Attractions:
Fengshan River - the second largest river in Hsinchu County with many twists and turns
Geographical location
Fengshan River is the most important central river in Hsinchu County. It starts from Mount Najie at an elevation of 1,320 m in Jianshi Township and passes westwards through the following townships: Jianshi, Guanshi, Hsinpu and the south boundary of Hukou. It flows into Touchien River near Kan-tsi-jiao in Hsinchu City. The branch river is 45.45 km long and the area of the basin is 250.1 km2. The main branch rivers include Da-ping-wo, Shiaoli and Shia-heng-keng.
Landform
Hills and valleys interlace within the basic area to form a rich landform. There are many rises and falls to the east of Mount Niulan, the west is flat tableland and flat ground occupies 15.4 % of the total area. The river courses are steep and most of them have gradients of approximately 1:300 except land near the estuary (1:1000), while the average gradient for the basin is at a ratio of 1:650.
Water Resources
There is large fluctuation on river level. The typhoons during summer bring much rain and there is only a narrow river and a naked river bed on the wide valley during the dry season in winter. The average annual rainfall is 1,978 mm and it is concentrated between April to September with an annual runoff of 376 million m3. The amount of water intake for industrial water and tap water is approximately 1.10 million m3 and annual irrigation on farms needs approximately 1.60 million m3. Dams are established on the river for diversion and the remaining urban/industrial water is supplied by underground water, acting as supplement for insufficient water sources during the dry season.
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Development:
During the reign of Emperor Chienlong in the Ching Dynasty, irrigation channels for farms were built one after another. On top of preservation for irrigation nowadays, enrichment is also made to culture, people's livelihood, as well as political and economical development. At present, Zhubei City has already the political and economical center of Hsinchu County. With the commencement of the North No.2 Freeway, development of tourism and recreational industry in Guanshi Township was promoted; Guanshi is even a famous township for having the largest population of old residents in the County. The population is dense within the basin and most people farm for living. Along with development of industrial and commercial activities over the recent years, a great number of factories were built along the river, which gradually became one of the important industrial areas in Taiwan.
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Management:
Be strong against frustrations and be persistent on flood prevention works.
River training history
Since 1911 during the Japanese Occupation, construction of flood banks and embankments of approximately 6,400 m were completed from Shi-gang-tzu to the estuary. "In the August 7th Flood Disaster of 1959, which was followed by countless typhoons and rainstorms with frequent flood disasters, ""flour sacks"" were used everywhere along the river." Our Office carried out annual consolidation and the concept of an "ecological landscape" was combined with new construction of flood banks and consolidation over recent years, where the river was managed with a semi-natural technique.
Principles of river training
The water collection area that lies in the upperstream of the river is small, and the ground gradient is large. Due to geographical limitations the bank lines can only be set by flood restraints / run-offs according to the width of the bank. Further set up of flood banks, embankments and sluices for dredging are made according to the water channels planned.
Measures of river training
‧Fengshan River (the main stream)
(1) From estuary to converging point of Shiaoli River: Flood bank constructions on the river shores are drafted and extra height is added onto the original banks.
(2) From the converging point of Shiaoli River to that of Niulan River: The river course is planned to be further improved for keeping the necessary river width and convenience of flood discharge.
‧Shiaoli River (the branch stream)
(1) From the converging point of Shiaoli River and Fengshan River to Zaishi bridge: The river shores below Shansheng bridge must be protected with bank construction. The river section above Shansheng bridge must be widened in accordance with the water channels planned. Reconstruction shall be made on partial banks with additional height added according to the plan.
(2) From Zaishi bridge to Longshin bridge: Flow restriction is applied to banks on river shores.
Banks with insufficient height are made higher and stronger while new flood banks are built.
(3) From Longshin bridge to San-chi-shui Zhi-keng-wei bridge (三洽水直坑尾橋): The existing banks must be strengthened according to the plan, which reduces destruction of the banks and improve the stabilization of river bank.
Operation of Water Drainage and Land Renovation
In order to compensate the land acquired for the maintainance of Fushin River, a set percentage was added to the published land value announced by Hsinchu County Government. In addition, construction bonus of NT$1.2 million/hectare was issued. The compensation for objects above the ground was evaluated by Hsinchu County Government.
