Zhuqi Waterfront Park (竹崎親水公園) is a popular destination located adjacent to the Zhuqi Bridge on Provincial Highway 3 in Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County, in southern Taiwan. Covering an area of nearly 12 ha (29.6 ac), this popular attraction comprises Zhuqi Park (竹崎公園) and Waterfront Park (親水公園).
In addition to a variety of amenities catering to visitors of all ages, the most iconic features of this park are its fantastic sky corridor (天空走廊) and beautiful Pink Shower Tree (花旗木)
The Sky Corridor of the Zhuqi Waterfront Park
Completed in July 2014, this unique sky corridor is nestled in a thick forest and did not require the cutting of any trees. It is about 185 m long, and the highest point is around 19 m above the ground, about the height of a 5-story building.
Connecting the forest area and the Wanzhu Expo Park (萬竹園), the sky corridor is paved with semi-see-through meshes, allowing visitors to have an exhilarating experience of taking in the beautiful scenery beneath.
For more interesting images of Zhuqi Waterfront Park, please watch the following video.
The Pink Shower trees in Zhuqi Waterfront Park
One of the iconic attractions of Zhuqi Waterfront Park in spring is the brilliant flowers of the Pink Shower tree. There are many Pink Shower trees (花旗木), also known as Thailand Sakura (泰國櫻), scattered along various locations in the park, such as the parking lot, the two sides of the river near the suspension bridges, and the footpath on the other side of the suspension bridges.
The Huaxianzi Corridor of Zhuqi Waterfront Park
Under the Sky Corridor is the lovely Huaxianzi Corridor (Flower Fairy Trail 花仙子步道). With a gentle and smooth slope, this winding corridor is about 400 m long. This corridor is a barrier-free trial, so it suits visitors of all ages and people with disabilities.
When walking along the corridor, visitors can take in the refreshing phytoncides while enjoying the pleasant fragrance of the white flowers of wild ginger lilies in summer. It is also a great outdoor ecological classroom where visitors can enjoy the tranquil surroundings and listen to insects and birds at close range.
The bamboo image sculpture
Zhuqi is a mountainous township famous for producing fresh bamboo shoots, including Ma bamboo shoots (麻竹筍), Makino bamboo shoots (桂竹筍), Oldham bamboo shoots (綠竹筍), and Moso bamboo shoots (孟宗竹筍). Therefore, this township used to be called Zhuqito, the head of a bamboo mountain.
To highlight Zhuqi TownTownship’s ‘boo culture, a bamboo image sculpture is set up in the park. Imitating the appearance of the Taipei 101 Tower, this art installation symbolizes bamboo rising steadily above the ground and the prosperity of the township.
The Wanzhu Expo area of Zhuqi Waterfront Park
As Zhuqi Township is home to bamboo, a unique zone featuring bamboo is established in Zhuqi Waterfront Park, which is called Wanzhu Expo Area (萬竹博覽區). It is the only bamboo specimen park in Taiwan.
This unique area hosts more than 50 bamboo specimens from home and abroad, including the world’s largest Giant Bamboo (巨竹), Bambusa vulgaris ex W’min (短節泰山竹), Melocanna baccifera (梨果竹), Gigantochloa aspera (菲律賓巨草竹), Dendrocalamus strictus (印度實竹), Greenstript Common Bamboo (金絲竹), and Bambusa longispiculata (花眉竹).
Visitors not only can appreciate these precious bamboo species, but they can also enjoy the picturesque landscape and the cool breeze in this bamboo forest.
The suspension bridges of the park
There are two striking suspension bridges in the park. The one near the entrance of the park is called Xingqian Suspension Bridge (行千吊橋). With a total length of 125 m, the bridge was completed in June 1999. Since the completion date was not far from the arrival of the new millennium, the bridge is also called Millennium Bridge (千禧橋). It is another popular attraction where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the upper reaches of the Puzi River.
Hongjing Bridge (弘景橋) is opposite Millennium Suspension Bridge. Spanning 206 m, Hongjing Bridge was completed in July 2004 and is currently Taiwan’s longest two-pillar suspension bridge. Its 3-story high lookout pavilion offers a panoramic view of the waterfront park and the charming scenery of the mountains in the distance.
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