aeeble

Zhuazimeng Power Plant’s current official name is “Zhuazimeng Substation of Gaoping Power Plant.” It was built during the Japanese occupation to supply electricity to southern Taiwan, using the hydro power of the Luan‑neng River in a run‑of‑the‑river plant. Founded in 1908, the Zhuazimeng Plant’s gardens are lush and its green trees dense. The three‑story brick building, modeled after Baroque architecture, has had its ornate decorations stripped away, leaving simple, elegant lines. With curved walls, rows of arched windows, and bull‑eye windows, the plant feels less like a cold industrial site and more like a warm, classic one—an especially distinctive feature within the courtyard of a Ming‑noong red‑brick house. The plant’s generating equipment was originally imported from Germany and is still operational after a century, like a living antique generator that witnesses Taiwan’s electrical history. This is why Zhuazimeng Power Plant is designated Taiwan’s first “industrial heritage site,” and it became a national monument in 2003. The plant’s electricity laid the foundation for the modernization of southern Taiwan, and its discharge water has enriched agricultural irrigation in Gaoping. Visitors can arrange tours on working days, enjoying the century‑old plant environment and architecture, and learning about hydroelectric power firsthand—an experience rich in both educational and touristic value.