[ { "DataSN": "3329819", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=DDD335E7567F8B4A", "title": "The Yen Hsi-shan House", "Content": "The Yen Hsi-shan House--> Yen Hsi-shan was born in 1883 in Wutai County, Shanxi Province. He went to Japan for formal military training in 1904. During his years in Japan, he joined Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Revolutionary Alliance, and began to advocate revolution in China. After the founding of the Chinese Republic, Yen served many important governmental positions, including military commander, military-governor, governor and government chairman of Shanxi Province, as well as ROC premier and state councilor for the ROC national government. In 1960, he died of natural causes in Taipei at the age of 77. Not long after the 1945 victory of Chinese forces over Japan, the civil war between China’s communist and nationalist forces broke out. In March of 1949, communist troops surrounded the walled city of Taiyuan, embroiling Yen’s army in a bitter battle. Five hundred of his men ultimately sacrificed their lives defending Taiyuan from the communists. In March 1950, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek resumed the position of ROC president in Taiwan, and Yen Hsi-shan began to gradually play a less prominent role in political affairs, living a life of seclusion in this residential home in Yangmingshan. Out of a sense of homesickness, and also to protect against heat and typhoons, he had his house built into a hillside according to the yaodong style of architecture prevalent in the high plains of Shanxi Province. Here he wrote on a daily basis, and lived out the end of his days peacefully. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329818", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=EE72F26969DCEEAC", "title": "The White House, Tianmu (Former U.S. Military Advisors’ Residence)", "Content": "The White House, Tianmu (Former U.S. Military Advisors’ Residence)--> The White House of Tianmu originally served as a dwelling for US soldiers during the era when the American military was stationed on Taiwan. In June of 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States came to view Taiwan as a vital part of America’s line of defense in the Pacific, an “unsinkable aircraft carrier.” The US thus began sending its Seventh Fleet to patrol the Taiwan Strait, blocking an invasion of Taiwan by the PRC. In 1951, the US placed a detachment of military advisors on Taiwan, and the two countries signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in 1954, after which America’s military presence on Taiwan increased. Subsequently, Taiwan became an indispensable ally of the United States in its efforts to halt the spread of communism during the Cold War period. To make the life of American personnel in Taiwan pleasant and orderly, the ROC government constructed several high-quality barracks in the Shilin District, allowing American military personnel to enjoy First World standards of living in what was then a Third World country. These houses, a fusion of American and Japanese architectural styles, featured yards, external walls of white clapboard and roofs of black tile. The interiors featured fireplaces and niches built into the walls. In 1978, the United States announced it would officially recognize the People’s Republic of China, and severed formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China. Afterwards, American military personnel left Taiwan in successive waves. Today few dwellings for American military personnel remain. The White House of Tianmu is exceptionally valuable as a showcase of this historical period, and is very worthy of preservation. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329817", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=EEB6C4ECFF8A2CC2", "title": "Pan Family House, Shilin", "Content": "Pan Family House, Shilin--> The ancestors of the Pan clan arrived in Taiwan during the early Qianlong era of Qing Dynasty. In late October 1859, after “Zhangzhou-Quanzhou Clash” (a battle between immigrant groups from two different areas, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, of Fujian Province in mainland China), Pan yong-qing and Pan sheng-qing, the fourth generation of the Pan clan, marked out Shilin new street and Cixian Temple . They also participated in educational and political affairs. This well-known family is mentioned on the pillars and inscriptions of the three greatest ancient temples of Shilin. The house, used as the ancestral shrine of the family, is not designed with extra rooms. Facing west, the house is straightly divided into a forecourt, a main entrance, a central courtyard, a hall, a mid-hall, a pavilion, a back hall, and a back gate. Because people are allowed to pass through this private house, this building, therefore, functions like a public road, which is called “Juguan” by neighbors.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329816", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=1C841C1C36B6F8D6", "title": "Grass Mountain Waterworks", "Content": "Grass Mountain Waterworks--> During the Mudan Village Incident of 1871, when Japanese forces first made inroads on Taiwanese soil, and the Japanese occupation of the Penghu Islands during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, Japanese officials and soldiers suffered heavy losses from infectious diseases. Therefore, soon after Japan gained control of Taiwan in 1895, its colonial administration made great efforts to institute a public health system, a tap water system and a sewage system, in order to ensure the health of Japanese nationals living on the island. The Taipei Waterworks System was completed in 1909, providing the predominantly Japanese districts of Taipei with tap water. Later, as the population of Taipei City rose, the volume of tap water became increasingly insufficient, and construction of the Grass Mountain Waterworks commenced in 1928. It could deliver 28,800 cubic meters of water per day, meeting the needs of 150,000 people. As the waterworks originated in the Yangming Mountains, the construction team had to overcome difficult terrain and many obstructions, making the project far more complicated than the Taipei Waterworks, headquartered in the Gongguan area. The main facilities of the Grass Mountain Waterworks included a pumping well, aqueducts, adjustment wells, connection wells, a water main, a hydroelectric power plant and a storage reservoir. The black water main is still visible today running alongside an old stone-stepped path in Tianmu. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329815", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=F8EE08A6AA646A8F", "title": "Official Residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, Shilin", "Content": "Official Residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, Shilin--> When ROC President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling came to Taiwan in 1949, they lived temporarily at the Grass Mountain Guest House until a new presidential residence was completed in Shilin in 1950. Generalissimo Chiang lived in this mansion for 26 years before passing away, and thus it is the dwelling most closely associated with him and his wife. The estate on which it is located was previously an experimental botanical garden during the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945). Here, President Chiang hosted many leading political figures and foreign dignitaries. Kaige Chapel, built in 1949, was used for church services. Besides Chiang Kai-shek and Madame Chiang, many heads of state, high-ranking military officials and overseas guests often gathered here on Sundays. Ciyun Pavilion was built in 1963 as a memorial to the president’s mother. The main hall of the residence was a two-story cement building with dark green exterior walls. A portion of the roof was made of ceramic tiles. The ground floor featured a large reception hall, while the second floor contained the bedroom and living quarters of the first couple. Although the building is of Western design, the interior maintains a traditional Chinese flavor. