Xiaolin Village Memorial Park Introduction
In the early morning of August 9, 2009, the strong winds and rains from Typhoon Morak caused landslides on Xiandu Mountain, burying Xiaolin Village in Jiashian District, which shocked the entire nation with its severe disaster. To commemorate and remember the 462 villagers of Xiaolin who were buried, the Kaohsiung City Government established the Xiaolin Village Memorial Park on a hill to the south of the original site of Xiaolin Village, which was completed and opened in 2012. Covering an area of 1.7 hectares, 80% of the park is planned as green space, reconstructing the imagery of the former Xiaolin Village. The names of the 462 deceased are inscribed on both sides of the path in the park, while 181 Taiwanese native cherry seedlings represent the 181 families that were lost. The park also features a memorial square, Xiaolin Ancestors' Hall, a lookout pavilion, and a monument. The 9-meter high monument is built from stones that flowed down from Xiandu Mountain during the disaster, symbolizing the strength to give villagers rebirth and rebuild. From the memorial park, one can overlook the site and remember the lost, inevitably feeling the relentless power of nature and thus cherishing the present while remaining humble.
