Old Railway Bridge Wetland Educational Park (Dashu Old Railway Bridge) Introduction
The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Educational Park is located in Dashu District, spanning from the cable-stayed bridge to the right bank of the Kaoping River near the Kaoping Bridge, covering an area of 300 hectares along the riverside. It features a water-friendly walkway, riverside bike paths, natural ecological areas, park green spaces, and coffee squares, among others. The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Ecological Park occupies more than 100 hectares. This expansive and picturesque wetland educational park integrates many unique religious, cultural, historical, ecological, water conservation, and scenic elements of Dashu District, making it a highly distinctive leisure, tourism, and educational spot in Taiwan. It is the best viewpoint along the Kaoping River, offering rich biodiversity and serving as an excellent place for families to learn and play, as well as a perfect scene for photography enthusiasts. The awakening light at sunrise and the sunset reflected on the water create stunning visual perspectives akin to landscape paintings. Within the park, the "Kaoping Old Iron Bridge" is a national historic site completed in 1913. Spanning like a rainbow over the Kaoping River, it connects the railway transportation between Kaoping areas, marking an important chapter in Taiwan’s development of livelihoods and economy. It was Asia’s longest iron bridge at the time. Now, through revitalization and restoration efforts, it has become the Old Iron Bridge Sky Walk, featuring a viewing platform for visitors to rest. Originally named the Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge, it was constructed under the supervision of Japanese engineer Iida Toyoji and completed in 1913. The monorail bridge is 1,526 meters long, made up of 24 sets of steel trusses and granite brick piers, linking the two Kaoping areas for railway transport, playing a significant role in Taiwan’s livelihood and economic development and becoming the longest iron bridge in Asia at that time. After a century, the Old Iron Bridge has gracefully retired, yet its historical, cultural, and architectural significance deserves to be preserved. In 2014, marking the bridge’s centennial, the city government undertook revitalization and restoration with the principle of "not damaging any original components" and created the 307-meter long and 8-meter wide Old Iron Bridge Sky Walk, adding steel panels in the gaps of the crossties to facilitate walking and biking, and building a viewing platform for visitors to rest. On the Sky Walk, visitors can closely appreciate the beauty of the monument and the iron bridge’s architecture while trains pass by nearby. The verdant wetlands and beautiful mountains and rivers along the Kaoping River reveal layers of grandeur and splendor in the morning and evening light, offering a great opportunity to enjoy nature's beauty and experience historical flavor, leaving one's mind broad and open. The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Park is located between the Old Iron Bridge and the Kaoping Bridge, featuring 13 artificial ponds that were excavated by hand. Utilizing aeration, sedimentation, and microorganisms to purify the water, it achieves natural purification of the water source. The wetland park insists on not using herbicides, maintaining ecological care along the banks of the Kaoping River, which creates a friendly environment for plant growth and habitats for birds and aquatic animals. In this lush and vibrant green space, visitors can fully enjoy the natural scenery through well-developed walkways and bike paths, as well as closely observe hundreds of species of wildlife and aquatic plants. The rich natural ecology and serene riverbank scenery offer the best enjoyment for the eyes and the soul. Access to the Kaoping River Weir requires an application for a permit. Given the uneven rainfall in southern Taiwan and the increasing water demand, the Kaoping River Weir is built within Dashu District of Kaohsiung City, located two kilometers upstream from the Kaoping Railway Bridge. Since its operation in 2000, its daily water withdrawal accounts for 63% of the daily water usage in the Greater Kaohsiung area, making it the most critical water source in the region. The Kaoping River Weir is 960 meters long, with a fixed dam measuring 674 meters and eight inflatable rubber dams measuring a total of 286 meters, along with a "fishway" allowing migratory fish to swim upstream for spawning. This weir raises the water level without storing water; it uses Taiwan's first domestically made inflatable rubber dam to block water at low water levels while releasing water downstream during high water periods, greatly contributing to river safety and water source acquisition while minimizing ecological damage. The management office of the weir also features a water resources museum, providing detailed visual and textual explanations on the sustainable use of Kaoping River water resources, offering great educational significance.
