The Joy of Biking is Heating Up; Come Join Us at the Jiayou Bicycle Trail

The Jiayou Bicycle Trail was converted from the old railway of China Petroleum Company. The trail starts from the side of the China Petroleum Company’s plant at Section 4, Shisian Road, Chiayi City, passes through Meiyuan, Guanglu, and Hunei Communities of Chiayi City, as well as Sanhe, Sialiao, and Hueiguei Village of Shueishang Township, and ends at the Astronomy Plaza of the Tropic of Cancer Station. The full length stretches to 3500m, was and is planned into a bike trail and a green walkway, adding a fun choice of the tourism resources of Chiayi City.

The newly planned green trail is composed of two stretches of bicycle routes, which were converted from the spaces by the two sides of the original railway, Pergolas, wetland, ecological preservation areas, lotus ponds, medium and small arbors, and tall and short shrubs are integrated into the landscape. The entrance points at road intersections are decorated with flower corridors. It has become a multifunctional trail filled with rich ecological, natural, and tourism resources.

Jiayou Bicycle Trail was part of the Chiayi Chemical Plant. Its unique historical background make it a rare cultural asset in the industrial history and a valuable resource for cultural tourism. Through careful planning, the Chiayi City Government gave the old railways new life. They are now filled with laughter when happy bikers cycle through and cheerful walkers casually stroll in the gentle wind. Through an open poll, the city residents named it the Jiayou Bicycle Trail. The trail weaves through the city, towns, and counties, offering cheerful sights and sounds and smiles of friendly people. Its charm is worth exploring with your friends and families.

History Minipedia- Chiayi Chemical Plant

The Chiayi Chemical Plant was founded by the Taiwan Development Company in Showa 13 (1938). This chemical plant used dried sweet potato shoots to manufacture butyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and ethanol (alcohol). It was the largest fermenting type butyl alcohol manufacture plant in the world at that time. In 1942, a railway linking to the main North-South Railway was built exclusively for this plant. Butyl alcohol can be used to manufacture isooctane, which can be used as a type of aviation fuel. During World War II, the Chiayi Chemical Plant became a secret fuel manufacture base for the Japanese Air Force. Solvents manufactured in this plant were transported via the plant railway to the North-South Railway, and then transferred to sea freight bound for Japan.