Department of Cultural Affairs

Laosong Primary School

Laosong Primary School was originally the Mengjia Public School, built in 1896 as one of the first elementary schools of the early period of Japanese rule. The school was temporarily housed in a temple, and moved 11 years later to its current location. The original school building had three sides set at right angles to each other, and the middle was left open as a playground. Later on, the original wooden structure became dilapidated, and was rebuilt as a steel-reinforced concrete structure.
Although the Laosong Primary School building was constructed in a symmetrical layout, the classrooms are tall and roomy, with plenty of natural light. The corridors are designed with arched ceilings, giving the school an appealing, classical feel. It is a highly representative elementary school of the Japanese era. Since its founding, the school has produced countless outstanding graduates in the Mengjia area. The school has thus made many beneficial contributions to society, and is deeply significant for the history of education in Taipei City. On June 29, 1999, the North Building of the School was designated Taipei City's 84th official historical site. On the school's campus are also preserved part of the old neighborhood Bopi Liao from the middle of the Qing dynasty, and the home where the major Chinese scholar Zhang Taiyan lived while visiting Taiwan. Both sites are of considerable historical value.