Zhongshan Park Introduction
Established in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), Zhongshan Park is located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Gongyuan Road in Pingtung City, covering a total area of 23,715 ping (approximately 78,700 square meters). The park boasts a diverse variety of trees, particularly a remarkable collection of old trees, which can be considered a "home for ancient trees." In addition to the lush vegetation, the park features children's play areas, plant shade shelters, a palm tree avenue, and a memorial monument, while preserving remnants from the Japanese colonial period, including pools, bridges, pavilions, and air raid shelter ruins. It serves as a place for both tourism and leisure as well as historical and cultural appreciation. Zhongshan Park's expansive grounds are dominated by greenery, with a captivating array of trees including banyan trees, camphor trees, olive trees, Casuarina trees, and plumeria trees, all showcasing their most alluring forms. The banyan trees, with their long and dense aerial roots, resemble elderly individuals with beards, imparting a sense of warmth; the camphor trees have trunks with a pleated bark that looks much like a texture inscribed with words, giving off an academic air; the olive trees are tall and broad, with dark brown trunks, evoking the image of sturdy farmers. For those who enjoy being close to nature, Zhongshan Park is a perfect place to appreciate the beauty of trees. During the Japanese colonial period, there were usually shrines, and Zhongshan Park featured a "Suehiro Inari Shrine." However, after Taiwan's retrocession, the shrine was demolished, and the site was reconstructed into a hexagonal pavilion, while the base was converted into an air raid shelter. The pool and bridge were preserved in their original state, serving as historical relics, particularly the bridge, which features a curved deck and has railings and supports that are also rounded, complemented by square short column designs, creating an elegant and distinctive appearance in the park.
