Neiwei Natural Misty Forest by Xinyi Planning and Design

Neiwei Natural Misty Forest – A Symphony of Nature and Mist

Nestled in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Neiwei Natural Misty Forest is an innovative ecological transformation that revitalizes an enclosed woodland near the Neiweipi Cultural Park, adjacent to the Neiweipi river. Spanning 7,600 square meters with a newly integrated 380-meter pathway, this project reimagines the relationship between urban spaces and nature, unveiling a dynamic misty landscape that enhances the environmental experience while improving microclimatic conditions.

Design Concept – Inspired by the Misty Forest of Shoushan National Nature Park

The project draws inspiration from the Misty Forest of Shoushan National Nature Park, a natural sanctuary where fog interplays with dense greenery to create a serene, ever-changing landscape. By introducing a mist system and carefully curated plantings, the design transforms this urban woodland into a multi-sensory ecological retreat. Mist acts as a bridge between the city and nature, visually softening the landscape while reducing ambient temperatures and increasing humidity—offering a cooling oasis amid Kaohsiung’s subtropical heat.

The Neiwei Natural Misty Forest is divided into two thematic zones:

• Southern Zone – Misty Forest Wildflower Garden by the Neiweipi River

This area invites urban explorers to transition seamlessly from city life into a layered natural landscape along the Neiweipi river. A one meter-wide curved PC pathway (with a textured gravel finish) and gravel trails meander through a three-tiered planting design:

• Wild Natural Planting – The outermost layer features resilient grasses and shrubs such as Purple Fountain Grass, Green Fountain Grass, Butterfly Bush, and Jamaica False-valerian, creating an untamed, welcoming edge.

• Forest Canopy Planting – Marabutan trees define the transitioning layer, underplanted with shade-loving ferns including Giant Sword Fern, Boston Sword Fern, Bird’s-nest Fern, and accentuated with focal species like Vessel Fern and Giant Elephant’s Ear, evoking a lush forest atmosphere.

• Riverside Meadow Planting – The innermost zone along the Neiweipi river features naturalized wild grasses, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the dynamic water-edge ecosystem via curved gravel pathways edged with steel borders.

• Northern Zone – Neiwei Misty Forest Grove

A denser woodland experience defines the northern zone, where Marabutan and Camphor Trees create a shaded, mysterious forest ambiance. Underneath, shade-tolerant plants like Giant Sword Fern, Boston Swordfern, and Bird’s-nest fern dominate the ground cover, complemented by diverse plants like Tuberous Sword Fern, Fishtail Basket Fern, and Broadleaf Liriope, with focal plants like Vessel Fern and Giant Elephant’s Ear to craft a mysterious forest space experience. Visitors can wander freely on a 50 cm-wide curved PC path (with a textured gravel finish), carefully designed to preserve tree root systems while enhancing the sense of discovery.

Mist as a Living Artform – A Dynamic Interaction Between Nature and Climate

Inspired by the ephemeral nature of mist in Shoushan National Park, this project harnesses mist as a poetic and functional element. A total of 907 fine-mist nozzles (0.2mm aperture) are strategically placed across both zones (570 in the south, 337 in the north), leveraging the principles of evaporative cooling to reduce temperatures and increase humidity. The mist reacts dynamically to wind and light, appearing and disappearing like drifting clouds, forming different layers of green and atmospheric depth—an immersive living artwork of nature.

To ensure sustainability, five infrared-controlled mist sensors regulate mist production, minimizing water use while maintaining a responsive ecological balance. The project also enhances the firefly habitat restoration along the Neiweipi water channel, further reinforcing the site’s connection to its natural aquatic elements.

A Transformative Urban-Nature Interface

The Neiwei Natural Misty Forest is more than a landscape intervention—it is a pioneering fusion of design, ecology, and sensory experience, redefining how urban environments can reconnect with nature. By seamlessly integrating mist, forest, and river, the project creates a cooling sanctuary that is both a functional climate adaptation strategy and a captivating ecological art installation—inviting visitors to step into a dreamlike misty forest in the heart of Kaohsiung.

• Project typology:

park

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:

Xinyi Planning and Design Co., Ltd.

• Other credits:

An expansive natural forest park characterized by cool mist