Shihmen Reservoir in Taoyuan

　　Shihmen Reservoir boasts numerous parks shaded by green trees, walking trails, dams, and lake cruises, surrounded by exceptionally beautiful scenery unmatched elsewhere. It serves multiple purposes including power generation, irrigation, flood control, water supply, and tourism. The top of the dam serves as the reservoir’s sightseeing center, offering panoramic views of the vast lake surface, the terraces of the Dahan River, and the rolling Taoyuan Plateau. Visitors can take a boat from the dock below the parking lot to cruise the lake, experiencing the thrill of riding the waves or the romantic calm of drifting with the water.

　　Shihmen Reservoir is situated between Daxi Town, Longtan Township, Fuxing Township in Taoyuan County, and Guanxi Town in Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It is Taiwan’s first multi-purpose reservoir and one of its most important. Its water source comes from the middle reaches of the Dahan River. Construction began in July 1956, took eight years, and was completed in June 1964. Over seven thousand workers were involved, with construction costs reaching approximately NT$3.2 billion.

　　Managed and operated by the Shihmen Reservoir Management Center under the Water Resources Bureau, Northern Region, Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the dam has a crest elevation of 252.1 meters, a maximum height of 133.1 meters, and a crest length of 360 meters. Its planned annual water usage is 815,205,600 cubic meters. In addition to conventional benefits such as irrigation, power generation, water supply, and flood control, the reservoir also offers significant tourism value, attracting large numbers of visitors from around the world every year. It is one of the premier scenic destinations in Taoyuan County. Surrounded by lakes and mountains, visitors standing at the dam crest area can take in the expansive lake surface, terraces along the Dahan River, and the rolling landscapes of the Taoyuan Plateau. During heavy rains, when the dam releases water, many tourists gather even in the rain to witness the spectacular sight.