Landscape engineering
‧River bank and landscape improvement at section 2, Pantzu slope, Fengshan River.
‧Landscape renewal from Railway Bridge on Fengshan River to the right shore of Tai 1st bridge.
Project Performances
‧Protection of life and property of approximately 150,000 residents along the river shore.
‧Protection to farms of approximately 1,300 hectares, roads of approximately 90 km, as well as approximately 260 factories and companies.
‧Beautification of the river with green landscape, as well as cooperation with neighboring area for leisure tourism.
‧Improved development of agriculture along the shore and fruit farm, which further promotes tourism.
‧Promotion of land value along the river banks.
Vision of water management
‧Review environmental ecology.
‧Maintain biological diversity.
‧Integrate with the environment of the community.
‧Increase space for leisure.
‧Achieve the target of sustainable management of Fengshan River.
Ecology:
It is not important where paradise is, but it is happy enough to live by the Fengshan River.
Zoological Resources
Fish: Acrossocheilus paradoxus, Gobiobotia intermedia intermedia,粗首蠟, and Rhinogobius giurinus etc. are mainly scecttered in midstream and downstream. Birds: species that live by the water and move between the weeds, and the branch upstream is mainly forest species.
Plant Resources
Aquatic plants: The common est species are attached algae and vascular weeds. Waterfront plants: Hand-grown crops are see in the mid and downstream along the river shores...but the major protophytes include Crotalaria zanzibarica, Pennisetum purpureum Schum.(napiergrass, elephantgrass), Ageratum houstonianum Mill, and Hibiscus taiwanensis SY Hu etc. The upstream is mostly forest land while the deep narrow channel for the branch river is mostly covered with woody plants.
Maintenance:
Your support is needed to recover the vitality of the river.
Accomplishments and Results of Fengshan River Inspection:
‧Permit for plantation on public land in the river district: 158 cases, covering the area of 26.6163 hectares
‧Handling of Illegal Practices: 12 cases up to the end of 2004
‧Inspection of Public Land in the River District: by the end of 2003, the inspection was completed, covering an area of 2,482 hectares.
‧Survey of the River District: By the end of 2003, the survey was complete; the total length of the river was 26.75km.
‧Patrolling and handling of illegal practices: 376 cases by April 003.
‧Regulation of the river, ducts, and regional ducts; regular maintenance of the water gate and pumping machine.
‧Sponsored the "Love the River and Rebuild our Beautiful Homes" educational and promotional activities series: Through large-scale activities, such as concerts, speeches and seminars, and color paintings on the embankment walls, etc, we have worked towards building up a new relationship between the people and the river.
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Expression:
Different communities drink the same Fengshan water, and the story of affiliation goes on...
The Origin of the River's Name
The upstream of Fengshan River is called "Ma Wu Du River馬武督溪" (in Atayal) and "Shian-tsai-weng River". The river runs to "Feng-shan-chi" in Zhubei City via Hsinpu Township and joins with Touchien River at Kan-tsi-jiao for approximately 500 meters, which then discharges into the ocean at Nanliao. The Zhubei people called the river "Fengshan River", and it was commonly called "Fengshan River" after the Japanese Occupation, which was used till now after Retrocession.
Ethnic communities
The basin was the hunting and living area for Pingpu Tribe in earlier days and Han people immigrating to Taiwan afterwards. In terms of the habitats of each community, Mingnan people live in the plain area along the ocean, Hakka people live in the hill area and minority of the Atayal tribe scatter within the mountain areas of Guanshi Township. Each community gets along with each other.
Festival and ceremonies
The Fang Liao Bao Zhong Pavilion of Hsinpu Township is the largest temple with the greatest number of followers, and it has become the center of belief for Hakka people. At the Great Festival held on 20 July of the lunar calendar every year, fifteen homesteads perform the ceremony in turn and the atmosphere is extremely cheerful. In addition, the Hsinpu lantern festival has the oldest history and greatest features. There are couplet poems in the Hakka language around the lantern pavilion, which are also precious in Hakka literature. Because of the cultural transitions (promotion of vernacular) and impact on events language over recent years (after Retrocession), such events can no longer be seen. But only during the Lantern Festival every year. This is a social gathering of lanterns for the occasion. True lantern festival can never be seen anymore.
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