Chaishan is also known as Shoushan, with its peak at an altitude of 356 meters, is the tallest coral reef on the Kaohsiung plains. It is also the lungs of Kaohsiung City, with rich natural sceneries and ecological resources.
Since there are groups of Formosan rock-monkeys living in the mountain, the Dutch in the 17th century and the British in the 19th century thus named it the Apen Berch/Ape Hill. The Formosan rock-monkeys are named after the specimens found here.
As the name implies, the trees on Chaishan (Mountain of Firewood) provided the firewood needed in the olden times. Ever since the Dutch in the 17th century, this place has been the source of firewood.
Since the ingredient for coral reefs is limestone, it has been mined here since 1917 for the production of cement. It finally stopped in 1990, bioremediation was implemented, and this place was marked as a conservation park. Mining activities were banned in order to protect the natural habitat, and it has now become an important biological treasure of Kaohsiung City.
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