Waipu District is an administrative district in northern Taichung between the Dajia and Daan rivers, occupying the terraced western edge of the Houli Plateau, with an area of about 42.41 km² and a population of roughly 30,700 as of May 2026. Its main agricultural products include honey-red grapes, potatoes, lilies, rice, mushrooms, and dragon fruit, and it is home to the Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park, Taiwan's first biomass energy facility combining anaerobic digestion and gasification, which converts food waste from greater Taichung into biogas power and also serves as an environmental education site.
Waipu District covers about 42.4099 km² and had a population of about 30,659 as of May 2026; it lies between the Dajia and Daan rivers on a terraced landscape at the western edge of the Houli Plateau, with main crops including honey-red grapes, potatoes, lilies, rice, mushrooms, and dragon fruit. The Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park in the district has operated since July 9, 2019, as Taiwan's first biomass facility combining anaerobic digestion and gasification; between July 2019 and June 2025 it processed about 140,000 tonnes of food waste from greater Taichung (roughly 27,000 tonnes annually), cutting an estimated 6,995.3 tonnes of CO2e, and has hosted over 150 environmental education events with more than 5,000 participants.
Highlights of the Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park
The park uses a dual-technology process — anaerobic digestion followed by gasification — to convert food waste collected from across greater Taichung into biogas, which is then used to generate electricity. It is Taiwan's first facility combining both technologies at this scale, and since opening on July 9, 2019 it has processed roughly 27,000 tonnes of food waste annually, cutting an estimated several thousand tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.
Beyond its role as a waste-to-energy plant, the park operates as an environmental education site, with guided tours explaining the anaerobic digestion and gasification process, the environmental logic of turning food waste into power, and the broader waste-management chain for greater Taichung. It has hosted over 150 environmental education events with more than 5,000 participants since opening. Advance registration through the operating authority is recommended for group tours.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- Public transit in Waipu District is limited; driving or riding a scooter is the most convenient option. Head north from central Taichung along Zhongshan Road or Provincial Highway 3 and then turn into Waipu.
- Guided tour hours and registration requirements are set by the operating authority; check official announcements or call ahead to book a tour before you visit.
- On hilly terrain, winter mornings can be quite cold and summer midday sun is intense. Spring, autumn, or clear winter days are the most pleasant times to visit the surrounding area.
Nearby Connections
- To the south, Waipu borders Houli District, where it can be combined with Houli Horse Ranch or Taian Railway Cultural Park for a northern Taichung half-day trip.
- Heading north across the Daan River reaches the Daan coastal area, from which you can extend your trip to Daan Seaside Resort to observe coastal ecology.
Source: Facts compiled from the Wikipedia entry on Waipu District.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Waipu District located in Taichung?
Waipu District sits in northern Taichung between the Dajia and Daan rivers, on the terraced western edge of the Houli Plateau, covering about 42.41 km².
What are Waipu District's signature agricultural products?
Its main crops include honey-red grapes, potatoes, lilies, rice, mushrooms, and dragon fruit.
What does the Waipu Green Energy Ecological Park do?
Operating since 2019, it is Taiwan's first biomass facility combining anaerobic digestion and gasification, converting food waste from greater Taichung into biogas power while also serving as an environmental education site.
Sources
- 外埔區 - 維基百科 — 面積、人口、地形、農產查證；確認查無「外埔綠能農場」地名，實際地標為「外埔綠能生態園區」
- 外埔綠能生態園區 - 環境部環教設施場所 — 全台首座厭氧氣化雙技術生質能園區、啟用年份查證
- 外埔綠能生態園區厭氧發電 全台首座生質能電廠 - 自由時報 — 啟用日期、處理量、環境教育場次交叉查證