Jingque Ancient Canal

The Jingque Stream, in the upper reaches of the Neishuang Stream in Shilin District, Taipei, is about 2.1 kilometres long with a catchment of 450 hectares. It has plentiful, clear water and varied wildlife. Its catchment passes through four neighbourhoods of Shilin District (Jingshan, Pingdeng, Gongguan and Xishan), and it is a source of water for Shilin District. The stretch between Jingque Bridge and Zhugaoling Bridge has varied stream life and has long been visited by stream trekkers. The stream is steep and fast-flowing, and in the past heavy rain often scoured its banks and washed away soil and rock. To balance safety and conservation, the Taipei City Government's 工務局大地工程處 managed the whole catchment under one plan and completed the works in phases, funded year by year. Huang Tianjin, head of the office's debris flow prevention section, said the works used porous stone masonry and added waterside facilities along the stream while keeping the natural balance. According to the office, the works follow the stream's terrain, with waterside platforms, paths and bed-stabilising structures that favour wildlife habitats. Where the streambed drops steeply, long stone blocks dissipate the water's energy. Where the stream is flat, sediment basins serve for flood control, water storage and water access. The works were carried out in four sections, from the upper reaches (near the farm 開心農場) down to a lower tributary. In the uppermost channel near 開心農場, a fish ladder was built using near-natural methods to help fish migrate and recover. Where the stream passes a channel beside the farm 福田園農場, waterside platforms and paths were built to suit the local ecology, together with near-natural bed-stabilising structures and bank protection, and the water is clear. Further downstream there is a waterside path where you can sit on the ground and dip your feet in the cool water. On a tributary in the lower reaches, about 280 metres of stream were improved and planted with cherry trees, with waterside facilities to create a rest area. The cherry trees bloom every winter. Trekking upstream, the stream and its banks are rich in birds and native plants. Dragonflies and damselflies dart about, and fish such as 石斑, 馬口魚 and 苦花 swim in the water. The stretch between Jingque Bridge and Zhugaoling Bridge is also used for group stream trekking.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.