Chiang Kai-shek Park Introduction
Chiayi Park, the best outdoor performance venue in the city center, was originally the site of the Zhu Luo Mountain office of the Pingpu Hongya tribe. During the Qing Dynasty, it was established as a foreign missionary site, and during the Japanese colonial period, it was built as a public hall, which at that time had the largest restaurant in Taiwan, accommodating more than a thousand people. After World War II, it was transformed into the Zhongshan Hall and developed into a recreational area, complete with a sports field and library. "Kangle Muggu," once one of the eight scenic views of Chiayi, is a notable feature of the park. Despite its small area, the park is characterized by a multitude of celebrity statues, the most famous of which is the statue of former mayor Shih-Hsien, known as the "Mazu Mother of Chiayi." Chiayi Park was completed in 1989, featuring an outdoor music stage designed in an open arch shape, with a stage width of 2000 cm and a depth of 1670 cm, providing a total of 600 seats. The basement includes dressing rooms for performers, as well as a paid underground parking lot, alleviating parking stress for visitors and making it the best outdoor performance venue in the city center. The park also has a small exhibition hall used for arts and cultural events, filled with vitality and joy. The scenery and facilities embody a cultural and artistic charm, especially when illuminated at night, exuding a European artistic atmosphere.