It is said that in the early days of NTHU, the area around Lake Success had numerous beefwood, evergreen ash, and elm trees, and had become quite wild and covered in thickets, despite having been well maintained when it hosted the dormitory for the nearby naval fuel plant.

With the establishment of NTHU, the lake and its surroundings underwent a series of renovations. According to school records, the first major transformation of Lake Success was led by Professor Chang Ling-chia, who was concurrently serving as the director of the Library, the Physical Education Office, and the campus shop. Chang later commented that when he first saw Lake Success, “It appeared to be a natural lake overgrown with trees and weeds, with no path to be found.” He spent 11 months transforming the lake and its immediate environs into a scenic spot.

To enhance the natural beauty of the lake, the school initially planted flowers and ornamental shrubs, but they didn’t grow well because the numerous trees prevented the plants from receiving sufficient sunlight and dew. Furthermore, according to Chen Jia-jin, the head of the Field Work Office, in the 1960s, the apricot-plum trees (actually peach trees grafted with apricot branches) mistakenly planted in the Mei Garden were later transplanted to the shores of Lake Success. Unfortunately, they failed to adapt to the new location, and only one tree managed to survive, demonstrating the difficulty of landscaping the area around the lake.

Lake Success covers ​​approximately three hectares. The small island in the middle of the Lake was formerly known as Huxin (lake center) Island, and in 1965 the bridge connecting it to the shoreline was funded by Zhai Kepeng of the class of 1943, after hearing that alumni had donated over ten boats and that the school was planning to build a pavilion on the island. The campus shop next to the lake was also slated for expansion, and with Chang’s beautification project already underway, it was expected that Lake Success would soon become a popular tourist attraction.

This arched concrete bridge with white concrete pillars and vermilion railings was completed in 1966, and at the opening ceremony, held during the university's anniversary celebration, it was named the Kegong Bridge in memory of Zhai’s elder brother, Zhai Kegong of the class of 1926. Over the years, the overall appearance of the Kegong Bridge has remained unchanged, but the style of the railings on both sides has changed due to renovations carried out at various times, such that successive generations may remember it somewhat differently.

Just who was Zhai Kegong? As Professor Ma Yuehan recalled, “There was a center forward on the soccer team by the name of Zhai Kegong. He played very well, and was quick and very accurate. He was well known not only at our school, but also throughout North China.” It turns out that Zhai Kegong was a top-notch athlete who has been memorialized by a small bridge in a distant place, and his achievement continues to inspire subsequent generations of students at NTHU.

There's an interesting anecdote about the Kegong Bridge. Professor Chung Chien (class of 1972) recounted that the Department of Nuclear Engineering had a course on drafting. Professor Liu Chung-ling taught the course and had the students redesign the bridge, which had only been completed some three years earlier. Afterwards, he collaborated with Father Mei Te-chun, who taught Engineering Mechanics, in evaluating the students’ calculation abilities. The final exam for the class of over 40 students was to calculate the load-bearing capacity of their redesigned bridge—how many students would need to stand on it to make it collapse? Professor Chung chuckled, “This is just a glimpse into my early university studies. From Professor Liu’s personal example, I learned that details can be of vital importance, and from Father Mei’s formal teaching, I learned how to be meticulous when carrying out calculations.”

As for the pavilion on Huxin island, it was originally a rustic hut with a thatched roof, and the table and benches inside were made from tree roots, giving it a simple and charming appearance. Like the island, the pavilion also had no formal name for many years, until 1986, when it was officially named the Jimei Pavilion to commemorate Zhou Yichun (courtesy name, Jimei), one of the school’s early presidents (1913-1918), whose reforms and contributions had a major impact on the development of the school. The pavilion’s name plaque was inscribed by alumnus Hu Guangbiao (class of 1911), at the request of NTHU President Mao Gaowen.

The uniqueness of the Jimei Pavilion can only be truly appreciated by visiting it in person. The island is surrounded by low bushes, and stepping into the pavilion is like entering a secluded refuge far from the clamor of urban life---the perfect place to cool off on a hot afternoon or chat with a friend, ever tempting people to steal a half-day of leisure from their busy lives.

In an interview, former NTHU president Mao recalled that when he came to NTHU as a visiting professor in 1972, he and his colleagues would meet at Lake Success, sit on the stone benches in the pavilion or lounge on the trees beside it, chatting about everything under the sun, even daring to discuss sensitive political issues. The freedom he felt at such moments has remained one of his most cherished memories of his time at NTHU.