National Historic Site - Zhuzi Men Power Plant Introduction
Zhuzaimen Power Plant, officially named "Kaohsiung-Pingtung Power Plant Zhuzaimen Branch," was built during the Japanese colonial period to provide electricity for southern Taiwan, utilizing the hydroelectric power from the Laonong River as a run-of-river power plant. Established in 1908, the Zhuzaimen Power Plant is surrounded by lush greenery and features a Baroque-style three-story brick building that has stripped away excessive decorations, leaving behind simple and elegant lines, arched gables, alignments of arched windows, and ocular windows, which add a classical warmth that contrasts with the cold industrial style. It stands out uniquely within a Hakka courtyard of red brick houses in Meinong. The plant’s power generation equipment was imported from Germany at the time and still operates after a century, serving as a living antique that witnesses the history of power generation in Taiwan over the past hundred years. Therefore, the Zhuzaimen Power Plant has been recognized as Taiwan's first "industrial heritage" and was designated a national historic site in 2003. The electricity generated from Zhuzaimen Power Plant laid the foundation for modern development in southern Taiwan, and its discharge water also contributed to prosperous agricultural irrigation in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area. Visits can be arranged on the plant's working days, allowing visitors to appreciate the beauty of the century-old plant's environment and architecture while gaining a firsthand understanding of hydroelectric power, which holds significant educational and tourism value.