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329813", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=A8761EB5BFDEADFC", "title": "Shilin Public Market", "Content": "Shilin Public Market--> The Shilin Public Market is located in front of Cixian Temple. In the Qing dynasty, Cixian Temple, dedicated to the goddess Mazu, was situated in the center of Shilin, and the plaza in front of it held a busy market. In the early period of Japanese rule, the Japanese colonial government began exacting public health fees, used to help Japanese people purchase goods and to ensure their health. In 1896, they established the Xinqi Street Market in the Ximen area, the first of Taipei City’s government-administered markets. Later on, the Japanese initiated a city-restructuring plan, converting the plaza in front of Cixian Temple into a public market in 1913. A symbolic merger of traditional temple forecourt markets and modern public markets, it is of significant historical and folkloric value. Other public markets representative of that era, such as those in the Ximen, Dadaocheng and Nanmen districts, have for the most part been altered. Only the Shilin Public Market retains its original appearance and remains a market of considerable scale. In addition to the central building, arched shopping arcades stand on either side. Its special architectural features include tall brick walls at both ends, roof vents, numerous buttresses along the side walls, and pointed-arch window ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329814", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=FC4263B02730E7A1", "title": "Tomb of Pan Gong-chou", "Content": "Tomb of Pan Gong-chou--> Pan Gongchou was one of the first immigrants from the Zhangzhou district of China’s Fujian Province to settle in the Taipei basin during the Qing dynasty. Homesteading in Shilin, he also opened up Beitou, Tamsui, Shimen and Sanzhi for development. At the end of the Qing dynasty, the original town of Shilin was destroyed by fire during clashes between groups of immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. Therefore, under the leadership of the Pan family, the Zhangzhou settlers relocated to Xiashulin and laid out a new grid of streets with a temple to the goddess Mazu at its center, serving as the foundation for the current street plan of Shilin District. The tomb of Pan Gongchou was built on a mountain slope in the foothills of Shilin near the Tianmu area, in a location called Hongluxue, with excellent conditions according to the theories of Fengshui. A tombstone was erected in 1870, and remains well preserved to this day. The tomb is large, and its stone elephants and altar are still discernible. The tombstone’s inscription displays verse written by scholars and officials of Taipei at that time. Recently, the descendants of Pan Gongchou founded an association responsible for maintenance of the tomb. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329811", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=F96E82116CD792CC", "title": "Beitou Farmers’ Association Silo", "Content": "Beitou Farmers’ Association Silo--> Built in 1938 during Japanese colonial rule, the Beitou Granary was operated by the Beitou Credit and Purchasing Cooperative. Starting in 1904, the Japanese colonial government adopted grain distribution measures, in response to wartime exigencies, and controlled the entire process, from production and storage to sales. The Beitou Granary became a government-designated grain storage center. After World War II, Beitou established a farmer’s association, which continued to provide farmers with services, including supplies, sales and loans. The layout of the granary was in an L shape. Facilities included offices, a mill room and a long grain storage area. A raised loft was constructed on the roof for ventilation. A conveyor belt ran down the middle of the interior, separating the granary into right and left storehouses. A corridor made of brick provided insulation. A total of 12 storage rooms were partitioned by brick walls, on which were hung woven bamboo nets to protect rice husks from moisture. The entire roof truss was made of wood, and has survived in good condition to the present day. Particularly noteworthy is the rice mill, made of high-quality juniper, which is still well preserved. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329812", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=7E71FDBA1A25649D", "title": "The Zhong Shan Building, Yangmingshan", "Content": "The Zhong Shan Building, Yangmingshan--> The Zhong Shan Building was constructed in 1965 to commemorate the centennial birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, father of the Republic of China, and the renaissance of Chinese culture. It was meticulously designed by noted architect Hsiu Tze-lan according to the personal concepts of then ROC president Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Madame Soong Mei-ling. The entire building is based on China’s tradition of imperial architecture, with a cascading structure and roof of green glazed tiles. The upturned eaves convey a dramatic sense of motion, as if the unfolding of a great bird’s wings. The complementary combination of red eaves and white walls makes the building appear particularly magnificent. The Zhong Shan Building is an important venue for state banquets, major government conferences and receptions. Its Chinese Culture Hall, the dedicated conference area for the ROC National Assembly, is of particular historical significance as a witness to the constitutional development of the Republic of China. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329810", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=F8425F189BBFD038", "title": "Beitou Grotto for the Buddhist Deity Acala", "Content": "Beitou Grotto for the Buddhist Deity Acala--> The Acala Grotto is a rare example of a Buddhist grotto in Taiwan. Acala is one of the Five Wisdom Kings of Vajrayana, or Tantric Buddhism. A guardian deity generally portrayed with a fearsome appearance, Acala is also held to be an embodiment of the Buddha. Acala (Fudo in Japanese) is commonly venerated by the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan, but rarely seen in Taiwan. Japanese businessman Sano Sotaro established the grotto in 1925 in conjunction with his hot spring hotel, chiseling the small cave in the rock, and placing in it a small idol of Acala. With a hand-washing basin in front and a clear-spring waterfall at the side of the grotto, it is a tranquil and elegant locale. