National Historic Site - Zhuazimen Power Plant Introduction
Zhuzaimen Power Plant, officially named "Kaoping Power Plant Zhuzaimen Branch," was built during the Japanese colonial period to provide electricity for southern Taiwan, utilizing the hydropower of the Laonong River in a run-of-the-river power generation system. Established in 1908, the Zhuzaimen Power Plant features lush greenery and elegantly simple lines in its Baroque-style three-story brick building, which removes complicated decorations in favor of graceful contours, arched gables, arranged arched windows, and bull's eye windows, giving the power plant a classical warmth rather than a cold industrial style, making it uniquely distinct in the courtyard of Meilong red brick houses. The power generation equipment inside the plant was imported from Germany at the time, and even after a century, it continues to operate, with generators resembling vintage antiques witnessing Taiwan's century-long power generation history. As a result, the Zhuzaimen Power Plant is listed as Taiwan's first "industrial monument" and was designated a national historic site in 2003. The electricity generated from this plant laid the foundation for modern development in southern Taiwan, while the discharged water from power generation contributed to rich agricultural irrigation in Kaoping. Visits can be arranged on weekdays to appreciate the beauty of the century-old plant's environment and architecture while gaining firsthand understanding of hydropower, making it highly educational and significant for tourism.
