The Xiaolin Village Memorial Park Opens with a Cherry Blossom Grove and the Way of the Cross to Embrace a New Beginning

By Liu Jiawen / Compiled and Reported

Two years ago, the mudflow triggered by Typhoon Morakot instantly submerged Xiaolin Village, claiming the lives of 462 residents. To console the families of the victims, the Kaohsiung City Government commenced construction of the “Xiaolin Village Memorial Park” on the high ground south of the original village site at a cost of approximately NT$100 million. The park has now officially been completed and opened to the public. In addition to providing a space to commemorate the deceased through this memorial park that integrates cultural history and ecological landscapes, it also serves as a reminder to both the government and the public of the importance of disaster prevention.

Covering an area of approximately 1.7 hectares, the design concept of the Xiaolin Village Memorial Park centers on commemorating the deceased, with nearly 80% of the area planned as green space to recreate the natural forest-like ambiance of the former Xiaolin Village. The park features a memorial square, the Xiaolin Ancestral Shrine, the Way of the Cross, an observation tower, a contemplation bridge, and a memorial monument. Among them, the “Way of the Cross” is flanked by memorial walls inscribed with the names of the 462 deceased, while the 9-meter-high memorial monument in the memorial square was constructed from rocks carried down by the mudflow from Xiandu Mountain, aiming to provide surviving villagers with strength for a new life and reconstruction.

The completion of the Xiaolin Village Memorial Park allows villagers to pay tribute to their ancestors at any time. Additionally, 181 saplings of Taiwan-native mountain cherry blossoms have been planted in the park, with each tree pit representing one bereaved family. It is hoped that when the cherry blossoms bloom, the sight of the memorial park bathed in their vibrant red will bring vitality and hope to all visitors.