By the Water’s Edge – A Green Travel Journey Through the Trees

Text & Photography / Kaohsiung City Government Information Bureau

The area along the Gaoping River is a microcosm of life in the Daxue region. The old iron bridge, tile kilns, and Cao Gong Canal form a cultural corridor that reminds us of our roots. This May, as summer begins, why not embark on a low-carbon green journey to slowly explore the water stories of Daxue?

Daxue’s oldest historical building
Following the bicycle route signs of the Old Iron Bridge Wetland Park, you’ll arrive near the Jiuqu Workstation of the Kaohsiung Agricultural Water Conservancy Association. A set of stairs leads down to this remarkably hidden historic site – it turns out to be Daxue’s oldest historical building.

The Cao Gong Canal was constructed under the direction of Cao Jin, the magistrate of Fengshan County during the Qing Dynasty. At the time, southern Taiwan was suffering from severe drought and poor harvests. Construction began in 1837 and was completed two years later. Two years after that, another canal was finished. The irrigation area stretched from Jiuqu Tang to Zuoying and Xiaogang, including the Lotus Pond in Zuoying and the water pumping station at Chengcing Lake, all drawing water from the Cao Gong Canal. This laid the foundation for the prosperity of Fengshan.

Follow the waterways and connect the historic dots
The Zhuliao Water Intake Station, located on Provincial Highway 29, has been standing for over a century since its construction in 1911. It was once the earliest public water pumping facility in the Kaohsiung area. Beyond its striking exterior in the style of Baroque architecture, the station houses invaluable cultural and historical assets. The power room retains four original power units and the design of manual switches, and even the maintenance crane beams on the roof are now a rare sight.

Pineapple Mountain lives up to its name
Daxue’s abundant water supply has fostered rich agriculture and driven industrial growth. With soil predominantly red-brown loam and the terrain transitioning from hills to plains, providing excellent drainage, the area is ideal for growing pineapples. As a result, the region was once nicknamed “Pineapple Mountain.” During the Japanese colonial era, a pineapple seedling cultivation facility was established, and by the 1930s, there were as many as 21 pineapple processing factories in Daxue. Taiwan’s title as the “Pineapple Can Kingdom” was truly well-deserved.