Ba-Jiang River Ferry Introduction
The construction of the site began during the Kangxi Emperor's reign, or even earlier. It is one of the main rivers in the Chianan Plain! Rivers in Taiwan are short and swift, often requiring travelers to cross by boat. The Bajhang River is an important water transport route with many ferry crossings, the busiest and most important of which is next to the Mi Tuo Temple. It is said that in the 54th year of Kangxi's reign, County Magistrate Zhou Zhongxuan of Zhu Luo called for donations to build rafts for the ferry service. The Bajhang River (formerly known as Bajiang River) is one of the main rivers in the Chianan Plain. In the early days, long bridges could not be constructed, so a ferry crossing was established next to the Mi Tuo Temple for boat passage. The "Bajiang River Charity Ferry Monument," engraved in 1847, is still preserved today, and such a monument, matching the environment, is extremely rare and valuable in Taiwan. The Bajhang River is located south of the Puzi River and north of the Jishuei River, flowing through Fanlu Township, Zhongpu Township, Shuishang Township, Taibao City, Lucao Township, Yizhu Township, Budai Township, Chiayi City, and the Beimen District, Yan Shui District, Xue Jia District, Houbi District, and Baihe District of Tainan City, finally flowing into the Taiwan Strait at Haomei Village in Chiayi County. During flood periods, the water flow of the Bajhang River reaches about 1,800 cubic meters per second, while during dry seasons, it can drop to only 0.4 cubic meters per second, making the variation in water flow quite significant. In the summer and autumn flooding seasons, the river rises dramatically, and residents living along the banks of the Bajhang River find their transportation obstructed and cannot cross. They must rely on bamboo rafts to cross the river and access both banks. At that time, residents established five ferry crossings along the Bajhang River to allow bamboo rafts to dock and for residents to get on and off. The establishment of these charity ferries holds significant importance for the selection of early transportation routes and urban development in Taiwan. The Bajiang River Charity Ferry greatly supported trade and transportation between Chiayi City and contributed to the economic prosperity of the Chiayi region, with the remaining charity monument serving as a testament to history.
