Jiaoyou Bike Path Introduction
Get ready for a ride along the Chia-Yu Bike Path! The Chia-Yu Bike Path is constructed using the idle old railway of CPC Corporation and is located next to the CPC factory area on Section 4, Shih Hsien Road, Chiayi City. It passes through Meiyuan, Guanglu, Shizi, and Hongwacu Village, as well as Sanhe, Xialiao, and Huigui in Shuishang Township, Chiayi. It reaches the North Tropic Station Astronomical Plaza and is a total length of 3,500 meters, designed as a dedicated bike path and scenic green corridor to enhance leisure and tourism resources in Chiayi City. The newly planned scenic green belt includes a 2-meter wide bike path on both sides of the original railway, and resting pavilions, wetland ecology, and lotus ponds are set up according to the terrain and hydrology along the route. Trees and shrubs of various heights are planted beside the path, and entrance flower arches are constructed at major road intersections, fully catering to the multifunctional needs of ecology, aesthetics, tourism, and leisure. The Chia-Yu Bike Path, originally part of the "Chiayi Chemical Factory," has a unique historical background, making it a rare industrial relic in Taiwan and a precious cultural landscape resource. The Chiayi City Government has carefully planned to give new life to the old railway, transforming it into a bike path and a pedestrian walkway for the public. Through a citizen vote, it was named the "Chia-Yu Bike Path." The entire path runs through urban, rural, and pastoral areas, offering elegant landscapes and a friendly environment, making it a wonderful destination for family tourism and leisure activities. **"Chiayi Chemical Factory" History Quick Fact:** Established in Showa 13 (1938) during the Japanese occupation by the Taiwan Colonial Development Company, Chiayi Chemical Factory produced butanol, propanol, and ethanol using sweet potatoes as raw materials. It was the world's largest fermentation-based butanol factory at the time, and in Showa 17 (1942), it built a dedicated railway to connect with the main line of the longitudinal railway. Butanol produced there was used to manufacture iso-octane for aviation gasoline, and during World War II, Chiayi Chemical Factory became an important secret fuel base for Japan. The solvents produced were transported via dedicated railway to the main railway and then shipped to Kaohsiung Port for transfer to Japan. Construction of the scenic area: April 12, 2008.
