Erfeng Town and Lilixi Shui Town in Pingtung were selected as Japanese Civil Engineering Heritage

Erfeng Town, Laiyi Township, Pingtung County. (Provided by Pingtung County Government)

The selection list for the "2026 Japan Civil Engineering Society Award Civil Heritage" was announced. Two important water conservancy projects in Pingtung County, Erfeng Town in Laiyi Township and Lilixi Water Town in Kasuga Township, were recognized as civil heritage sites. Both water conservancy projects were built by Japanese engineer Nobuhei Torii. They are still closely connected with local agriculture and life after hundreds of years, showing the historical context of early water conservancy engineering technology and Pingtung's land development.

The Japan Civil Engineering Society established the "Civil Engineering Society Award for Civil Engineering Heritage" in 2000 to promote the preservation and utilization of civil structures with historical, technological and cultural value. The selection of Erfeng Town and Lilixi Water Town this year is another honor for Taiwan's water conservancy and civil engineering assets, following the Wushantou Reservoir and the original Tainan Waterway (Tainan Mountain Garden Waterway Museum).

According to the Cultural Office of the County Government, Erfeng Town and Lilixi Water Town were completed in 1923 and 1925 respectively. They successfully diverted water from the upper reaches to the lower reaches for irrigation by taking advantage of the topography and geology. They are important water conservancy constructions left by Torii Nobuhei in Pingtung. It has been submitted to the Pingtung County Government for registration as a cultural landscape and historical building, and with the joint efforts of Pingtung University of Science and Technology Professor Ding Cheshi, Pingtung University teacher Lin Siling, the county government, public offices and local groups, it was awarded the Civil Engineering Heritage Award by the Japan Civil Engineering Society. This not only affirms the engineering technology and historical value of the two water towns, but also demonstrates the results of all walks of life's long-term investment in the preservation of water conservancy cultural assets.

Lilixi Shuizhen, Chunri Township, Pingtung County. (Provided by Pingtung County Government)