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329809", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=0B45C3D04777A470", "title": "Beitou Grotto for the Buddhist Deity Acala", "Content": "Beitou Grotto for the Buddhist Deity Acala--> The Acala Grotto is a rare example of a Buddhist grotto in Taiwan. Acala is one of the Five Wisdom Kings of Vajrayana, or Tantric Buddhism. A guardian deity generally portrayed with a fearsome appearance, Acala is also held to be an embodiment of the Buddha. Acala (Fudo in Japanese) is commonly venerated by the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan, but rarely seen in Taiwan. Japanese businessman Sano Sotaro established the grotto in 1925 in conjunction with his hot spring hotel, chiseling the small cave in the rock, and placing in it a small idol of Acala. With a hand-washing basin in front and a clear-spring waterfall at the side of the grotto, it is a tranquil and elegant locale. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329808", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=F724BDA846FCE5BB", "title": "Taiwan Folk Arts Museum", "Content": "Taiwan Folk Arts Museum--> In the early Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), Beitou became famous for its hot springs, and gradually developed into a holiday and health resort. This completely wooden villa first served as a Japanese officer’s club, and for a time housed a kamikaze air squadron. After World War II, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs converted it into the Jia Shan Guest House, and later sold it to private buyers. In recent years, it has been converted into the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum. The complex is divided into a higher and a lower group of buildings, all made of wood in a Japanese style. The main building has two stories, with a large hall on the second floor, exquisitely handcrafted of quality wood. The Japanese-style garden that is part of the teahouse also remains in perfect condition, with a small bridge crossing a flowing stream, an artificial hill and a waterfall. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329807", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=BB70B48E56D8D5C3", "title": "Former Japanese Military Hospital, Beitou Branch", "Content": "Former Japanese Military Hospital, Beitou Branch--> Built during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), the Beitou branch of the Japanese Military Hospital serviced wounded Japanese soldiers convalescing here during the Russo-Japanese War. It later became a psychiatric hospital for the ROC Armed Forces. Several buildings were arranged side-by-side in rows across a mountain slope. One entranceway is currently extant. The buildings were constructed with relatively tall foundations, and were positioned facing south, with corridors along both sides, serving to block both moisture and sunlight. Built in a typical architectural style of that time, both the walls and framework were of wood, with clapboard sidings and small wooden windows. The buildings are notable for their incorporation of native Taiwanese materials. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329806", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=58081F261276EFC3", "title": "Yinsong Pavilion", "Content": "Yinsong Pavilion--> Located in the Beitou hot spring district, Yinsong Pavilion, constructed in 1934, is one of a handful of Japanese-style wooden hotels still remaining in Taipei. Its architecture and the landscaping of its inner courtyard are of classic Japanese design. It is a mainly single-story structure, with a two-story section, and is covered with black roof tiles. The appearance is peaceful and classically elegant. Although it has undergone restoration several times, it retains its original wooden entry room, fishpond, small arched bridge, stone stairs and stone lanterns, reflecting the style of courtyard design in the Taisho and Showa periods. Laid out along a mountain slope, the whole building affords an excellent view. The interior is furbished with a large amount of Formosan juniper, creating a luxurious and charming atmosphere. With its classic architectural and garden design, Yinsong Pavilion stands as a testimony to the cultural history of the Beitou hot spring district. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329805", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=572F844247F37BEF", "title": "Grass Mountain Teachers’ Training Center", "Content": "Grass Mountain Teachers’ Training Center--> Originally known as the Grass Mountain Public Recreational Gardens, this historical building was the most renowned public bathhouse in the Yangmingshan area when it was first built. At the time, the hot springs of Grass Mountain attracted visitors from near and far, and these facilities were constructed on a very large scale, divided into two bathing pools, for men and women, respectively. Its most distinguishing feature is the octagonal bathing pool. After World War II, the bathhouse became an office building for the Yangmingshan Management Bureau. Today it serves as a teachers’ training center for Taipei City. The building was constructed from locally obtained materials. The walls were built of blocks of andesite, the purple-gray tint of which matches the tiles of the building’s slanted roofs. Well-known craftsmen from Tamsui constructed the building. The arrangement of the stone blocks was influenced by Western architecture, and thus the bathhouse was originally renowned for its “foreign design.” It stands as valuable evidence of the history of Taiwan’s hot spring culture, and its application of building materials and architectural techniques.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329804", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=4D0F061A475A10A0", "title": "Ciyun Temple", "Content": "Ciyun Temple--> Ciyun Temple, the well-known zhaitang (a Buddhist temple with a dining hall) of northern Taiwan, was originally built in 1840, dedicated to the Buddhist goddess Avalokiteshvara (Guanshiyin), whose statuary was brought to Taiwan from Mt. Putuo in the Zhoushan islands of Zhejiang Province. Originally a thatch hut that was later destroyed by floods, it was relocated to the Taipei Basin and rebuilt as a brick structure. As part of city planning during the period of the Japanese colonial rule, ground was filled in outside the city's West Gate. In 1924, Zhang Jialai, the fourth-generation temple director whose Buddhist name was Puru, donated the funds to construct the current zhaitang-style Buddhist temple. It offers a precious world away from the bustling city district in which it is located. This secluded, tranquil temple contains imposing statuary of the Buddhist deities Avalokiteshvara, Sakyamuni and Manjusri. When Ciyun Temple was built, an arched portico of red brick the width of a covered walkway (qilou) was built along the front of the temple and used as a worship hall. The workmanship is precise and beautiful, the structure conforming to rational principles. The building's interior was constructed with steel I-beams, a considerably progressive innovation at that time. The second floor, however, was a completely traditional wooden structure. The northerly room is a shrine for idols, and rooms on both the left and the right were reserved as living quarters, ingeniously combining religious and residential features. In general, the interior of Ciyun Temple has a clearly delineated spatial layout and is simply decorated. It is a rare specimen of Taiwanese temple architecture. On July 11, 2000, Ciyun Temple was designated Taipei City's 97th official historical site.