Shi Quan-min, a guard at the Yehliu GeoPark in New Taipei City, has been given a most unusual task: protecting the park’s most famous structure, the Queen's Head rock formation, from destruction by tourists.
The rock formation has succumbed to serious erosion over the years, due to its constant exposure to the elements near the shoreline. To preserve the rock for as long as possible, the park has instituted strict rules prohibiting visitors from touching or climbing the iconic rock.
It has also hired a security company to enforce these rules and maintain round-the-clock watch over it. This is where Shi Quan-min enters the picture. Regardless of the weather or the temperature, the 59-year-old Shi stands at the side of the Queen's Head from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
His most important duty is to discourage curious visitors from touching the Queen's Head and to help maintain a semblance of order among the people who line up to have their picture taken next to the rock. This task, according to Shi, is not only the most difficult part of his job, but also the most dangerous: inevitably there are tourists with short tempers who become impatient at having to stand in a long queue.
Shi recalls a time when one angry tourist threatened him with a rock in hand, and he had to do everything possible to get the situation under control, hoping the visitor would not throw the rock and hurt someone or damage the precious Queen’s Head.
Over 4,000 tourists visit the Yehliu GeoPark each day, and just about everyone wants to have their picture taken next to the Queen's Head as a memento of their visit. Shi sometimes ends up serving as photographer, taking pictures of families or couples next to the rock formation.
His interaction with guests from around the world has enabled Shi to learn a few phrases in Cantonese, English, Japanese and Korean. He has become a decent photographer in the process as well.
(This article originally appeared in The Liberty Times Feb. 14.)