Old Railway Bridge Wetland Education Park (Dazhu Old Railway Bridge) Introduction
The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Education Park is located in Dashi District, extending along the right bank of the Gaoping River from the cable-stayed bridge to the Gaoping Bridge, covering an area of 300 hectares. It features water-friendly walking paths, riverside cycling paths, natural ecological zones, park green spaces, and a coffee plaza, among others. The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Ecological Park occupies more than 100 hectares. This vast wetland education park, with its beautiful natural scenery, combines the unique religious, cultural, historical landmarks, natural ecology, water culture, and landscapes of Dashi District, making it a very unique recreational and educational destination in Taiwan. It is the best sightseeing spot along the Gaoping River, rich in plant and animal ecology, making it a perfect place for families to learn and play together, as well as an excellent location for photography enthusiasts, offering scenes that resemble paintings both at sunrise and sunset, reflecting colorful skies upon the water. The "Old Iron Bridge" within the park is a national historical monument completed in 1913, spanning the Gaoping River like a rainbow and connecting the railway transport between Gaoping. It is a significant chapter in Taiwan's livelihood and economic development, and was the longest iron bridge in Asia at that time. After revitalization and restoration, it has become the Old Iron Bridge Sky Walk, with viewing platforms for visitors to rest. The Old Iron Bridge, originally named the Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge, was constructed under the supervision of Japanese engineer Toyoji Iida and completed in 1913. It is a single-track railway bridge measuring 1,526 meters in length, made up of 24 sets of steel trusses and granite red brick piers, spanning the Gaoping River and facilitating railway transport between the two Gaoping areas. Over the century, the Old Iron Bridge has retired from service, but its historical, cultural, and architectural significance deserves to be preserved. In 2014, to commemorate the centenary of the bridge, the city government revitalized and restored it without damaging any original components, creating a 307-meter long and 8-meter wide sky walk on the old iron bridge, installing steel plates in the gaps of the wooden sleepers to allow people to walk or push bicycles and building observation platforms for visitors to rest. Walking on the sky walk not only allows for a close appreciation of the beauty of the historical monument and iron bridge architecture, but also offers the sight of trains rushing by. The lush wetlands and beautiful mountains and rivers along the Gaoping River present a multi-layered grandeur in the morning light and evening glow, providing spectacular views of nature and a taste of history that broadens the mind and spirit. The Old Iron Bridge Wetland Park is situated between the Old Iron Bridge and the Gaoping Bridge. It has artificially excavated 13 ponds, utilizing aeration, sedimentation, and microbial purification functions to achieve natural water source purification. The wetland park insists on not using herbicides, maintaining the ecology manually to protect the banks of the Gaoping River, creating a friendly environment for plant growth and habitats for birds and aquatic animals. In this vibrant green space, visitors can enjoy the natural scenery thoroughly through well-maintained walking and cycling paths and closely observe hundreds of species of wildlife and aquatic plants. The rich natural ecology and tranquil riverside landscape provide the best enjoyment for the eyes and the soul. Access to the Gaoping River Weir requires an official application, given the uneven rainfall in southern Taiwan and the growing water usage demand. The Gaoping River Weir was built in Dashi District, Kaohsiung City, two kilometers upstream from the Gaoping Railway Bridge. Since it began operations in 2000, its daily water intake accounts for 63% of the daily water consumption for the Greater Kaohsiung area, making it the most important water source in the region. The Gaoping River Weir is 960 meters long, with a fixed weir of 674 meters and eight movable rubber dams totaling 286 meters, including a “fishway” that allows migratory fish to swim upstream to spawn. This weir only raises the water level without storing water, utilizing Taiwan's first homemade rubber dam for water diversion at low water levels, while allowing downstream water flow during high water periods, contributing greatly to river safety and water acquisition while minimizing ecological damage. The management office for the weir also features a water resource exhibition, providing detailed illustrations and explanations on the sustainable use of the Gaoping River’s water resources, which holds significant educational value.
