Lantan Introduction
The peak of Chiayi City at night - "Lan Tan Moonlit Lake" is most enchanting during the night, known as "Lan Tan Fan Yue", and is one of the eight scenic spots in Chiayi. At Sanxin Pavilion, with a gentle breeze and elegant moonlight, visitors can stroll, chat romantically, gather with family, or enjoy tea and conversations, adding to the warm beauty of Lan Tan. The water in Lan Tan is crystal clear, surrounded by rolling hills. When the lake encounters the hazy moonlight, it becomes picturesque, which is why "Lan Tan Fan Yue" is included among the eight scenic spots of Chiayi. The lakeside road allows for a scenic tour, where the observation tower provides a panoramic view of Lan Tan from the top. There are several mountain trails leading to the back of Lan Tan, with tall trees releasing phytoncides along the way. The flatter areas have naturally formed spots for badminton or folk dance, while some trails are steep, attracting sports enthusiasts to challenge themselves, making it a great place for exercise, leisure, and recreation. Its natural resources are quite rich, and the Chiayi Wilderness Preservation Association has established observation groups in the back mountain of Lan Tan, Tree Garden, Tao Hua Yuan, and Yuan Lan Zi Cold Spring Area, leading many ecology enthusiasts to visit the beautiful and diverse nature over the years. Through in-depth observation and experience, they hope to make getting close to nature a way of life rather than just an idea. The expectation is for everyone to make friends with various birds, insects, plants, and trees, experiencing the beauty of ecology and understanding the essence of biodiversity during the learning process. . Historical Trivia Lan Tan is located near the eastern outskirts of Chiayi City, three kilometers from the city center. It was formerly known as "Hong Mao Pi,” said to be a pond excavated by the Dutch three hundred years ago, hence its name "Lan Tan". During the Dutch era, water was diverted from the Bazhang River to construct a dam for irrigation around Wangtian, which was directly managed by the Dutch East India Company. It persisted during the Zheng period but gradually fell into disuse after the Qing Dynasty, although the name remains. During the Japanese colonial period, the "Great Wall of Water" - the Chianan Irrigation Association's planning engineer, Hatta Yoichi, included Lan Tan in his responsibilities as a reservoir for the largest hydraulic engineering project in Asia, and it remains a major water supply source for the Chiayi area today.
