1. Gone fishing or gone boating

With the establishment of National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu in 1956, the connection between people and the lake began to unfold layer by layer. In the early days of NTHU, the daily life of faculty and students revolved around the shores of Lake Success. Visible across the lake were the South Court, the Student Activity Center, and the graduate student dormitories. Flipping through an early issue of the Tsing Hua Biweekly, one can catch a glimpse of the bustling activity around Lake Success, including fishing, boating, barbecues, and even traditional folk dances and basketball games.

Fishing has always been one of the most popular activities at Lake Success. In 1966 the second edition of the inaugural issue of the Tsing Hua Biweekly devoted considerable space to the topic of how to successfully catch fish at Lake Success. Here we learn that the lake was mainly populated by silver carp, grass carp, crucian carp, and common carp, and that the best time for fishing in the lake was after 4 or 5 pm. We also learn where to buy fishing gear and that the fishing rod need not be anything fancy, as long as the float is sensitive. Moreover, in the Tsing Hua News Report we read that in the early days of the school, fish were raised in Lake Success, with catches made every two years, the proceeds being used to fund the campus shop.

Numerous stories of fishing in the lake have been shared over the years. Professor Cheng Hwa-sheng recounted his experience of catching fish in Lake Success and then paying for them by weight at the Division of Physical Facilities office. Alumnus Eric Cai (class of 1981) smilingly recounted how late one night he and his classmates went to the pavilion on the island to play guitar, sing folk songs, and catch fish. They caught more than a dozen fish in one go, took them to the restaurant to have them cooked, and kept the extra fish in the dormitory bathroom for a future meal.

In fact, fishing on the lake became so popular amongst people both inside and outside the university that the fish population began to dwindle. According to the September 1969 issue of the Tsing Hua Biweekly, to prevent overfishing of grass carp, Wang Yutong, the director of the Division of Property Management of the Office of General Affairs, began to diligently patrol the lake day and night. At that time, pretty much the only opportunity to catch fish was when the lake was being drained for dredging. Although the aim was to remove silt and restore the lake, lakeside residents were more interested in scooping up the remaining fish and having a hearty meal. Everyone came with high spirits and left with a full catch.

Boating is another cherished tradition on Lake Success. In 1966, coinciding with the inauguration of Kegong Bridge, the university began renting out small boats donated by alumni. According to records from the 1970s Biweekly, tickets were available at the student activity center by the lake, with a lifeguard was on duty to ensure safety. Boating on the lake soon became a favorite leisure activity at NTHU, and the romance of a boat ride under the starlit sky attracted many couples on dates. There were even inter-departmental rowing competitions in which the competitors keenly studied each other’s techniques.

The staff member in charge of managing the lakeside lounge and the boat rentals was Li Jinming, whom everyone referred to as “Lake Warden.” At that time, the lounge was filled with the sounds of students holding meetings and discussing club activities, while others read newspapers and magazines or played go. There was also a billiards table in the lounge, with occasional competitions, creating a lively atmosphere.

In coping with the high demand for boat rentals on holidays, Li exhibited impressive boating skills. For example, while returning the boats to their designated positions, he was often seen rowing a boat with one hand while pulling another boat with the other.

At that time, there were not many entertainment opportunities on campus or nearby, so on holidays students typically gathered at Lake Success to hold social and recreational activities, including picnics, making dumplings, and singing, creating a festive atmosphere and countless happy memories.

In addition, NTHU professors who know how to make the most of local resources have occasionally used Lake Success as an open-air classroom. Alumnus Xu Mingde (class of 1968) recalls how one summer day, one of his classmates in the Introduction to Nuclear Engineering class suddenly suggested moving the class to the lakeside. With the permission of the instructor, Deng Guangxin, they all went outside and sat on the grass next to the lake. Although the content of that particular lesson may have been long forgotten, the novelty of having class outside, accompanied by a gentle breeze and the buzzing of cicadas, remains vivid and unforgettable.

On the side of Lake Success near Guangming New Village there is a small island commonly known as Xigua (Watermelon) Island. The Keqin Bridge going out to the Island was opened in 1975 as part of the university’s anniversary celebration and was built with funds donated by the graduate students of the class of 1965, who also donated a set of marble tables and chairs for the island. The Keqin Bridge and the Kegong Bridge complement each other, sharing a similar design featuring white cement pillars with vermilion railings. However, subsequent renovations over different periods have resulted in changes to the overall appearance of both bridges.

Not far from the Keqin Bridge, on the water's edge, stands another historically significant Chinese-style structure, the Bajiao (Octagonal) Pavilion, a gift from the class of 1936. Its roof is a deep green, complemented by white beams, and the pavilion is furnished with tables and chairs, making it a fine place to relax while enjoying the lake. Inside the Pavilion is hung a plaque with an inscription poetically indicating the source of the donation. It was written by Professor George Yeh, who formerly taught at Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing, later serving as the Republic of China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United States. In his later years, he devoted himself to calligraphy and painting, becoming a renowned calligrapher.

