Baiji Creek Yidu Introduction
Construction of the attraction began during the Kangxi era, or even earlier. The Bazhang River is one of the main rivers in the Chianan Plain. Taiwan's rivers are short and swift, so travelers often need to take boats to cross. The Bazhang River serves as an important water transport route with numerous ferry points, of which the busiest and most significant is located next to the Mituo Temple. It is said that in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign, the county magistrate of Zhu Luo, Zhou Zhongxuan, called for donations to construct rafts at the ferry point to aid people crossing. The Bazhang River (formerly known as the Bajiang River) is one of the main rivers in the Chianan Plain. Due to the lack of long bridges in the early days, a ferry was established beside the Mituo Temple for boats and rafts to cross the river. Today, there remains a "Bajiang River Charity Ferry Monument" carved in 1847. This type of charity monument that matches the environment is extremely rare and valuable in Taiwan. The Bazhang River flows south of the Puzi River and north of the Jishui River, passing through several areas including Fanlu Township, Zhongpu Township, Shuishang Township, Taibao City, Lucao Township, Yizhu Township, Budai Township in Chiayi County, as well as the Beimen District, Yanshui District, Xuejia District, Houbi District, and Baihe District in Tainan City. It eventually flows out to sea from Haomei Village in Chiayi County, entering the Taiwan Strait. During flood periods, the flow of the Bazhang River can reach about 1,800 cubic meters per second, but during dry seasons, it drops to just 0.4 cubic meters per second, indicating a significant fluctuation in water volume. In the summer and autumn during flooding, the river rises dramatically, obstructing transportation for residents living on both sides of the Bazhang River. They had to rely on bamboo rafts to cross the river for their daily commute. At that time, residents established five ferry points along the Bazhang River for bamboo rafts to dock and enable people to board and disembark. The establishment of the charity ferry was of great significance for early transportation routes in Taiwan and urban development. The Bajiang River charity ferry greatly benefitted commerce and trade between Chiayi City and, in turn, contributed to the economic prosperity of the Chiayi region. The remaining charity monument serves as a historical witness.