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329803", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=21DA464C3DE3D300", "title": "The Lin House, Mengjia", "Content": "The Lin House, Mengjia--> Built in 1932. The original owner Lin Xibao began life as a farmer and first began to amass wealth by operating a mobile kiosk. He bought land and built this residential building to be used as living quarters for his extended family and as storage space. The eldest son of the Lin family, Lin Hongma, enjoyed a reputation of being sincere and amiable, and served as a neighborhood administrator during the Japanese colonial period. The family later started the Lin Eshui Company, engaging in the wholesale and retail sale of fruits and vegetables, a new industry at that time. The company became the specially designated supplier to such government agencies as the Governor's Mansion (today the Presidential Palace), the Taiwan Railway Administration, the Taipei City Government and the Monopoly Bureau (what later became the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau). The family business prospered, and at its height about 50 people lived in the Lin house. The Lin House of Mengjia faced Xiyuan Road, and on the west bordered a railway line (now underground). In accordance with city street plans, the main entrance was built to slant inward, a unique design. The first floor, with a main living room, a dining room and a kitchen, was the family's gathering place. The second and third floors held bedrooms. On the north side of the fourth-floor roof was an ancestral shrine facing south. The Lin House was carefully and exquisitely constructed, combining different Chinese, Western and Japanese architectural styles. On July 11, 2000, the Lin House was designated Taipei City's 96th official historical site.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329802", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=19157A9BE3B31E64", "title": "Laosong Primary School", "Content": "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.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329801", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=71A45CC42AE98CE3", "title": "The Xie House, Mengjia", "Content": "The Xie House, Mengjia--> Built at the end of the Qing dynasty (prior to 1895), the Xie House was originally a sea-merchant's guild house of the Ouyang family, constructed in the antique architectural style of southern Fujian Province. Following World War II, it was sold to Mr. Xie Xizhen, whose family had learned the dry goods trade from the Japanese and made a fortune as merchants in Xiamen. The house's interior was decorated with furniture mostly imported from Fujian. The house stands as a testament to the arduous process through which Mengjia was built up in its early years. In the post-war period, the Xie family ran the house as the Starlight Hotel and Moonlight Bathhouse, for use by travelers, laborers and soldiers. The fees were low, attesting to the landlord's egalitarian, tolerant spirit. Although the building has been rebuilt, the central courtyard and front lobby still retain the special architectural feel of the Qing dynasty. On January 7, 1999, the Xie House was designated Taipei City's 83rd official historical site.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329799", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=8B6CD331172DCFF0", "title": "Grass Mountain Royal Guest House", "Content": " “Grass Mountain” was an old name for the Yangmingshan area. During the era of Japanese colonial rule, it became a newly developed recreational district, due to its excellent hot springs and superlative mountain scenery. In April of 1923, Japan’s Crown Prince Hirohito toured Taiwan, and the colonial administration selected Grass Mountain as one of the points his entourage would visit. They built the Grass Mountain Royal Guest House as his personal lodgings. Located in a mountain valley, the building is secluded and quiet. Its architectural style is a unique mixture of Japanese and Western influences. After World War II, Grass Mountain Royal Guest House became known as Yangmingshan First Guest House, and hosted confidential meetings of the Chinese Nationalist Party. Sun Ke, president of the Examination Yuan, later lived here, and the house eventually became a residence for the descendants of ROC founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329800", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=9ABC4DE19753711E", "title": "The Red House, Ximen", "Content": "The Red House, Ximen --> The Red House, a two-story Western-style red-brick octagonal structure in Taipei's Ximen (“West Gate\") district built in 1908, was one of Taiwan's first new-style markets of the early Japanese colonial period, designed by Kindo Jyuro, an architect in the prefectural civil engineering office at the time. In 1896 it was first built as a simple wooden marketplace outside Taipei's West Gate; the red brick building, incorporating both octagonal and cruciform shapes, was formally erected in 1908. At the time, it was called the Xinqi Street Market, serving residents of Taipei in the vicinity of the West Gate. The other markets built during the same period were all eventually replaced; only the Red House of Ximen remains, making it highly valuable for the modern history of Taiwan's popular culture and construction industry. The Red House was originally called the “market octagon.\" Its design is quite unique, with walls of red brick, floors of steel-reinforced concrete, and a roof built on a reinforced steel frame. The original market sold flowers, books, medicine, Japanese preserves and local Taiwanese produce. During major festivals, it also served as a bustling dry goods market. After World War II, it served first as a storytelling hall, and then as a theater. On February 20, 1997, the Red House of Ximen was designated Taipei City's 30th official historical site. It has currently been restored to its original appearance. The first floor serves as a venue for the arts, and the second floor serves as a theater, giving this historic landmark a new, elegant aura of culture.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329798", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=7714BF18323066DC", "title": "Xuehai Academy", "Content": "Xuehai Academy--> Xuehai Academy was established in 1837, after a seven-year construction process by Tamsui prefect Lou Yun and his successor Cao Jin. It was originally named Wen Jia Academy. (In the Minnan dialect, both Wen Jia and Mengjia V the city's name in that era V are pronounced Manka). Ten years later, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang Liu Yunke, when touring the island, changed the name to Xuehai Academy. It was once the highest institution of learning in the Tamsui-Taipei area. The imperial mandarin Chen Wei-ying from the nearby town of Dalongdong (now part of west Taipei) once taught here and served as the academy's principal. Chen was a brilliant educator and highly admired. While serving at Xuehai he launched a charity donation drive to renovate the academy. The Xuehai Academy featured a complete spatial design for an institution of learning. According to historical diagrams of Tamsui Prefecture, the layout included (in order) an outer wall, a main gate, a lecture hall, a shrine to the early Confucian scholar Zhu Xi, and left and right wings serving as classrooms. In recent years, the main gate was moved inward to accommodate the expansion of a roadway. During the period of Japanese rule, the academy was used as a Japanese-language government office, an army dormitory and the site of the Laosong School. It was ultimately sold to the Kao clan to serve as their ancestral temple. Although the academy has gone through a series of renovations, it retains its original structure, and still serves as the Kao clan ancestral shrine. On August 19, 1985, Xuehai Academy was designated Taipei City's 13th official historical site.