Chiayi Lumber Factory Introduction
Due to the improvement project for facilities and landscapes, the Chiayi Lumber Factory will be temporarily closed starting from December 30, 2024, with the construction expected to last approximately 15 months. The actual reopening date will be announced later. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Source: The Chiayi Lumber Factory was established in the third year of the Taisho era (1914) during the Japanese colonial period and was the largest government-operated lumber industry park in terms of land area, responsible for storing logs transported down from Alishan and undertaking the important task of processing wood into lumber. At that time, its production scale was reputed to be the largest in the Orient. The space planning within the lumber factory includes a power room, sawdust room, offices, machinery workshop, drying room, and handcrafted workshop. Notably, the power room on the left side of the entrance is Chiayi's first steel-reinforced concrete structure and also the earliest thermal power plant in Chiayi. A century ago, Chiayi was already known for its mechanized lumber industry, which required electricity to operate machinery. At that time, only a few areas in Taiwan had electricity supply; Chiayi City established the privately-owned "Chiayi Electric Company" in 1911, which used gas engines to supply streetlights and electricity to some households. The lumber factory's demand for power was even greater due to operations like sawing and mobile steel cable hoists in the lumber pool, so it had to generate its own electricity, leading to the establishment of the power room. The machinery workshop is adjacent to the power room, reflecting the historical transformation of the spatial field and allowing an understanding of the rise and fall of the forestry industry over a century. The first-generation lumber factory began operation in 1914, with part of the building being three stories and the other two stories being reinforced concrete structures equipped with the most advanced machinery imported from the United States, showcasing the grandeur and high working efficiency of the lumber factory. At that time, the Japanese imperial family and various dignitaries from home and abroad often visited for observation and pilgrimage, making it a prominent site until the factory was destroyed in the earthquake of 1941. The second-generation lumber factory was built after the earthquake and features a large-span wooden structure made entirely of Alishan cypress, which is highly distinctive. With changing government forestry policies and the rise of conservation awareness, the Alishan Forest Area ceased logging. The Chiayi lumber industry once propelled Chiayi City to become the national center for timber production and marketing, creating the glory of being a "lumber city." Although its former splendor has faded, the factory's structure remains intact, possessing cultural heritage value. The Chiayi Forestry Bureau plans to create the "Alishan Forestry Village," linking the Cypress Eco-Living Village, Chiayi Warehouse Park, Lumber Factory, and Song of the Forest, thereby promoting tourism that embodies the historical and cultural characteristics of the area and unique attractions that foster the development of the timber culture tourism industry.
