Check out this new attraction: Taichung’s Fazih Creek Welcome Waterfront Promenade opens in March

The Fazih Creek Welcome Waterfront Promenade is expected to become a new tourism and leisure landmark in Taichung City. (Photo courtesy of Lu Jinzu)

Fazih Creek is an important urban gateway for Taichung City. In the past, due to its management being under central government jurisdiction, comprehensive greening and beautification were not carried out, and the public hoped the waterway would soon become a scenic asset. After Mayor Lin Chia-lung took office, he positioned Fazih Creek as a “Welcome River” and proactively coordinated with the central government. The city government then undertook environmental improvements, with the Water Resources Bureau last year completing a 1.8-kilometer “Welcome Waterfront Promenade” project as a demonstration. Currently, construction is 90% complete, and the area is scheduled to open to the public in March.

Water Resources Bureau Director Zhou Ting-zhang said that the renovation and beautification of Fazih Creek is a joint effort between the central and local governments. The Water Resources Agency has successively invested NT$4.95 billion, completing 12 kilometers of flood control projects, with a 95% completion rate for the overall improvement. However, the issue of poor urban scenery caused by overgrown weeds along the creek remains unresolved.

Therefore, the city government proactively communicated and coordinated with the central government, allocating NT$55 million to improve the high-water land and existing facilities. This includes installing gabion landscape features, waterfront promenades, three-dimensional text landmarks, and planting arrangements to present a brand-new riverside environment.

The Water Resources Bureau invited professional teams to conduct ecological surveys before and after construction. While balancing flood prevention, ecology, culture, and landscape, they aimed to create an international-grade welcome river. The overall progress is now 90% complete. After final inspection and completion, the site is scheduled to open to the public in March and will become a new tourism and leisure landmark for Taichung City.

In addition, for other sections of Fazih Creek without land use issues, the city government will also report to the central government in hopes of including them in the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program to further extend the environmental enhancement efforts.