Tieji Road Park Introduction
The "Tiezhilu Park" in Puzi City, Chiayi County, is a linear park that has been developed through the efforts of the Chiayi County Government and Puzi City. It stretches 1,250 meters in length. Parts of the route were originally a landfill during the Japanese colonial period, and starting in 1911, it was transformed into a railway that connected the Sugarcane Factory in Suantou, transporting sugarcane and passengers via a small railway known as the "Wufenzi". When the Taiwan Sugar Railway was fully operational, it carried freight, coastal catches, and agricultural products from the Chianan Plain into Chiayi City, significantly impacting the economy of Taiwan, encompassing nearly every aspect of agriculture and industry at that time. By the early 1960s, passenger and freight services were reduced, and the small train’s route was shortened to terminate in Puzi. After that, the section from Puzi Railway Station to Gangqian Road was solely used for transporting sugarcane. It wasn’t until March 1999 that the small railway finally ceased operations, and it was subsequently dismantled by the Suantou Sugar Factory, marking the end of its historical significance. After the dismantling, the railway lost its tracks and ties, resulting in a loss of utility. It was left abandoned, becoming a place where locals casually grew vegetables or dumped garbage and discarded furniture, leading to significant environmental pollution. It wasn't until the Chiayi County renovation project that it transformed into the beautiful "Puzi Tiezhilu Park" we see today. This lovely park features comprehensive greening reforms along its over one-kilometer length, with various facilities such as tree-lined paths, extensive landscaping, walking paths, benches, and night lighting. The park was officially completed in September 2004. The beautified Tiezhilu Park not only offers Puzi residents a nostalgic experience reminiscent of chasing the small train and enjoying sugarcane but has also become a vital recreational area and tourist attraction in the region.
