From June 2022 to May 2023, the university completely renovated Lake Success. Donations for the project were received from NTHU alumni around the world, hoping to restore the lake to its former glory.

Prior to removing the silt from the lakebed, it was necessary to first drain the lake and catch the fish. In the end, over one ton of fish were hauled out, including a bighead carp over one meter long! Once the lake was drained, a large number of pits became visible on the lakebed, which turned out to be the spawning grounds of the tilapia—the most abundant fish species in Lake Success. The sheer number of these pits was a spectacular sight.

In addition to facilitating a thorough dredging and restoration, completely draining the water revealed a few secrets slumbering at the bottom of the lake. Legend has it that a bicycle belonging to Professor Kao Shu-jung was somewhere in the lake, supposedly thrown in by a resentful student of power mechanical engineering who had failed her calculus class. However, Kao has previously stated that she has never taught any courses in that department, and that she got rid of her bicycle shortly after she started teaching at NTHU. While such rumors often have no basis in fact, the draining and dredging of the lake did indeed uncover a wide array of items from various eras, including bicycles, a sunken boat, drones, cameras, and mobile phones—each evoking a forgotten memory.

While the renovation project included a variety of new facilities, its main purpose was to improve the quality of the water in Lake Success. The lake has been refilled with freshwater, which is kept clean by an eco-friendly brush filtration system using physical, biochemical, and biological purification. In addition, a number of densely foliated trees and shrubs have been removed and a new entrance has been added to the west side of the lake, opening up a visual axis between the lake and the north gate which helps visitors to get oriented upon entering the campus, while also providing a smooth and transparent flowline through the open space next to the lake.

Newly added facilities on the lakeshore (see accompanying diagram)

1. Ling-ling and Kuo-lin Ecology Trail, Zaihan Waterfront, Lai-yu Green Embankment

Donor: Hu Kuo-lin (class of 1984)

The Ecology Trail is a boardwalk over the water, beginning at Guangming New Village and leading to the Fengyun Building and the Scientific Documentation and Instrumentation Center of the Research and Development Department (located behind Engineering Building 1), finally making it possible to circumnavigate the entire lake on foot. The Ecology Trail bears the given names of Hu and his wife, and the Zaihan Waterfront and the Lai-yu Green Embankment are named after Hu’s parents. A section of the water pipe that once ran under the lake was discovered during the dredging, and is now on display next to the Lai-yu Green Embankment, providing a clear reminder that Chenggong Lake served as a fire-fighting reservoir during the Japanese colonial era.

2. 1970 Garden:

Donors: Alumni of the 1970 classes of Nuclear Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry

The university named the area located between the lakeshore and the Shuimu Student Center after the class of 1970, in recognition for its generous donation to the Lake Success restoration project. The 1970 Garden features a new set of curved tables and benches, making it the perfect spot to relax under the shade trees. The short, dense trees here also make this a fine place for watching birds, with pigeons milling about below, and branches dense with leaves above, while little birds peek out and sing their names, showing off their long tail feathers, delicate and lovely.

3. Progress Pier

Donor: Eric Tsai (Tsai Jinbu, class of 1981)

To remedy the dearth of water activities on Lake Success in recent years, Eric Tsai funded the expansion of the dock, hoping that it would attract more students to the lake and help revive interest in boating. The plan has succeeded, and increasing numbers of students now come to the lake to wade in the water or enjoy a leisurely boat ride under the bridges. During the early days of Tsinghua University in Beijing, having a passing grade in physical education was a condition for studying abroad, and learning how to swim became a major hurdle for lots of students hoping to study overseas. The same spirit of physical fitness and recreation is alive and well at NTHU, and the revitalization of Lake Success has led to an upsurge of interest in boating, angling, and other water sports.

4. Yu Ning Island

Donor: Chen Yuning (class of 1974) 

Chen Yuning funded the construction of a simple pavilion on Xigua Island, making it an ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying the view. In gratitude for her donation, the school has officially named it Yuning Island.

The central purpose of the Lake Success restoration project was to create a sustainable ecological environment. With the assistance of retired professor Tzeng Chyng-shyan of the College of Life Sciences, an expert in marine ecology, the university released a controlled amount of silver carp, bighead carp, and grass carp into the lake to help eliminate algae and purify the water. The fry of paradise fish and black carp, which prey on mosquito larvae and golden apple snails, have also been released into the lake. It’s expected that these efforts will maintain the ecological balance of Lake Success, making it an inviting habitat for a wide variety of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.

With the combined efforts of a wide range of stakeholders, Lake Success is now graced with a variety of flora and fauna helping to purify the water and mitigate eutrophication, returning the lake to its former pristine state and providing an ideal natural focal point for the campus throughout the year.