Attractions:
Fengshan River - the second largest river in Hsinchu County with many twists and turns
Geographical location
Touchien River starts from Luchang Mountain in the Snowy Mountain Range and runs through the following townships: Jianshi, Wufeng, Hengshan, Chonglin, Zhutung, Zhubei City and Hsinchu City. The area of the basin is 566 km2, the whole system is 63.03 km long (inclusive of the main stream, Shangping River, at a length of 44 km and the branch stream, the Youluo River, at a length of 26 km) and converges with Fengshan River near Nanliao, and then discharges into the Taiwan Strait.
Landform
Due to steep landforms upstream of the basin, hot springs and waterfalls are spread in between. The average gradients are as follows: approximately 1:47 for Youluo River basin upstream, approximately 1:49 for Shangping River basin and approximately 1:190 for the main stream. The landform of the basin slants from the mountainous area on the south-east towards the north-west. For the areas alongside the ocean, they are mostly mountains, hills, tablelands and alluvial plains.
Water Resources
During summer time, the basin is affected by typhoons with abundant rainfall and sudden floods the rain season but the riverbed is dry during winter. The average annual rainfall is 2,239 mm and is concentrated from April to September. The existing water intake/storage facilities are Baoshan Reservoir, Shangping Dam and Longen Dam. These facilities mainly provide water for agricultural or public use with annual average diversion of approximately 1.4 million m3. After completion of the Baoshan II Reservoir, the efficiency of water supply will be improved substantially via use age of multiple water resources.
**
Development:
From "Ancient City of Culture" to "Scientific City of Culture"
Small-scale diversion works were started for the basin after the late Ming Dynasty. In 1719, a farmer named Wu and others diverted the water from Touchien River and built the Longen canal. Waste lands of approximately 2,000 Jia ( 1939.84 hectares) on the outskirts of Zhuchian were transformed into rice fields, which was followed by the construction of the Jiugang and Tungshin canals. Expansion was made during each stage for Zhutung canal and Baoshan Reservoir. In addition to irrigation for farms nowadays, these facilities also meet the needs for people's daily and industrial use.
Along the shores of Touchien River, Hsinchu City developed very rapidly. The city was called "Zhuchian" in the old days and it was the earliest city developed in Northern Taiwan. Hence, if gained the name of "ancient cultural city of Northern Taiwan". Due to the subsequent development of freeways and the Scientific Park, Hsinchu moves towards the goal of "scientific cultural city". Zhutung on the other hand was also transformed into a center of high-tech development and gained its reputation in the world.
**
**
Management:
Touchien River - Planning, Maintenance and Management
Keep life secure and prosperous, never stop for any difficulty.
River training history
In order to protect villages and farms along the river, simple flood prevention works were implemented during the reign of Emperor Guangshu in the Ching Dynasty.
In 1931 planning and administration for flood prevention began and after Retrocession, subsequent improvements were made to relevant facilities for flood prevention. The initial administrative plan was to protect the basin from flooding, consolidate the river course and reduce turbulent flow, so as to prevent land loss along the riverside. After years of consolidation, a comprehensive flood prevention system was in place in 1981.
In 1991, the Estuary (sections no. 0 and no. 6) was established by public notice, and in 1998, the "Basic plan for management Touchien River, upstream, Shangping River and Youlou River" was ratified and announced.
Principles of river training
‧Forest and tree coverage for upstream water collection areas is still good, but approximately 2,800 hectares of land are being over-used and the land waiting for water and soil conservation totalled to approximately 900 hectares. Improvement on these items shall be continued.
‧Due to geographical limits on the development of landforms and river shores, the midstream and downstream sections can only be managed with run-offs and buffers.
Measures of river training
‧Youluo River (the branch stream): Flood banks shall be built on the right shore to prevent floods, as well as straightening of low water channels to prevent flow.
‧Shangping River (the branch stream): Flood banks shall be built on right shore as protection. Apart form the existing Nuanchiao and Zhutung flood banks on the left shore, all other sections have steep cliffs and thus it is not necessary to build flood banks.
