With an area of about 11.8 hectares, the Nangang Park was built along the mountain by the water in a strong Chinese style in 1987. Sitting at the junction of Dongxin Street and Chengfu Road, the park borders the Combined Logistics Command in the north and links the Nankang Public Housing in the south, with Mt. Sisho standing afar in Xinyi District in the west. This is the largest landscape park in Nangang District with a natural pond and splendid view.
Floral diversity is maintained in the park, where over 2000 arbors of more than 60 species are grown. They include the banyan tree, bishop wood, maple leaved pterospermum, green maple, Taiwan cherry, Taiwan golden-rain tree, Chinese fringe tree, and so on. For example, sea mangoes are grown around the pond, and elephant apples are grown around the arch and car park. In addition, flower shrubs or colorful leaf ornamental shrubs like the dwarf ixora, sweet Osmanthus, azalea, black plum, green-tinge spider lily, and variegated croton are grown to enrich the park’s flora for a diverse look.
As the landmark of Nangang District, a 13m-tall and 20m-wide Chinese-styled red arch is erected at the main entrance of the Nangang Park, with the park’s Chinese name “南港公園” written in gold color in clerical script at the roof. The plaza in front of the arch is the ideal venue for local residents to dance and do morning exercise. The park is equipped with a range of facilities, such as sports facilities like children’s playground, physical fitness facilities, tennis courts, basketball courts, and PU lanes. These facilities can meet the needs of visitors of all ages.
There are three major ponds in Nangang District: Houshan Pond, Xinzhuangzi Pond, and Sanchongpu Pond. The present-day Nangang Park was the home of two large ponds collectively called the Houshan Pond. The detention pond in the park is only part of the “Houshan Pond” named according to Mt. Nangang. In earlier times, Mt. Nangang was the major footpath of Sifanzi, Lishan and Songshan, Sanchangli, and Liuchangli. As Sifanzi and Lishan are located in the rear of Mt. Nangang, Mt. Nangang was called Houshan (lit. the rear mountain). The pond was built at the foothills of Houshan, people thus habitually call it the “Houshan Pond.” In the olden days, Houshan Pond was the water source for irrigation and drinking water of local residents. It was also a kind of detention pond for flood prevention and water level regulation. Following the construction of the Nangang Park and Nangang Public Housing (for resettling demolition households of present-day Daan Forest Park), part of the Houshan Pond was reclaimed, and only a U-shaped detention pond around the hill survives today. Emergent plants like the alligator flag, Dutch iris, and oriental cattail are grown by the port.