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329797", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=C876DF618ECB29D2", "title": "CiXian Temple, Shilin", "Content": " Cixian Temple, dedicated to the worship of the goddess Mazu, was originally built in 1796 near the current location of the American School in Shilin. In 1864, a group of devotees including Pan Yongqing and Pan Shengqing built a new temple on New Bazhilan Street, to provide a guardian deity for the area. The temple was rebuilt in 1927. Artisans of two different schools separately constructed the left and right sides, which consequently contain different styles of carvings. The exquisite koji ceramic art in the main hall is also a significant feature.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329795", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=8F50609FE01FB78F", "title": "Huiji Temple, Zhishanyan", "Content": " Built between 1752 and 1764, Huiji Temple is dedicated to the worship of the Sage King Chen Yuanguang, founder of the Zhangzhou district of Fujian. The temple has been rebuilt five times. The current structure was constructed in 1968. It is made predominantly of cement, in which a few stone sculptures from older generations of the temple have been inlaid. The front hall is dedicated to the Sage King Chen Yuanguang, while the upper floor of the rear hall is dedicated to the god of scholarship Wen Chang, and the lower hall is dedicated to the Buddhist deity Avalokiteshvara. In 1786, rebel military leader Lin Shuangwen rose up against the Qing authorities, attacking Zhishan. In the Lin Shuangwen Incident, many local people of Shilin were massacred next to Huiji Temple. A tablet was later erected at this location as a memorial. Other architectural remnants from the early period of settlement in Shilin, such as the Zhishan Huaigu Pavilion, a tablet attesting to the donation of the grounds, a narrow gate originally part of fortifications, and a funerary temple, can still be found in the vicinity.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329796", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=68BF25E297D15106", "title": "Qingshan Temple, Mengjia", "Content": "Qingshan Temple, Mengjia--> Mengjia's Qingshan Temple was dedicated to the worship of Zhang Gun, “Lord of Spiritual Peace,\" whose image was brought to Taiwan in 1854 from Qingshan Temple in Hui'an County by fishermen from that area. Built in 1856 and completed in 1859, the temple's richly ornamented beams and rafters, and its front hall with octagonal ceiling exhibit exquisite workmanship. The front hall was remodeled in 1938. The stone pillars and sculptured stone in the front hall were built from remains of the Japanese-era Taiwan Provincial Shinto Temple at Yuanshan. On August 19, 1985, Qingshan Temple was designated Taipei City's 12th official historical site ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329794", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=DBF1E534D2C1E6EC", "title": "ChinShanYen Gate", "Content": " Built in 1825, Chih-Shan-Yen Gate is a remnant of armed conflict between two communities of immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou (both in Fujian Province). Made of locally quarried stones, the gate was a defensive construction of the people from Zhangzhou. The top of the wall was crenellated, with loopholes through which weapons could be fired. The original fortification included four gates, positioned east, west, north and south, of which only the west gate is extant. Inside the gate can be found Huiji Temple and a funerary temple. On the rock outside the gate are four Chinese characters inscribed by noted Qing-dynasty scholar Pan Yongqing, depicting the enchanted beauty of Chih-Shan-Yen.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329793", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=D74525DB9499B1E4", "title": "Dizang Temple, Mengjia", "Content": "Dizang Temple, Mengjia--> Dizang Temple of Mengjia, dedicated to the bodhisattva Kshitigarbha (Dizang), comforter of the underworld, also venerates the city's guardian deity god and the folk deity Master Tiandu. Built in 1760 and renovated in 1838, the temple still retains the single-structure design of the mid-Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style is simple, its sculptural ornaments plain and straightforward. A shrine dedicated to the souls of the unknown departed is located to one side. On August 19, 1985, it was designated the 11th historical site of Taipei City.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329792", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=386F7EFD973FE78C", "title": "Qingshui Temple, Mengjia", "Content": "Qingshui Temple, Mengjia--> Qingshui Temple was built in 1787. Primarily honoring Master Qingshui, the guardian god of the people of Anxi County, Fujian Province, it was established as a branch of the Qingshui Temple of Anxi's Hunei Township by immigrants from that area. The original temple burned down in 1853 when violence erupted between people from Tong'an living in the Xia district of Mengjia and people from Jinjiang, Nan'an and Hui'an living in the Ding district, in a struggle over the control of harbor trade on the Tamsui River V an event known as the “Ding-Xia feud.\" Qingshui Temple was rebuilt in 1867. Its rear hall has since been rebuilt a third time, but the main hall has kept the same appearance as at the time of reconstruction. Along with Longshan and Qingshan temples, it is considered one of the “three great temples of Mengjia.\" Qingshui Temple was originally complete in form, with a front hall, a main sanctuary in the middle, and a shrine to the goddess Mazu in the back. Master Qingshui was the guardian god of the people of Anxi County, who early on opened up most of the surrounding farmland in the Taipei basin. Toward the end of the Qing dynasty, China and France went to war, and the French military invaded Tamsui. The people of Taipei heard warning of the invasion, and according to tradition petitioned Master Qingshui for assistance. Taipei was left untouched by the conflict. Qingshui Temple was used as a school during the era of Japanese rule (1895-1946), and was later established as the Number 2 Prefectural Middle School, the predecessor of today's Cheng Gong High School, thus playing a very significant role in the history of education on Taiwan. On August 19, 1985, Qingshui Temple was designated the 10th historical site of Taipei City. In recent years, the temple's interior has undergone refurbishment, to perpetually preserve this building of immense historical value. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329791", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=71B662C56DED8D62", "title": "ChinShanYen Prehistoric Site", "Content": " In ancient times, Chih-Shan-Yen was an islet in the lake that filled Taipei basin. During the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), archaeological remains were found at Chih-Shan-Yen, making it the first archaeological site in Taiwan. Archaeological research has revealed remains from two prehistoric cultures – the Chih-Shan-Yen culture and the Yuanshan culture. The remains of the Yuanshan culture can be seen on the side slopes and the top of Chih-Shan-Yen, and along the sides of Zhicheng Road and Yusheng Road. Archaeological remains from the Chih-Shan-Yen culture can only be seen in between Yu Nong Elementary School and the Stone Deity Shrine in the northwest corner of Chih-Shan-Yen. Compared to other prehistoric cultures of Taiwan, the Chih-Shan-Yen culture has yielded a rich variety of excavated cultural artifacts, including ceramic, stone, bone and shell products, as well as rice, woven grass, wooden utensils and other objects indicative of an advanced culture.