Jiaoyou Bicycle Path Introduction
Taiwan's Iron Horse Trail is here! Come fuel up at the Chiayi Oil Bike Path! The Chiayi Oil Bike Path is constructed using the idle old railway of the Chinese Petroleum Corporation, starting at the old oil refinery on Section 4 of Shih-Hsien Road in Chiayi City. It passes through four villages: Meiyuan, Guanglu, Shizi, and Hongwacu, as well as three villages in Shueishang Township, Chiayi, which are Sanhe, Xialiao, and Huigui. The trail reaches the Tropic of Cancer Station Astronomical Plaza and is 3,500 meters long, designed as a dedicated bicycle path and scenic green corridor to enhance leisure and tourism resources in Chiayi City. The newly planned scenic greenbelt features bicycle paths, each 2 meters wide, laid along both sides of the original railway, with rest pavilions, wetland ecology, and lotus ponds set up according to the topography and hydrology along the route. Medium and small trees and shrubs of various heights are planted alongside the bike path, and entrance flower arches are erected at important road intersections, fully meeting the multifunctional needs of ecology, aesthetics, tourism, and leisure. The Chiayi Oil Bike Path is a remnant of the "Chiayi Chemical Plant," and its unique historical background makes it a rare industrial relic in Taiwan, as well as a precious cultural landscape resource. The Chiayi City Government has revitalized the old railway through careful planning, transforming it into a dedicated bike path and a pedestrian trail for public enjoyment, which was named "Chiayi Oil Bike Path" through a public voting process. The entire route passes through urban areas, countryside, and farmland, with graceful scenery and a friendly environment, making it a highly attractive destination for family leisure and tourism. "Chiayi Chemical Plant" Historical Trivia: The Chiayi Chemical Plant was established in 1938 (Showa 13) by the Taiwan Colonial Development Corporation during the Japanese colonial period, using sweet potato chips as raw material to produce butanol, propanol, and ethanol. It was the world's largest fermentative butanol factory at that time. In 1942 (Showa 17), a dedicated railway was built connecting to the main trunk line. Butanol was used to manufacture iso-octane for aviation fuel, and during World War II, the Chiayi Chemical Plant became an important secret fuel base for Japan. The solvents produced were transported via dedicated railways to the trunk line and shipped to Kaohsiung Port for transfer to Japan. Construction of the site: April 12, 2008.
