Chiayi Lumber Factory Introduction
The Chiayi Wood Processing Plant will be temporarily closed for landscape improvement works starting from December 30, 2024, for approximately 15 months. The actual reopening date will be announced later. We apologize for the inconvenience. The Chiayi Wood Processing Plant was established during the Japanese colonial period in 1914 and was the largest government-managed timber industry area in Taiwan, responsible for storing timber logged from Alishan and processing it into wood. At that time, it was reputed to have the largest production scale in the East. The space within the processing plant includes power rooms, sawdust rooms, offices, machinery workshops, drying rooms, and handmade workshops. Notably, the power room on the left side of the entrance was the first reinforced concrete structure in Chiayi and also the earliest thermal power plant in the city. A century ago, Chiayi was famous for its mechanized timber industry, which relied heavily on electric power for mechanical operations, while only a few areas in Taiwan had electricity supply. In 1911, Chiayi City had a privately owned "Chiayi Electric Company," which used gas engines to provide electricity for streetlights and some households. As the wood processing plant required even more power for machinery, including saws and mobile steel cable cranes in the log ponds, they had to generate electricity themselves, leading to the establishment of the power room. The machinery workshop is adjacent to the power room, reflecting the historical evolution of the area and allowing for an understanding of the rise and fall of forestry over the past century. The first-generation processing plant started operation in 1914, with part of its structure being three stories tall and the other two stories built with reinforced concrete, equipped with the most advanced machinery imported from the United States. This showcased the magnificence and high work efficiency of the factory. During its peak, it attracted visits from the Japanese imperial family and people from all walks of life, becoming a significant attraction until the factory was destroyed in the major earthquake of 1941. The second-generation processing plant was built after the earthquake, featuring a large-span wooden structure entirely made from Alishan cypress, which is highly distinctive. With changes in government forestry policies and the rise of conservation awareness, the Alishan Forest Area ceased logging activities. The wood processing industry in Chiayi once propelled the city to become the national center for wood production and sales, earning it the title of "Wood City." Although its former glory has faded, the structure of the factory remains intact, holding significant cultural asset value. The Chiayi Forest District Office plans to create the "Alishan Forestry Village," linking the Cypress Lifestyle Village, Chiayi Garage Park, the Wood Processing Plant, and the Song of the Forest, thereby encapsulating the essence of the "Wood City" theme and promoting the development of cultural and tourism industries related to timber.
