Ba Lian River Leisure Trail Introduction
The Balienxi Leisure Trail is located alongside the crystal-clear Balien River, which runs through the Sanzi District and is the main river of the area. According to legend, eight households settled here long ago and built homes by the river valley, leading to the naming of the settlement as "Baxianli." To accommodate the residents' daily needs, numerous irrigation ditches were created for purposes such as washing clothes, irrigation, electricity generation, rice milling, and tea production. The Balienxi Leisure Trail spans approximately 1.79 kilometers on both sides of the Balien River below the Putou Bridge. The river at this location is wider and flows gently. After renovations, the Balienxi Leisure Trail was completed, transforming it into a popular waterfront park for summer recreation and making it a well-known tourist attraction in New Taipei City. Currently, efforts are being made to protect the fish in the river, which is crystal clear with various fish swimming freely. Waterwheels can often be seen, adding to the soothing sound of flowing water. Along the trail, one can find fields of "beauty legs" (a local nickname for bamboo shoots), and as you walk along the path, you can enjoy the refreshing breeze of the countryside, washing away urban stress and bringing tranquility to the mind.