The inscription on the plaque reads, “The Octagonal Pavilion was built next to Lake Success with funds donated by the class of 1936 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their graduation. They were the eighth class to graduate from Tsinghua University. The pavilion symbolizes the spread of knowledge throughout the world and the enjoyment of music throughout the four seasons.”

However, flipping through past freshman handbooks, we can see that most alumni mainly remember this pavilion as a popular site for barbecues with their classmates, a collective reminiscence echoing down through the years in the hearts and minds of NTHU students.

In the early days of NTHU, rowing was very popular, which gave rise to an interest in sailing. In 1977, Chan Cheng-feng, a winner of the Sino-US Sailing Competition, gave a demonstration at the university. As a result, Hong Duanyou (class of 1979, class of 1992D) and Cai Gaofeng (class of 1979) became very interested in sailing, and after honing their skills, they took alumni sailing on the lake during the university's anniversary celebration. Following a successful fundraising drive, they established the Sailing Club, and the University purchased two sailboats for the club’s use. Various water activities, including rowing, sailing, and windsurfing, continued on Chenggong Lake into the 1990s. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns and the closure of the dock, the Sailing Club declined in popularity and was eventually disbanded.

Despite the curtailment of water sports on the lake, having fun in the water remained an irresistible draw for students. One campus tradition many students have heard of or experienced themselves is being thrown into Lake Success on their birthday. Alumnus Cai Jie (class of 2009) recounted that many of his classmates vowed to jump into Lake Success to celebrate their birthday or after winning a competition. And if anyone forgot to follow through on their vow, they were summarily escorted to the lake and thrown in, after which the mud-covered victim would invariably give his classmates a slimy hug.

Where did this peculiar tradition come from? Professor Chung Chien explained that in the early days of the university, the freshman orientation included a component in “confidence training,” during which senior students would throw the “newbies” into Lake Success, a practice jokingly referred to as “dragging corpses.” Although the freshmen would eventually be rescued, it was undeniably dangerous, and was eventually banned by the Student Affairs Office director Hong Tong. The ban, however, couldn't extinguish the fun-loving spirit of young students, who continued to jump into the lake amidst waves of laughter.

2. Ups and downs on the lake

The 1980s brought major changes to NTHU and the surrounding area. Following the construction of National Highway No. 1 and the Hsinchu Science Park, the military dependents’ villages near the university were demolished, and high-rise public housing buildings were erected one after another, attracting a large influx of people and giving rise to a new commercial district around the University. As if echoing this influx of people, the area around Lake Success became even more vibrant. During his tenure as vice president for general affairs (1982-1986), Hu De set aside space in buildings near the lake for use by student clubs. Later, with the assistance of NTHU president Shen Chun-shan, dean of student affairs Du Zhenggong arranged for music clubs to be concentrated in the one- and two-story buildings next to the Main Auditorium, offering lake views and opportunities to play elegant music without disturbing the tranquility of the residential area. Afterwards, the melodious sounds of artistic performances gradually rose around the lake.

In the 1990s, Peng Minghui, director of the NTHU Arts and Culture Center, seeing that art galleries typically hold little interest for the average person due to their high threshold for appreciation, organized a series of outdoor arts and cultural activities, as a way of making art a part of daily life. With funding provided by the Hua Wan Cultural and Educational Foundation, on one weekend a month, art exhibitions, concerts, drama performances, and markets were held on the shore of Lake Success, which became a hub of cultural activity.

In addition to arts and cultural activities, Lake Success began to host a farmer’s market known as the Bamboo Dragonfly Green Market. Founded in 2009 by Lin Yi-hsuan (master’s class of 1996), the market was held next to the lake on the first and third Saturdays of each month. At the time, it was one of the few markets in Taiwan featuring agricultural education, and it also became a popular place to climb one of the short trees next to the lake to enjoy the view.

However, even while bustling and vibrant on the surface, Lake Success had been harboring an increasingly serious ecological crisis for decades. Professor Weng Zhengming recalled that during his tenure as vice president for general affairs (1989-1994), the silt on the lake bottom had become so thick that the fish began to die in large numbers, creating a stench that drew protests from nearby residents. To remedy the problem, the university drained and dredged the lake, providing an opportunity to catch the remaining fish. However, not long after the lake was refilled, a layer of green algae began to cover the surface, raising concerns among students. In May 2012, more than a dozen NTHU students established a Facebook group called Save Lake Success, and began to record the daily condition of the lake, which garnered considerable attention. At the same time, the university also implemented a large-scale cleanup operation to remove algae-laden wastewater.

However, the lack of fresh water entering the lake, coupled with siltation, had resulted in an insufficient amount of oxygen in the water, causing the water lilies, koi, and silver carp to gradually die off, and for a time, only the more adaptable tilapia remained. Lake Success, once a lively place of joy and laughter, appeared to be dying.