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329790", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=7B479135FE4421DA", "title": "Longshan Temple, Mengjia", "Content": "Longshan Temple, Mengjia -->Longshan Temple was established in 1738, and was once the religious, municipal and self-defense center of the Mengjia area. The temple was dedicated to the worship of the Buddhist goddess Avalokiteshvara (Guanshiyin), and was established by immigrants from the Jinjiang, Nan'an and Hui'an districts of Quanzhou County, Fujian Province as their spiritual center. Guild houses were also established here, leading to the prosperity of the surrounding area. Longshan Temple was renovated in 1920 under the direction of the famed architect Wang Yi-shun. The octagonal ceiling in its front hall, the clock tower roof, and the circular ceiling in the main temple are exceptionally elegant. On August 19, 1985, Longshan Temple was designated Taipei City's fourth official historical site. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329789", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=3E9465A812FE7C22", "title": "Songshan Tobacco Plant", "Content": "Songshan Tobacco Plant--> Located on nineteen hectares of land, the Songshan Tobacco Plant is representative of Taiwan’s industrial architecture during the era of Japanese rule (1895-1945). It was the largest factory in East Asia at one time. Following World War II, it came under the management of the Taiwan Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau, and ceased operation in 1998. While in use, it produced 46 different brands of tobacco products, playing a significant role in Taipei’s industrial history. Surrounded by pleasant gardens, the plant featured a complete spectrum of facilities, from offices to production areas, boiler rooms and storage areas, arranged according to a logical production flow plan. Raw materials and finished products were transported in and out of the factory by rail, the vestiges of which can still be seen today. The Songshan Tobacco Plant also provided a nursing room, clinic and worker’s cafeteria. Furthermore, to protect the bureau’s monopoly powers, the plant included security control rooms and defensive fortifications.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329787", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=999C3036EC32E22D", "title": "Old Taiwan Bank Dormitory", "Content": " The Bank of Taiwan Dormitory in Beitou is formed of three main buildings and a courtyard. The first building, situated closest to the road, was built around 1935, and originally served as the Shin Matsushita Hotel. The other two buildings, built circa 1922 as the private villas of businessman Kozuka Kaneyoshi, were later purchased by Shin Matsushita and incorporated into the hotel grounds. Around 1941, the Bank of Taiwan purchased the Shin Matsushita Hotel, using it as a club and lodge. Following World War II, it was converted to a dormitory for employees of the Bank of Taiwan and their families. The whole building is shaped similar to a bridge and traverses a streambed, blending harmoniously with its natural surroundings, and serving as a recreational venue of superlative quality. The building is highly valuable for its rare combination of Japanese exterior and Western decorative features.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329788", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=C504C647372FD125", "title": "Taiwan Railway Administration Taipei Railyard Bathhouse", "Content": "Taiwan Railway Administration Taipei Railyard Bathhouse--> Construction of Taiwan’s first railway began during the administration of Qing-dynasty governor Liu Mingchuan in the late nineteenth century. During the era of Japanese rule, colonial government engineer Hayami Kazuhiko designed the New Taipei Railway Production Yard. With thirty-nine buildings occupying nineteen hectares, it was the largest railway production yard of East Asia. Steam traveled through pipes from the factory boiler into the pool of the bathhouse, so that employees could wash before going home. The bathhouse is an important artifact of Taiwan’s labor history. Design of the public bathhouse was influenced by Japanese Secession architecture, with a highly geometrical exterior design. The building is made of reinforced concrete with steel beams, and has a shell-like dome on its roof. The semi-cylindrical interior space is free of columns, and windows on both left and right sides allow sunlight in, creating a lofty, bright atmosphere...", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329786", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=327879B115AC7B5D", "title": "Puji Temple", "Content": " Puji Temple of Beitou is a rare example of a temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese Vajrayana Buddhism to be founded in Taiwan. Originally named Tiezhen Temple, it was first built in 1905 from donations by Japanese railway employees. It is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy Avalokiteshvara, who serves as a guardian spirit of hot springs. Constructed in a Japanese style, its framework is well preserved. The main hall has a single-eaved gable-and-hip roof. Its floor plan is almost perfectly square, with both a width and a depth of three kaijian (a traditional unit of measurement equivalent to the standard width of a single room). The roof stretches forward, forming a cover for the front entrance – a popular design feature during the Edo Period in Japan. The entire temple is built of high-quality juniper. The wooden brackets and curved tie beams are decorated with elegant carvings. Of particular note are the bell-shaped windows. The main hall, the stone Avalokiteshvara image and the stele dedicated to Taiwan Railway Administration director Murakami Shoichi are all of great historical value.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329784", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=3030356723C197D6", "title": "Yuanshan Prehistoric Site", "Content": "Yuanshan Prehistoric Site--> The Yuanshan Prehistoric Site includes an area bounded by Zhongshan N. Rd. Section 3, Yumen St., Jiuquan St. and the Keelung River. The Taipei basin was once a lake, with the hills of Yuanshan an island rising from within it. Excavations have revealed prehistoric human activity at this location. Archaeologists have discovered an extensive mound of shells, including those of black clams, oysters, trochuses and freshwater spiral mollusks, indicating that prehistoric people discarded the shells here after eating their contents. Further excavations have unearthed implements of clay, stone, bone and horn in an upper stratum of the site, remains of what has been named the “Yuanshan Culture.” In a lower stratum, rope-patterned pottery reveals the presence of the “Dabenkeng Culture,” also known as the “Rope-Pattern Terracotta Culture,” one of Taiwan’s earliest known Neolithic peoples..", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329785", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=88AACA377681BE6C", "title": "Beitou Presbyterian Church", "Content": " The Beitou Presbyterian Church was established by Canadian missionary George Leslie Mackay. One of the oldest church buildings in Taipei, it was designed by Canadian missionary William Gauld in 1912. Originally, the congregation was made up mostly of plains aborigines from the Beitou area. The building serves as valuable historical evidence of Western religious development in Taiwan. Constructed of red bricks with a wooden frame in a style similar to British country churches, the exterior walls were reinforced with buttresses to protect against earthquakes. It is also highly significant as the only surviving church designed by William Gauld in the 20th century.