Dajia River Hydroelectric Power Plant Ecological Park (Ma'an Dam Ecological Park) Introduction
The Dajia River Hydropower Plant in Taichung's Heping District has been transformed into the Dajia River Hydropower Plant Ecological Park (Ma'an Dam Ecological Park), integrating forest water resources, power technology, and natural ecology. It serves not only as the core of hydropower generation in central Taiwan but also as an ecological corridor rich in fish, birds, butterflies, macaques, wild boars, and various plants. The park provides both energy education and ecological observation opportunities, and features a rest station for cyclists. Visitors can plan trips to enjoy the nearby forest phytoncide, visit the century-old water conservancy construction of the Baileng Canal, or combine their visit with nearby attractions such as Guguan Hot Springs and Bashan Mountain Forest Recreation Area for an enriching leisure experience. The park includes attractions such as a green energy power generation display, dynamic wheel exhibits, a technology exhibition hall, the Ma'an water intake, a relaxation pavilion, Egret Island, the Tianlun Baileng suspension bridge, the Baileng Canal water intake, the New Tianlun tailwater, Baileng popsicles, Baileng meat buns, and ecological fishway displays. Notably, the green energy power generation display area is equipped with relevant power generation machinery, allowing visitors to see real-time power generation data to understand how wind and solar power generation are affected by climate. Visitors can also experience operating a waterwheel to learn about the principles of hydropower generation. The ecological fishway display area features observation pathways and fish-viewing windows to learn about fish migration. The Tianlun Baileng suspension bridge, located between Ma'an Dam and the Dajia River Hydropower Plant, is 100 meters long and spans the Dajia River. It used to be the main passage across the river in the Baileng area, but due to its age, it is now restricted to pedestrian use for safety reasons, with vehicles redirected to the top road of Ma'an Dam. Walking on the bridge, one can look upstream to see the water outlet of the Dajia River Hydropower Plant, and downstream to observe egrets soaring in the sky, capturing the beauty of hydropower resources and natural ecology. Before leaving the park, don’t miss the chance to taste local delicacies, such as the cooperative's own branch ice "Baileng popsicles" and over 40-year-old Hakka-style buns "Baileng meat buns."
