Jiaoyou Bicycle Path Introduction
Taiwan's outstanding bike trail! Come to the Chiayi Oil Bike Path for a ride! The Chiayi Oil Bike Path is built utilizing the idle old railway of the CPC Corporation, located next to the oil refinery area at section four of Shih Hsien Road in Chiayi City. It runs through Meiyuan, Guanglu, Shizi, and Hongwacuo Village, as well as Sanghe, Shialiao, and Huigui Villages in Shui-Shang Township, Chiayi. The path leads to the Astronomical Square at the Tropic of Cancer Station, with a total length of 3,500 meters, planned as a dedicated bicycle lane and scenic green corridor to enhance the leisure and tourism resources of Chiayi City. The newly planned scenic greenbelt features 2-meter-wide bicycle lanes on both sides of the original railway, with resting pavilions, wetland ecology, and lotus ponds set up according to the terrain and hydrology along the route. Medium-sized and short trees, as well as tall and short shrubs, are planted along the bike path, and entrance flower arches are erected at key road intersections, fully satisfying the multifunctional needs of ecology, aesthetics, tourism, and leisure. The Chiayi Oil Bike Path, formerly part of the "Chiayi Chemical Plant," has a unique historical background, making it a rare industrial relic in Taiwan and a precious cultural landscape resource. Through meticulous planning, the Chiayi City Government has given new life to the old railway, transforming it into a dedicated bike lane and a walking path for the public. After a citizen voting event, it was named "Chiayi Oil Bike Path." The entire route traverses urban, rural, and agricultural areas, with elegant scenery and a friendly environment, making it a charming travel destination worth visiting with family. "Chiayi Chemical Plant" Historical Trivia: The Chiayi Chemical Plant was established during the Japanese occupation in the 13th year of the Showa era (1938) by the Taiwan Colonial Development Corporation, using sweet potatoes as raw materials to produce butanol, propanol, and ethanol. It was the world’s largest fermentation-based butanol factory at that time. In the 17th year of the Showa era (1942), a dedicated railway was built connecting it to the main north-south railway line. Butanol was used to produce iso-octane, which could be used as aviation fuel. During World War II, the Chiayi Chemical Plant became an important secret fuel base for Japan, with solvents produced there transported via the dedicated railway to the north-south railway and then shipped to Kaohsiung Harbor for delivery to Japan. Construction date: April 12, 2008.
