Chiayi Park

Chiayi Park

Chiayi Park (Zhongshan Park) is located on the eastern side of Chiayi City. Established in the second year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty (1910), the park features lush woodlands and scattered pavilions. One of the "New Eight Scenic Spots of Chiayi," known as "Park After the Rain," depicts the evergreen scenery of willows and flowers intertwined with gurgling streams.

The park houses an old locomotive from the Alishan Forest Railway, which is classified as a "national treasure," and preserves a stone tablet inscribed with the "Fu Kang An Ancestral Shrine" in the handwriting of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.

A small path at the back right of the park leads to the Confucius Temple. This temple was first built in the 45th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1706). The temple features an elegant design rich in traditional elements. The "Reconstruction of the Confucian Temple Stele," located beside the Dacheng Hall, is an ancient stele dating back to the 20th year of the Jiaqing era (1815).

The botanical garden is located in the northeast corner of the park. Due to professional cultivation, most of the trees are tall and upright, giving the entire area a somewhat serene and secluded atmosphere reminiscent of a forest plantation.

The Chiayi Historical Materials Museum, situated on the eastern side of the park, is built in the style of a traditional Japanese shrine and incorporates the beauty of Tang Dynasty Chinese architectural craftsmanship. The museum uses a combination of old and new photographs to systematically introduce the history, culture, and development of Chiayi, offering insight into early Taiwanese folk life.

The Sun-Shooting Tower stands 62 meters tall, with its sloping roof adorned with a giant Bauhinia flower. Its cylindrical shape is inspired by the sacred tree of Alishan, crafted with brown aluminum strips symbolizing the tree’s bark. The hollow "sky window" design is decorated with bronze paper-cut carvings and themed around the indigenous "Sun-Shooting Myth." It is an architectural design of both artistic and historical significance, strikingly majestic and has become a new landmark of Chiayi City. As it was built on the original site of the Martyrs' Shrine, the first floor still enshrines tablets of soldiers. The lobby features a glass elevator that goes directly to the observation deck at the top, offering a panoramic view of Chiayi City and the distant mountains — an excellent vantage point, currently open only on holidays.

Sun-Shooting Tower

Address: No. 46, Park Road, Chiayi City (within Chiayi Park)

Phone: (05) 255-4321

Opening Hours: Sunday 09:00–12:00

Chiayi City Historical Materials Museum

Address: No. 42, Park Road, Chiayi City (Government Service Center)

Phone: (05) 225-4328

Opening Hours: 09:00–17:00

Closed: Mondays

Transportation Guide: Take city bus No. 16 or 26 (Chiayi County-operated) from in front of Chiayi Railway Station and get off at Chiayi Park Station.