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Meinong Lake

2025-09-09
886-7-6812433
高雄市美濃區民權路與泰安路交叉口附近
Mienong Lake was constructed in 1748 and covers an area of 21 hectares. It ranks as the second-largest man-made lake in Kaohsiung after Tzuche Lake. Backed by mountains to the northwest and surrounded by farmland on three sides, the lake features exquisite natural scenery. A full loop of the lake is developed with walking trails and cycling paths, making it a popular destination for visitors to ride bicycles, stroll, or fish. The tourist service center offers bicycle rentals. The lake'€™s eastern side has been planned for the planting of tall trees like the red-flowering cogon, cypgripus, willow, flame tree, and chinaberry, along with flowering shrubs and aquatic plants, adding ecological educational value to the scenery. The bird-watching area was historically the only water source vital to local life and agriculture. While siltation reduced its irrigation function, it formed land masses and rich aquatic vegetation. The area, disturbed little by human activity, now supports breeding for more than 60 bird species. Common birds include red-crowned pochards, night herons, and black-crowned night herons. Rare birds such as the banded woodpecker, ruddy kingfisher, and black-capped kingfisher also appear here. Between October and March, large numbers of migratory winter birds stop here, drawing avid bird-watchers to observe or capture their images. The lakeside pavilion “Zhongzheng Pavilion” often captured in photography, lies at the center of the lake. It was built after then President Chiang Kai-shek visited twice in 1956 (Republic of China Year 85), and the name of "Zhongzhen Pond" was changed to Zhongzheng Lake. In 1996, local residents advocated renaming it back to Mienong Lake. Established in 2001, the Mienong Hakka Cultural Museum plays a crucial role in preserving and transmitting Hakka cultural history. Designed as a community museum emphasizing cultural sustainability and regional culture development, it exhibits the historical and cultural diversity of Mienong and fosters local understanding and interactions. Over 90% of Mienong's population consists of Hakka people with a rich Hakka tradition. The building blends “cigarette tower style” and “quadrangle courtyard design,” featuring a simple, rustic aesthetic through fair-faced concrete construction. Inside, two floors showcase Hakka culture in lifestyles related to food, clothing, housing, education, transportation, and entertainment. Exhibits include physical objects, multi-media, photos, documents, videos, life-sized models, ecological landscapes, and interactive displays. The first floor houses a permanent exhibition area, specialty goods display, DIY classroom (offers paper-umbrella painting activities), artifact display room, and special exhibition hall. The second floor contains a main exhibition hall, children’s activity area, and artifact display room. The children’s section uses blocks as a medium to incorporate local nature and cultural features into each game corner. It also introduces unique large soft blocks from overseas for interactive learning, creating a space for both family entertainment and education. Yongan Old Street Mienong, previously known as “Mipung,” was founded when Hakka immigrants from Liuchiang in Pingtung crossed Tzao-nung Creek to settle near the moonlit hill and establish “Mipung Village.” Sixteen families built 24 communal homes here and named the street Yongan (“eternal peace”) as a prayer for a peaceful life. This 200-year-old street was the earliest and most prosperous area back then. Starting from the letter-revering pavilion on the west to the East Gate Tower on the east, a 2-kilometer stretch presents a mix of old temples, ancestral halls (e.g., Dengsheng Temple, Bo Gong Temple, Song House School, historical wells, Hakka blue dress shops), old Mienong Bridge, irrigation canals, and traditional Hakka houses, narrating 200 years of history with their elegant architecture. After shopping for delicious Hakka snacks at the market, visitors can explore the Mienong Hakka Cultural Museum or the tranquil canals and surroundings. Each eave and archway holds stories of beauty and historical emotion. This old street is a microcosm of Hakka culture and the essence of Mienong. East Gate Tower is located at the end of Yongan Road on the main axis stretching through the village. During the Qing Dynasty, Mipung Village was protected by palisade gates, with the East Gate Tower as its singular entry. The East Gate is Mienong’s iconic landmark, originally built as early as 1755, with its current three-story reinforced concrete structure dating back to 1937 (Shousho 12). The inscription “Enlighten Civilization” on the tower was inspired by Huang Xiangyun, a local native who became a scholar-official in 1829 (Daoguang 9). Designated as a historic site in 2000, the tower is a symbol of this area's historical importance. Tseng Wen-chung Art Gallery Born in Mienong, Tseng Wen-chung is a renowned oil and watercolor painter whose life work focused on promoting Hakka culture and local traditions. With deep affection for his hometown’s scenery, he painted hundreds of artworks of Mienong, including large oil paintings contributed to cultural offices and schools for educational purposes. Growing up in a traditional Hakka communal house in Yongan Street, Tseng was passionate about preserving these unique architectural forms. Converting his ancestral home into the Tseng Wen-chung Art Gallery, it displays his own and other artists’ works and hosts lectures on art and literature. Tseng once said, “Mienong’s beauty rivals global landscapes. As a Hakka descendant, I use my brush to convey memories and hopes viewers experience Mienong’s charm.” He also encouraged the revival of communal houses in Yongan Street.
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