Zhongshan Park Introduction
Built in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), Chungshan Park is located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Gongyuan Road in Pingtung City, covering a total area of 23,715 ping. The park is home to a diverse range of tree species, especially its old tree群, which is remarkable in terms of variety, quantity, and growth range, earning it the title of "Home of Old Trees." In addition, the park features facilities such as a children's playground, a plant shade pavilion, a coconut palm avenue, and event memorials, while also preserving remnants of the Japanese occupation era, including a pond, an arched bridge, a gazebo, and air raid shelters, making it a park that combines tourism and leisure with historical and cultural significance. Chungshan Park's expansive area is captivating, with green trees being the most appealing sight. Trees such as banyan, camphor, olive, Casuarina, light lacquer, and frangipani showcase their enchanting forms here. The banyan tree has long and dense aerial roots that resemble a bearded elder, giving it an amiable presence; the camphor tree has a trunk with a pleated appearance, reminiscent of a scholarly figure with inscriptions; the olive tree is tall and flat-topped, with a dark brown trunk, exuding the aura of a sturdy farmer. For those who enjoy being close to trees, Chungshan Park is an ideal place to appreciate them fully. During the Japanese colonial period, there was typically a shrine, and Chungshan Park had a "Suehiro Inari Shrine," which was dismantled after the restoration of Taiwan. The original site was transformed into a hexagonal pavilion while its base was converted into an air raid shelter, with the pond and arched bridge preserved, all of which are historically valuable remnants. Notably, the arched bridge features a curved surface and has railings and supports also in arc shapes, complemented by square short columns, creating an elegant and beautiful appearance that adds distinct character to the park's architecture.
