Qingqi Ancient Aqueduct Introduction
Jingxi Stream, located in the upper reaches of Shuangxi in the Shilin District of Taipei City, is approximately 2.1 kilometers long, with a watershed area of 450 hectares. The stream has abundant flow, clear water quality, and diverse ecology. It passes through four villages in the Shilin District: Qingshan, Pingdeng, Gongguan, and Xishan, serving as the water source for the area. The section between Jingxi Bridge and Zhugao Ridge Bridge features scenic banks and diverse stream ecology, making it a popular spot for stream tracing enthusiasts. Jingxi Stream has steep flowing paths and rapid water currents, and in the past, heavy rainfall often caused bank erosion and landslides. The Public Works Department of the Taipei City Government's Geotechnical Engineering Office has implemented a comprehensive watershed planning and management project to balance watershed safety and ecological conservation, with funding allocated for phased improvements. According to Huang Tianjin, the head of the landslide prevention section at the Geotechnical Engineering Office, the project employs a porous stone masonry technique and establishes water-friendly facilities along the route while maintaining natural ecological balance. It has become a favored site for stream tracing enthusiasts. The Geotechnical Engineering Office states that the principle of the Jingxi Stream improvement is to align with the stream's terrain, providing water-friendly platforms, trails, and structures that benefit the habitat environment. In areas with high elevation differences in the streambed, elongated boulders are installed for energy dissipation. In flatter areas, sedimentation basins are created to serve both flood control and water-friendly functions. The Geotechnical Engineering Office indicates that the Jingxi Stream improvement has been divided into four segments from the upper reaches (near Hao Xin Farm) to the lower tributaries. The uppermost section near Hao Xin Farm adopts near-natural methods to install fish ladders to facilitate fish passage and rehabilitation, showcasing great vitality. The Geotechnical Engineering Office also mentions that the stream near Futian Garden Farm features water-friendly platforms and trails designed to fit the local ecology, complemented by near-natural solid bed structures and bank protection, resulting in a beautiful environment with clear water, which has attracted stream tracing enthusiasts in recent years. Continuing downstream near Qingxi Bridge, there is a water-friendly path where visitors can sit on the ground and dip their feet in the cool stream water, listening to the gentle sound of flowing water, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The Geotechnical Engineering Office emphasizes that the tributaries of Jingxi Stream in the lower reaches have been improved over a length of approximately 280 meters, with cherry blossom trees planted along the banks, creating a recreational space with water-friendly facilities. Every winter, the cherry blossoms bloom, offering a poetic experience while walking alongside the flowing stream. The Geotechnical Engineering Office recommends that Jingxi Stream features diverse scenery, surrounded by beautiful mountainous landscapes, making it very suitable for stream tracing on sunny days to stretch and enjoy nature. Ascending along Jingxi Stream not only allows enjoyment of the clear water and scenic views but also immerses visitors in a rich environment filled with birds and native plants, where dragonflies and damselflies flit about, and one can see schools of fish such as rock cod, red-eye fish, and bitter flowers swimming gracefully. Among these sections, the stretch between Jingxi Bridge and Zhugao Ridge Bridge has become a new secret spot for group stream tracing activities. Source: Taipei City Government's Geotechnical Engineering Office.
