Since 2017, the National Development Council has proposed the “Strategic Planning for the Construction of a Greenway Network”, aiming to align with national land development goals through the preservation and restoration of blue and green ecological corridors. The plan seeks to connect the key protected areas and support biodiversity conservation goals. On March 5, 2018 “National-Level Greenway Network Outline Plan (Draft)” was submitted to the Executive Yuan. Following a cross ministerial meeting convened by the Executive Yuan on April 3, 2018, seven national level greenway theme routes were approved: Tamsui Kavalan Trail, Raknus Selu Trail, Mountains to Sea National Greenway, Sugar Railway Greenway, Taiwan National Greenway, Austronesian Greenway and Central Mountain Range Conservation Greenway. To further advance the initiative, a coordination meeting led by the Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan was held on September 23, 2020, bringing together relevant agencies. The Agriculture and Irrigation Agency was tasked with developing a bicycle route along the Taiwan National Greenway to help complete a continuous, connected greenway network.
The Taiwan National Greenway officially broke ground in April 2021 and opened to the public in March 2022. This dedicated cycling route follows the historic Chianan Irrigation Canal, beginning at the Farmland Irrigation Heritage Museum in Linnei Township, Yunlin, and extending south to the No. 4 Water Regulator Gate of the Chianan Management Office in Xinshi District, Tainan. Spanning a total length of 105 kilometers, it’s the longest dedicated cycling route in Taiwan.
The route passes through Yunlin County, Chiayi County, and Tainan City, crossing four major aqueducts Puzi River, Bazhang River, Jishui River, and Guizhong River as well as three inverted siphons at Beigang River, Pizitou, and Nanjing, along with hundreds of irrigation structures. It links together rich agricultural landscapes, cultural features, and industrial heritage, reviving the glory of the century-old Chianan Canal.
As a dedicated cycling route, the greenway offers residents a new destination. Cyclists can traverse the vast Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan Plain, experiencing the seasonal rhythms of farmland and the region’s diverse ecosystems. More than just a recreational route, the Taiwan National Greenway serves as a meaningful corridor that captures travelers’ stories, celebrates rural cultural identity, and honors the enduring legacy of Taiwan’s irrigation development for generations to come.