‧Touchien River (the main stream): For the section below Zhutung (section 49) to Nanliao (section 6) area, no banks are needed on the left shore high lands from sections 31 to 40. Flood banks on both shores shall be built for all other sections for flood prevention and for drainage requirements where the banks end. Suitable spots shall be selected for run-offs.
‧The estuary: Jiugang island is kept and provided with adequate protection, left and right river courses are dredged for guiding flood waters into the ocean. Management is then coordinated with flood bank construction on the river shores.
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.
Water Drainage and Land Renovation
Building of flood banks and embankments
Touchien river Length planned 54,066m. Length completed 47,980m. Length to be built 6,086m
Project Performances
‧Protection of life and property of residents along the Touchien River.
‧Improves and beautifies river landscape in harmony with neighboring areas for tourism and leisure purposes.
‧Improved development of agriculture along the shore and fruit farm, which further promotes tourism.
‧Promotes value increase for the adjoining lands.
Vision of water management
‧Mountain rivers: The river courses are more stable because of the boulder-sized river bed. Since there is no need for prevention and reduction on disasters, the natural water path shall be maintained as much as possible.
‧Hill rivers: In order to protect the river shores from washout, embankments are built by semi-natural technique at sections needing protection.
‧Plain rivers: Flood banks are built for most sections for flood prevention. In the future, the principles lie upon the improvement of landscape for existing banks or embankments and construction of habitats for animals and plants.
Ecology:
The Touchien River is a paradise for fish, shrimp, perch and eel.
Zoological Resources
There are 11 families and 23 species of fish. Crossostoma lacustre, Hemimyzon formosanum, Abottina brevirostris alticorpus and Rhinogobius rubromaculatus are the species unique to Taiwan, with others such as perch and eel. There are 7 species of shrimp, 2 species of crab. Birds are mainly live by the water and moving between the weeds. There are 26 families and 49 species of birds nowadays while Tree Sparrow and Lonchura punctulata, Nutmeg Mannikin are more common. Other than that, there are no unique or rare birds of Taiwan.
**
Plant Resources
The Bacillariophyta is the largest phylum of algae in Touchien River's main stream, which is followed by Cyanophyta Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta, and Division Euglenophyta. The waterfront plants are mainly based on herbaceous plants and the common est plants include Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb. ex Schum & Laut, Gramineae, and Saccharum spontaneum that are generally called "Labill". 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: 999 cases, covering the area of
‧272.6578 hectares
‧Handling of Illegal Practices: 61 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 2003.
Expression:
Many stories derived from ethnic integration and much excitement arised from local festivals.
The Origin of the River's Name
In the "Tanshui Journal", the location of the Touchien River was labeled as "Zhuchien River", "Hsuen-Hsuen River" and "Jin-men House River". During the Japanese Occupation, the name "Touchien River" appeared on the "Taiwan Map" and it has been used up till now.
Ethnic communities
Aboriginal people (Atayal and Saisiat tribes) live in the mountains of upstream Touchien River, Hakka people live in the hills midstream and downstream, and Minnan people mainly live in Zhubei City and on the Hsinchu City (estuary) plain. Since Retrocession, large number of immigrants who came along with the army also scattered in various townships and cities. Each community respected each other and they have been living in place.
Festival and ceremonies
The Minnan and Hakka people in the basin have their own beliefs, and the Pas-taai Festival held once every two years for the Saisiat tribe is important even for them. According to ancient legend, Daai taught Saisiat farming as well as ceremonies, songs and dances. The Saisiat took Daai as the benefactor and whenever there is a festival and ceremony, the dwarves are invited for drinks and party. During one of the Harvest Festivals, the dwarves molested the Saisiat girl and were found by her brother. In the end, all the dwarves were sentenced to death. After the the dwarves incidence, the harvest was short every year and disasters happened frequently. In order to pray to Daai for safety and a rich harvest for their people, the Saisiat specifically hold the "Pas-taai Festival" for three nights from 15th October (according to the Chinese lunar calendar) every year. The Atayal tribe have many ceremonies and festivals adopted from ancient times. The one that was passed to the present day is the Maho Ceremony (祖靈祭) that commences after the millet harvest, around July.
**