Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

While continuing to safeguard Taipei’s flood protection, the Taipei City Hydraulic Engineering Office (HEO) is building upon this foundation to create ecologically friendly rivers and a safe, pleasant, and fulfilling waterfront living environment. Mayor Chiang Wan-an today (December 10) inspected the Jingmei River–Zhinan River Confluence Revetment Restoration Project, a model initiative for ecological river restoration that has received multiple awards and recognitions since its completion.

The HEO noted that flood protection is the most fundamental pillar of urban safety. In response to the challenges posed by extreme rainfall, the Taipei City Government has decided to increase the city’s rainfall tolerance from an hourly intensity of 78.8 millimeters to 88.8 millimeters. To achieve this goal, the city will invest NT$6.5 billion over five years in water management, advancing major projects across key catchment areas including Zhongshan, Bailing, Shilin, and Yuanshan. The HEO further explained that NT$3 billion will be invested in the nation’s first-of-its-kind Dunbei Underground Trunk Drain, which will employ shield tunneling to construct large-scale storage pipes, overcoming land acquisition constraints typically associated with detention basins. A second retention pipe project, the Chengde Road Retention Pipe, is also currently under planning.

To further strengthen overall flood control capacity, pumping stations and detention facilities are being upgraded. Construction is underway on Bailing Pumping Station, the largest in Beitou District, with completion scheduled for 2029. The Zhongshan Pumping Station will undergo expansion with an investment of NT$700 million, with construction set to begin in May next year. The Dalong Pumping Station expansion project (contract value NT$446 million) is expected to be completed in the second half of next year. In addition, Fulin Flood Management Park, the first detention basin in Shilin District, is scheduled for completion by the end of next year, further enhancing residents’ peace of mind.

Taipei is not only committed to safety, but also to helping citizens rediscover the sense of happiness that comes from being close to water. Over the past three years, the city has invested NT$3.2 billion to advance 28 riverbank restoration projects. Among these, the most high-profile initiative is the NT$1.8 billion Tamsui River Waterfront Environmental Development Plan. Construction of Phases 1 and 2 is scheduled for completion next year, with the entire project expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Upon completion, this world-class waterfront corridor will create a new urban landscape for Taipei.

The city has also invested approximately NT$160 million in the revitalization of Dajia Riverside Park, covering an area of 8.6 hectares. Phase I construction has recently commenced, and the park’s water performance plaza, play areas, and flower fields will all be renewed. Renovation works at Guting Riverside Park are likewise ongoing. Riverside playgrounds, a favorite among children, have also seen steady progress. Over the past three years, five brand-new playgrounds have opened, six have been renovated, and five more are currently under construction, ensuring that more joyful spaces will accompany children as they grow.

As part of its continued efforts to restore ecological rivers and improve the water environment, the HEO has implemented the Jingmei River–Zhinan River Confluence Revetment Restoration Project. Along the river stretch from the confluence of the Jingmei River and the Zhinan River to the Zhinan River section near Taipei Municipal Beizheng Junior High School, three-sided concrete revetments were removed and near-natural engineering methods were adopted. This allowed the previously concrete-lined Zhinan River to “breathe” again, improving river morphology and restoring the river ecosystem. Since its completion last year, the project has received multiple honors, including Honorable Mention in the “Nature Conservation” category at the 2025 IFLA Asia-Pacific Regional Landscape Architecture Awards, the Excellence Award in the Environmental Construction Category at the inaugural Taiwan Rivers of Hope Awards, and recognition at the Taiwan Landscape Awards. A second project of the same nature, the Xindian River–Jingmei River Confluence Project, is scheduled for completion in March next year, enabling citizens to reconnect with rivers and embrace nature.

In terms of river and stream rehabilitation, the Huanggang River Restoration Project in Beitou District (from Yanshou Bridge to Sanhe Bridge) is also expected to be completed in March next year. Guided by the principle of “returning land to the river,” the project will create a people-friendly green corridor that both expands flood storage capacity and provides ecological habitats, becoming a new highlight of livability in Beitou. In addition, the Taipei Municipal Minzu Experimental High School project, completed this year with an investment of NT$110 million, has not only improved campus drainage but also enhanced flood protection while adding educational and cultural value.

The HEO emphasized that, in response to the challenges posed by extreme rainfall, it will continue to reinforce urban flood control infrastructure while simultaneously promoting a more friendly and high-quality waterfront environment, making Taipei a city that is genuinely safe, livable, and water-friendly.