Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-jung (林欽榮) revealed this week that the city plans to take over the majority of the management of the Chengcing Lake Scenic Area from the Taiwan Water Corporation, with a formal agreement expected as early as June 2025. After the takeover, the city will begin a major renovation of the park, aiming to fully reopen the area to the public, free of charge, by mid-2026.
Chengcing Lake, originally known as “Dapi,” is Kaohsiung’s largest lake and covers about 375 hectares, including 103 hectares of water. The area is divided into eight scenic zones and is home to Taiwan’s largest hedge maze, co-developed by the Water Corporation and Kaohsiung’s Tourism Bureau. Currently, Kaohsiung residents can enter for free with valid ID, though vehicles must pay an entrance fee (residents of Niaosong District are exempt). The park is open six days a week and receives over one million visitors annually.
Lin said that while the Water Corporation has long managed the area, its focus has been mainly on protecting water quality—overlooking the site’s potential as a valuable public green space. Under the new plan, the city will manage the scenic areas while core water-source zones remain under the Water Corporation’s control.
Once the city takes over, departments including public works, environmental protection, and transportation will join forces to upgrade walkways, parking, and overall park facilities. Lin emphasized this is part of Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s push to create more green space and high-quality recreation for residents.
“If all goes according to plan,” Lin said, “this will give Kaohsiung residents a completely refreshed experience by mid-2026.”
Info and images via AmCham Kaohsiung English News/the KH City Govt
