Zhuzi-Men Power Plant is in Zhuzi-Men, Meinong District, Kaohsiung City—the most iconic building in Taiwan's electric power history. In 1909 (Japanese era Meiji 42) completed, Taiwan's first hydropower plant, 20 years earlier than large plants like Sun Moon Lake. The main structure is a three-story Baroque brick building, with red brick, white trim, and elegant arched windows. Inside, original 1919 -year-old Siemens generator units are still preserved. Now revitalized by Taipower as a free exhibition hall. For guests staying at Hanyuan B&B , this is a must-visit national monument when planning a Meinong cultural history trip.
Zhuzi-Men Power Plant history dates to Meiji 35 (1902 ), when the Japanese, to modernize Kaohsiung city, planned hydropower facilities on Laonong Creek and Qishan Creek tributaries for street lighting and public facilities. After multiple surveys, they chose Zhuzi-Men in Meinong District for its abundant water, steep gradient, and proximity to Qishan Sugar Factory (Qitang Cultural Park) and Kaohsiung city power transmission routes. Construction began in 1907 , designed and supervised by engineer Nakajima Eiji of the Taiwan Governor-General's Civil Affairs Bureau, in collaboration with German Siemens.
1909 (Japanese era Meiji 42), the power plant was completed and named "Zhuzi-Men Power Station." The installed capacity was 600 kW—the first and largest hydropower plant in Taiwan, mainly supplying Kaohsiung street lighting, sugar factories, military facilities, and some civil use. The first decade after launch was the enlightenment period of Taiwan's electric power industry; many local engineers came to learn hydropower technology, making it a cradle of Taiwan's electric power talent.
1919 , to meet growing Kaohsiung demand, the Japanese built a second machine room east of the original plant, importing two new Siemens generators, raising total capacity to about 1,500 kW. After the war, the plant was taken over by Taiwan Power Company and renamed "Zhuzi-Men Power Plant," continuing its supply role for Kaohsiung. In 1970 s, as large hydropower plants (like Sun Moon Lake pumped storage) were completed, Zhuzi-Men's role was gradually replaced, and in 1983 it was officially retired.
After retirement, Taipower preserved the building and equipment and applied for monument designation. In 1992 , Zhuzi-Men Power Plant was designated a "Grade 2 Historic Site in the Taiwan-Fujian Area." In 2018 , the Ministry of Culture upgraded it to a "National Monument"—one of the few cases in Taiwan where an industrial facility became a national monument. In 2015 , Taipower further renovated the main building into the "Zhuzi-Men Power Plant Exhibition Hall," opening it to the public with volunteer docents, helping people understand Taiwan's electric power history and Japanese-era industrial architecture.
Zhuzi-Men Power Plant's architectural design was jointly completed by Siemens engineers and Japanese architects—a rare early Japanese-era industrial building blending European Baroque and Japanese structure. The main three-story red-brick building features white trim, arched windows, and a Western-style wooden truss roof, unique in Taiwanese architecture of the time. Generators, control panels, and distribution equipment were mostly German-imported, making it one of Taiwan's most complete early hydropower facilities—praised as "a living textbook of Taiwan's electric power history."
Zhuzi-Men Power Plant is in Zhuzi-Men, Meinong District, Kaohsiung City, administratively under Fu'an Village. Geographic coordinates are approximately east longitude 120.555 °N, 22.915 degrees, elevation about 70 meters. The plant sits next to a Qishan Creek tributary, using the water drop for power generation. From Hanyuan B&B , head north along Highway 28 (Qiping Road) for about 3.5 km; it takes only 8 至 10 minutes—one of the closest national monuments to the B&B.
By Car: From Meinong town, take Zhongshan Road to Zhongzheng Road to Fu'an Road; you'll see the entrance marker before Fu'an Bridge. Set GPS to "Zhuzi-Men Power Plant" or "National Monument Zhuzi-Men Power Plant." A small parking lot in front offers free parking for cars and scooters.
Public Transit:Take Kaohsiung city bus 8032、8046 to "Meinong Station," then take a taxi or rented scooter to the plant; it takes about 10 minutes. From HSR Zuoying Station, take shuttle bus to Qishan Bus Terminal, then transfer to a Meinong-bound bus, and walk or rent a vehicle to the plant.
By Scooter/Bike: 由 Hanyuan B&B cycle takes about 15 至 20 minutes through the Meinong Plain paddy field scenery—one of the most popular cycling routes.
Suggested duration: including the main building exterior tour, generator exhibition area, and Taipower exhibition hall cultural exhibition, takes about 1 至 1.5 hours. We recommend visiting in the morning to avoid midday crowds, and combining with nearby ChiShan Sugar Factory、Chiwei Mountain as a half-day itinerary.