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329782", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=20EC4C5D3F4590EC", "title": "Former U.S. Ambassador’s Residence", "Content": "Former U.S. Ambassador’s Residence--> At the end of the nineteenth century, flourishing commerce in tea and camphor led many Western foreign countries such as the United States, the Netherlands and Britain to establish consulates and trade offices in the Dadaocheng district of Taipei. The United States built its consulate at this location during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945). Following World War II, it served as the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. Ambassadors Karl L. Rankin, Everett F. Drumright, Ian G. Kirk, Jerauld Wright, Walter P. McConaughy and Leonard Unger all made this building their home. It now stands as an historic witness to relations between Taipei and Washington, D.C. The white, two-story building was designed in a classic Western style with square floor plan, simple Grecian columns and an elegant reception hall. The original entrance faced Zhongshan North Road. The first floor functioned as administrative and reception space. The second, with a semi-covered terrace affording a pleasant view of the thoroughfare, served as living quarters for the ambassadors and their families.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329783", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=55FAC02364C2608B", "title": "Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath", "Content": " The Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath was built and opened during the early days of Japanese colonial rule, as the Japanese traditionally believed hot springs to possess healthful and therapeutic effects, yet most bathhouses at the time were too expensive for average people to afford. The Taipei Prefectural Government began constructing the Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath in 1911, and upon its completion in 1913, opened it to ordinary members of the Japanese public at reasonable rates. The building was constructed of both bricks and wood. The first floor utilized brick-and-concrete composite walls, in the upper portion of which were placed stained glass windows, while the second floor featured wooden clapboard siding. Vents were installed in the black tile roof. The elegant building reminiscent of a British countryside villa fits perfectly with its surroundings in Beitou Park. Through the efforts of local community members, it was declared a Class Three National Historical Site in 1997. Following renovations in 1998, the Taipei City Government transformed it into the Beitou Hot Springs Museum, introducing the building’s graceful architectural elements, general knowledge of hot springs, and the unique characteristics of hot spring baths in Taiwan.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329780", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=1EDA00C055FFF642", "title": "Taipei Third Girls’ High School (Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls’ High School)", "Content": "Taipei Third Girls’ High School (Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls’ High School)--> Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls’ High School was the first girls’ high school in Taiwan. Originally founded in the Shilin district of Taipei, it was later relocated to Neijiang St. in Wanhua, at which time it was renamed Taipei Third Girls’ High School. Countless future leaders of society have passed through its gates. The school is an excellent example of Taiwan’s early modern design movement of the 1930s. Based on a reinforced concrete structure, its innovative design featured simply and gracefully proportioned windows and doors, an exterior blending vertical and horizontal lines, classroom corridors with lockers, and flooring of superior workmanship. It stands as a representative work of secondary educational architecture in Taiwan. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329781", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=E612F8854E425C89", "title": "Zhou Family Widow’s Memorial", "Content": " After the early death of her husband, Lady Zhou Juan (1788-1846) became well regarded for preserving her chastity, raising her children devotedly and remaining filial to her parents-in-law. In 1850, Governor General of Fujian and Zhejiang Liu Ke commissioned a gate to be built by the Ministry of Rites and Education in commemoration of Lady Zhou’s exemplary life. Originally built of stone with four columns, three lateral sections and three levels, it was completed in 1861. Parts of the first and second levels collapsed during an earthquake in 1897. It was recently renovated by the Taipei City Government in 1992, and has become an important local landmark.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329779", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=69024A85EA24DDD0", "title": "Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple of the Linji School", "Content": "Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple of the Linji School--> Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple of the Linji School was founded by the Japanese Zen master Tokuan Genshu to propagate Buddhist teachings, at the invitation of the fourth Japanese governor-general of Taiwan, Kodama Gentaro. The temple took eleven years to construct, and the Linji school of Chan Buddhism (in Japanese, the Rinzai school of Zen), along with the Soto school, subsequently became a highly influential form of Buddhism in Taiwan. The temple compound initially included a Main Gate, a Dharma Hall, a Grand Sanctuary and an Abbot’s Chapel. The original Main Gate and Grand Sanctuary remain fully preserved and in good condition to the present day. The Grand Sanctuary in particular was constructed with exacting workmanship. The Huguo Chan Buddhist Temple of the Linji School is now regarded as the finest wooden temple remaining from the Japanese colonial period. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329778", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=4DD5873730BED1DD", "title": "Neihu Village Public Hall", "Content": " Neihu Village was first established in 1920, during the Japanese colonial period. The Neihu Village Meeting Hall was built in the center of Old Neihu around 1935. The lofty roof and the entrance façade both employed architectural styles popular at that time. The meeting hall had a rectangular layout and faced north. The entrance was set in the middle of the front gable, looking out on old Neihu Village. The triangular gable contains three round windows surrounded by ornamentation. The roof ridge employs a stepped design typical of 1920s Art Deco. The horizontal entrance canopy features two semicircular pillars at its sides. Of particular interest are the light green glazed tiles with reticulated patterns on the walls. These tiles do not reflect light, and were used at that time for defense against air raids.