Chiayi Park

Chiayi Park (嘉義公園)

天下為公 (tiān xià wéi gōng) means "the world (under heaven) is there for all", taken from Book of Rites, it was used by "Father of the Nation" Sun Yatsen as well

Green grass blowing gently in the summer breeze. Kids laughing and playing joyfully. Gentle breezes blowing through your hair as you sit under a shady tree. Dogs running around playing with one another. Where do you find them? Chiayi Park of course! It is calm and peaceful everywhere, no violence could be hunted around.

Chiayi Park is not just an ordinary park where family spend an hour or two relaxing or exercising. The very first thing that you'll realize is that this is not just a small park. It is a park crammed full of variety, interest, beauty and history. The park was built more than 60 years ago when the Japanese were in control of Taiwan. Hence it is no surprise to see that the pavilions and gardens insides are all japanese styled.

As the air is as refreshing as in forests, the park is also home to several local landmarks of Chiayi City (嘉義市).

As you walk towards the entrance, the park seems to be a usual park with grass, benches, playground, and families having a nice time. There's a fountain, some large duck ponds with bridges and thick rows of colorful flowers that could light up your day.

Below are some interesting historical monuments contained inside this special yet entertaining park.

1) Sun Shooting Tower (射日塔)

Rising 62 meters above the ground, this tower, also known as Chiayi Tower, has 12 unique floors that one could visit with a small fee of 50 TWD, taking an elevator to the top of the building. Here, the entire Chiayi City can be seen. This unique design of the tower was inspired by some giant trees in Mount Ali (阿裡山) with its brown aluminium stripes that looks similar with the outer texture of the tree.

The picture above shows a 40 meters tall "one line sky" with a bronze sculpture which originates from the "sun shooting legend" of the aboriginal people of Taiwan. It symbolizes the heritage of human beings and reveals spirit of carrying forward the cause. There is a touching and educational story behind it.

This tower is guarded by a pair of clouded leopards which are the "Guardians of Taiwan" symbolizing the tutelary god of Formosa. The bottom level of the tower is the monument of the original Martyr's Shrine, where the plaques of martyrs are carved into marble monuments.

2. Chiayi Confucius Temple (嘉義孔廟)

Historical Facts about the Confucius Temple

- built in 1706

- Restoration Stele was inscribed and erected in 1815

- when the Chiayi Earthquake occurred in 1907, the Confucian Tablet was transferred to the Wenchan Hall and later replaced at Nanmen Shengshen Temple

- in 1961, the Confucius Temple was rebuilt inside Chiayi Park and the Restoration Stele was re-erected in the garden of this newly built temple

- in 1964, the temple is completed and the Confucian Tablet returned to Dacheng Hall

Solemnity is expressed in this temple as it is decorated elegantly and in a dignified manner.

3. The Manneken Pis (尿尿小童)

The Manneken Pis is a 61cm tall statue that was first made by Brussels sculptor Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and being put to place in 1619. It is located on the corner of Rue de I'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat. The figure has been repeatedly stolen and copies were made over and over again. The current statue is a copy from the year 1965.

In short, the legend of the Manneken Pis describes the history of young boys saving the day by pissing.

And of course, a replica of the figure is available in CHIAYI PARK! :)

4. Chiayi Historical Relics Museum (嘉義史蹪資料館)

Initially the building was named Kagi Shrine (嘉義神社), a Shinto Shrine located in this park. During the Japanese rule, Chiayi City was named Kagi City by the Japanese. The shrine was first built in 1915, facing south but later it was altered in 1942 to face west. The main hall of the building was turned into a Martyr's Shrine by the Republic of China government after World War II. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a fire on 24th April 1994. Until now, the main hall and purification hall is now serve as the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum. It is now open to everyone to visit!

5. Chiayi City Baseball Stadium (嘉義市立棒球場)

The Chiayi Baseball Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Chiayi City. But nowadays it is mostly used for baseball games and was the Home Stadium for Chinatrust Whales from 1998 to 2003. Originally the stadium was built in 1918 by the Japanese and since then it was repeatedly renovated. Now, the stadium could hold up to 10,000 people. The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is held regularly here.