Transportation around Zhuzi-Men is convenient. The Qishan Creek bike path was completed recently; visitors can ride from the plant to nearby ChiShan Sugar Factory and Qishan Old Street, total about 6 km, enjoying Qishan Creek waterfront scenery and Hakka settlements—an excellent choice for a Meinong cultural cycling trip.
The core of visiting Zhuzi-Men Power Plant is "view the architecture × view the machines × learn the history." Four must-see highlights:
Classic Tour Route: At the entrance, first appreciate the main building exterior and take photos → Enter the first-floor generator exhibition area to see German equipment → Learn hydropower principles through docent explanations → Walk up to the second and third floors for the Taipower cultural exhibition → Walk the dam ruins and canal trail behind the plant → Afterwards, visit nearby Fu'an Village Hakka settlement and tobacco field scenery.
In-depth Cultural Route: For visitors interested in Taiwan's electric power history and monument preservation. We recommend booking a volunteer docent tour in advance with Taipower to access generally closed areas like the machine room, control room, and dam top. The tour takes about 2.5 hours. Through in-depth docent explanations, you can learn the full history from 1909 completion, expansion, postwar takeover, retirement, monument designation to 2018 upgrade to national monument—the best way to learn Taiwan's electric power cultural heritage.
親子教育route：For families with kids, take photos at the main building exterior first, then learn hydropower principles from volunteer docents, and explore Taiwan's electric power development through interactive models on the second-floor Taipower exhibition. Finally, walk the dam and canal trail behind the plant to witness hydropower facilities in action—the best educational choice.
No matter which route, Zhuzi-Men Power Plant offers rich experiences blending architectural aesthetics, industrial history, and ecological culture. Adjust based on fitness, time, and group size; bring water, rain gear, and sunscreen for a smooth trip.
Fu'an Village near Zhuzi-Men preserves complete Hakka settlement scenery, including tobacco barns, Bogong (Earth God) worship centers, and traditional Hakka Sanheyuan. While visiting the plant, walk to Fu'an Village to experience traditional Hakka architecture and taste authentic Hakka treats like Lei Cha, ban tiao noodles, and red-cooked duck. Fu'an is also an important Kaohsiung tobacco-producing area. Every 6 至 8 , during the tobacco harvest season, you can see the traditional scene of smoke rising from tobacco barns—an essential part of understanding Meinong Hakka culture.
Zhuzi-Men Power Plant's seasonal highlights focus on "solar-term activities × and natural scenery":
Ecology: The Qishan Creek watershed around Zhuzi-Men has rich riparian ecology. The dam and canal trail behind the plant host little egret, cattle egret, and black-crowned night heron; kingfishers and five-colored birds are common at the forest edge. Every 10 to next year 3 , the kapok trees around the park bloom with bright red flowers, contrasting beautifully with the red-brick building—a "hidden" photo hotspot for photographers.
The Qishan Creek watershed behind Zhuzi-Men Power Plant is an important habitat for many amphibians and waterbirds. Every 4 至 9 at night, you can see Asian grass frogs, tiger frogs, and black-spined toads in paddies and irrigation channels behind the plant, with fireflies dancing in a dreamy scene. Fu'an Village also preserves complete Hakka farmland scenery—tobacco fields, rice paddies, and betel nut groves—an excellent place to understand Meinong Hakka culture and natural ecology.
If you're coming from Hanyuan B&B When planning a Zhuzi-Men Power Plant trip, combine with nearby attractions:
Want to see all Meinong and Qishan attractions at once? Please refer to Hanyuan B&B Nearby Attractions Overview— covering all 12 nearby attractions with maps, helping you plan the richest Hakka mountain-town trip.
Zhuzi-Men Power Plant area also has many attractions, including nearby Meinong Hakka Cultural Museum, Jingziting, tobacco barns, and other Hakka cultural assets. While visiting the plant, walk to nearby sites to deeply experience Meinong Hakka mountain town's culture and scenery.
Yes, Zhuzi-Men Power Plant was completed in 1909 (Japanese era Meiji 42), Taiwan's first hydropower plant, earlier than large plants like Sun Moon Lake. The Japanese built dams and waterways on Laonong Creek and Qishan Creek tributaries, using hydropower to supply Kaohsiung street lighting and civil use.
Zhuzimen Power Plant Tue to Sun 09:00 至 16:30 (closed Mondays), free admission. No food or touching exhibits and generators inside. We recommend visiting 30 min before to avoid missing tours.
Yes, the first-floor exhibition area preserves 1919 -year-old Siemens generators and control panels—the only existing, most representative early hydropower generator physical exhibition in Taiwan. On-site docents explain generation principles and power dispatch.
From Hanyuan B&B, head north on Highway 28 (Qiping Road) for about 8 至 10 minutes. Or from Meinong town via Zhongshan Road to Zhuzi-Men. Set GPS to "Zhuzi-Men Power Plant." Small parking lot and scooter parking nearby.