Jiaouo Bikeway Introduction
Jiayi Cycling Path Digital Virtual Tour Platform - with the refreshing breeze on the bike path in Jiayi! Come and refuel at the Jiayi Cycling Path! The Jiayi Cycling Path utilizes the abandoned old railway of CPC Corporation, starting from near the CPC plant on Section 4, Shih-Hsien Road in Chiayi City. It runs through Meiyuan, Guanglu, Shizi, and Hongwacuo Village, as well as Sanhe, Xialiao, and Huigui in Shui-Shang Township. The path reaches the Tropic of Cancer Station Astronomical Plaza, with a total length of 3,500 meters, designed as a dedicated bicycle path and scenic greenway to enhance leisure and tourism resources in Chiayi City. The newly planned scenic green belt includes 2-meter-wide bicycle lanes paved on both sides of the original railway, with rest pavilions, wetland ecology, and lotus pools set up according to the terrain and hydrology along the route. Trees of medium and small size as well as tall and short shrubs are planted beside the bike lane, and entrance flower arches are installed at important road intersections to fully meet the multifunctional needs of ecology, aesthetics, tourism, and leisure. The Jiayi Cycling Path is a remnant of the "Chiayi Chemical Factory" and possesses a unique historical background, being a rare industrial relic in Taiwan and a valuable cultural landscape resource. The Chiayi City Government, through meticulous planning, has given new life to the old railway, constructing it into a dedicated bike path and a walking path for the public. Through a citizen vote, it was named "Jiayi Cycling Path." The entire route passes through urban areas, countryside, and fields, offering elegant scenery and a warm, friendly environment, making it a highly attractive tourist destination suitable for family recreational activities. "Chiayi Chemical Factory" Historical Little Encyclopedia: The Chiayi Chemical Factory was established in 1938 during the Japanese colonial period by the Taiwan Colonization Company, using sweet potato starch as raw material to produce butanol, propanol, and ethanol. It was the world's largest fermentation-based butanol factory at that time. In 1942, a dedicated railway was built to connect with the main vertical railway line. Using butanol to produce iso-octane, it could be used as aviation gasoline. During World War II, the Chiayi Chemical Factory became an important secret fuel base for Japan. The solvents produced were transported by the dedicated railway to the main line and then shipped to Kaohsiung Port for further transport to Japan. Construction Date: April 12, 2008.
