Shezi Island looks set to become urban paradise after 50 years of building prohibition

The majority of people have either forgotten Shezi Island or mistakenly believe it to be grossly undeveloped with lots of factories and ramshackle illegal buildings. Despite the relatively poor living conditions, for locals, this is a little bit of paradise where they can shelter from the wind and rain. To them, it is the most beautiful place in the world.

In addition to old family homes left by ancestors, Shezi Island maintains many customs and cultural industries that have been pass down for nearly a hundred years. These include things like the dragon boat culture and the Earth God Night Procession, which connect the hearts and minds of local residents.

Residents of Shezi Island continually emphasize that they aren’t against development but simply worried that the expropriation of land could cause the displacement of many people and the closure of factories, impacting hundreds of family livelihoods. There is also concern about the possible adverse impact on the local ecology and cultural heritage.

以下為中文對照

社子島禁建50年　成為都市桃花源

多數民眾可能已經遺忘了社子島，或是認為它未開發，有著一間間的工廠和雜亂無序的違章建築。雖然環境不佳，但對於當地居民來說，這邊是能夠遮風避雨的桃花源，也是他們心中最美的地方。

除了有老祖先留下來的古厝外，社子島內保有許多傳承近百年的風俗民情及文化產業，包含聚落間的扒龍船文化與夜弄土地公等活動，聯繫著居民間的情感。

社子島居民們強調，他們不是拒絕開發，而是擔心區段徵收會使得大部分人流離失所，工廠倒閉，數以百計的家庭生計受到影響，原有的生態和文化古蹟也將受到破壞。

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