Lantan Lake Introduction
Chiayi City’s Night Highlight - "LanTan Moon Viewing" The moonlit nights at LanTan are especially enchanting and are known as "LanTan Moon Viewing." It is one of the eight scenic spots of Chiayi. At Sanxin Pavilion, a gentle breeze accompanies the elegant moonlight, where visitors stroll, flirt, gather with family, or meet for tea and casual chats, enhancing the warm beauty of LanTan. The water of LanTan is crystal clear, surrounded by rolling hills. The landscape and water colors create a poetic and picturesque view, especially on moonlit nights. Therefore, "LanTan Moon Viewing" is listed as one of the eight scenic spots of Chiayi. The lakeside ring road allows for a scenic tour around the lake, where an observation tower offers a panoramic view of LanTan. There are several mountain trails leading to the back mountain of LanTan, with tall trees continuously releasing phytoncides along the way. The flatter areas naturally form spaces for badminton or ballroom dancing, while some trails are steep, becoming a challenge for sports enthusiasts, making it a great place for the public to exercise, relax, and recreate. The natural resources are quite abundant. The Chiayi Wilderness Conservation Association has established observation teams at several sites, including the back mountain of LanTan, Tree Garden, TaoHuaYuan, and YuanLanzai Cold Spring area, guiding many nature enthusiasts to visit the beautiful and diverse natural environment over the years. They hope that through in-depth observation and experience, connecting with nature becomes a lifestyle rather than just a concept. Everyone is encouraged to make friends with numerous birds, insects, plants, and trees while appreciating the beauty of ecology and understanding the essence of biodiversity through the learning process. . Historical Tidbit LanTan is located near Mount Ziding in the eastern suburbs of Chiayi City, three kilometers from the city center. It was formerly known as "Red-haired Pond," and it is said to have been dug by the Dutch over three hundred years ago, hence the name "LanTan." During the Dutch period, water from the Bazhang River was diverted here to build an embankment for irrigation in the Wangtian area. The Dutch East India Company directly managed Wangtian, and it was still extant during the Zheng period but gradually fell into disuse after the Qing Dynasty, though the name remained. During the Japanese occupation, the planning engineer for the "Great Wall of Water" -- the Chi-Nan Irrigation Channel, Hatta Yoichi, incorporated LanTan into the reservoir for the largest scale water conservancy project in Asia, which still serves as the main water supply source for the Chiayi region today.
