2022 at Pier No. 3 waterfront park and Pier No. 2 of the Port of Hualien. The exhibition will be divided into different sections according to the respective themes of the rock art and visual art concepts, showcasing mostly local rock specimens. The exhibitions include elegant rocks, artistic rocks, jade, carvings, ornaments, stone paintings, and translucent rock paintings, embodying artistic cultivation and practical living aesthetics to enhance people’s quality of life, cultural cultivation, and spiritual cultivation.
The exhibition area is divided into various sections under different themes. The exhibits are complemented by decorations and furniture arrangements to accentuate living aesthetics. The traditional exhibition tables, artistic display counters, and decorative display cabinets are combined with lighting to present a refreshing, comfortable, environment for the visitors, making rock art more accessible and approachable.
The association’s mission in establishing a local rock art promotion center:
Hualien is also known as the hometown of rocks. Two orogenies and crust compressions have resulted in Hualien’s majestic mountainscape and seascape. The boundless treasures of Mother Nature are embedded within mountains, oceans, valleys, and creeks, culminating in myriads of marvelous unusual rocks and gems that have in turn started the trend of enjoying and appreciating rocks. Rock art is the most prominent local culture of Hualien.
Unusual rocks are non-renewable natural resources that are rare, unusual, aesthetic, and artistic; since they are considered as artworks, they also offer exceptional economic value, and therefore they can maintain or increase in value. Besides enjoyment, unusual rocks can also facilitate self-cultivation, dispel loneliness, decorate homes, environments, and appreciate as a type of investment. These are the reasons why more people are passionate about unusual rocks.
To let the public appreciate the beauty of Taiwan’s rock art, the art exhibition is organized to foster rock art cultural exchanges in Hualien and generate developments in tourism resources.
Consequently, the association created a permanent venue in Pier No. 3 to promote rock art in Hualien. The venue is open to the public free of charge during the weekends to allow more rock enthusiasts to enjoy rocks at more affordable prices. Furthermore, it also serves as a venue for rock collectors to share and exchange their private collections. Docents are available on-site to introduce Hualien’s mineral and rock appreciation culture, as well as the associated commercial value.
The rock art industry not only continues and propagates the county’s unique culture but also serves to elevate the county’s tourism revenue. Hualien evokes images of picturesque landscape and pristine natural surroundings, hence it is hoped that the splendid rocks encapsulating local culture and art will be able to market Hualien through rock appreciation culture.
Gallery Venus, 1-1 Warehouse Museum, Port of Hualien