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329777", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=D877BB25CA8AF527", "title": "Old Taipei City Health Department", "Content": "Old Taipei City Health Department--> Originally a technical arts training center during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), this building was dedicated to technical training and vocational counseling to address the problem of unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It stands as a significant historical landmark of the development of social welfare services in Taipei City. Following World War II, it was transformed into a laboratory for the Taipei City Health Department. The building’s European-style design is symmetrical left and right, with towers rising above both wings. A sloped roof facilitating rain drainage has now replaced the original semi-circular roof, which featured circular cavity windows and horizontal ribbon embellishments.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329776", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=510831BB2335713A", "title": "Guo Family Estate", "Content": " The home of the first Neihu Village mayor during the Japanese colonial era is located on a hill on the west side of Neihu’s old district. Built circa 1919, it boasted Baroque-style embellishments, red brick, washed terrazzo, earthen sculptures and colored decorative tiles – all highly popular features of Taisho-style architecture. The house is a typical luxury home of the era. It faces south and is surrounded on three sides by woods. The ground plan of this mansion is roughly in a T formation. The predominant building materials are brick and wood. The exterior walls are made of red brick and decorated with washed terrazzo and colored tiles imported from Japan. The floor is made of wood and supported by wooden beams. Another beam was specially used to hang traditional Taiwanese censers and lanterns. The building façade’s elegant curvilinear design features windows of non-uniform shape, a curved, protruding balcony and an imitation Baroque gable crest. A plaque has been added to the gable crest in recent years, naming the building Bi Feng Temple; however, it was never converted to religious use.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329775", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=08FD4166E0CAE515", "title": "Neihu Qing Dynasty Quarry", "Content": " Along the outer edges of the Taipei Basin can be found high quality stone. At the end of the 19th century, the Qing government decided to construct the new city of Taipei, and chose to build its fortified wall with the andesite found in the mountains of Neihu and Dazhi. These old stones can still be seen in the culvert and walls of the former jail next to the Jinshan South Road offices of the Directorate General of Telecommunications. In addition to serving as material for the city wall, Neihu stone was also widely used as building material by the general population throughout the Japanese colonial period and following World War II. Recently, the Neihu Quarry was closed for the sake of environmental conservation. Signs of excavation are still readily visible, as is a slope specially made to slide stones down the mountain – evidence of the history of Old Taipei’s construction.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329774", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=2A8FBC768437FB43", "title": "Tomb of Lin Xiu-jun", "Content": " The Taipei Basin was settled and developed at the beginning of the Qing dynasty by a few people from the Zhangzhou and Quanzhou areas of Fujian Province, as well as Guangdong Province. Lin Xiu-jun is considered one of the area’s most important pioneers. Born in 1699, Lin Xiu-jun passed away in 1770 at the age of 72. Hailing from Zhangzhou, he immigrated to Taiwan around the age of 20. After turning 50, he took the name Lin Cheng-zu and devoted himself to developing the area from Baijiebao to Dajia’nabao – what today are Banqiao, Tucheng, Yonghe, Zhonghe and Neihu. The design of his grave follows the traditional southern Fujianese style, with a hill in the center, a carved tombstone in front, and stones on either side. A short, curving wall encircles a broad court in front of the tomb. Built according to the traditional theories of Fengshui, it is one of the very few completely intact large-scale tombs from the Qing era in the Taipei Basin.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329773", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=9C375E29F1DB3F1A", "title": "Guling St. Avant-Garde Theatre(Old Guting Police Station)", "Content": " Hours of operation 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and national holidays. Contact information Telephone: (02) 2391-9393Fax: (02) 2391-5757 Web site: http://www.glt.org.tw/en/main.php Address #2, Lane 5, Guling Street, Taipei City Transportation TRTS: Disembark at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station, and take the Nanmen Market exit. Follow NanHai Road in the direction of ChongQing Road, and walk for approximately five minutes. Bus: Take bus No. 1, get off at the Guling St. Avant-Garde Theatre bus stop. History Guling St. Avant-Garde Theatre was built in 1916. Originally, it was a military police station during the Japanese colonial era. In 1945, after Taiwan returned to Chinese control, it was renamed the Taipei City Police Department's Station No. 7. Then, due to administrative redistricting, it was renamed the Guting Police Station, and later the Chungcheng District Station No. 2. In 1997, the building was placed under the control of the Taipei City Government Department of Information, and slated to become a venue for little theater performance. In 2001, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government renamed the building the “Guling St. Avant-Garde Theatre." Because the building's original Baroque-style design features especially thick walls and a central area without pillars, it is extremely suitable for small-scale theatrical performances. Starting in March of 2000, it has been operated by If Kids Theater Group. Brief introduction The Guling St. Avant-Garde Theatre features: (1) The avant-garde theater, with the capacity for an audience of between 50 and 70 persons. (2) The detention room: This area preserves the original appearance of the detention room from the theatre's previous incarnation as a police station. (3) Rehearsal room: A perfect rehearsal space, with an area of over 1000 square feet, and no obstructions from pillars.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329772", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=B54CA17344D6B443", "title": "Red Theatre (The Red House of Ximen)", "Content": " Hours of operation 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays, open 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends and national holidays. Contact information Telephone: (02) 2311-9380Fax: (02) 2311-9372 Web site :http://www.redplayhouse.com.tw Address#10, Chengdu Road, Taipei City Transportation Rapid Transit: Take the Banqiao-Nangang line, disembarking at Ximen Station. Red Theatre is approximately a one-minute walk from exit No. 1. Bus: Sanchung Passenger Buses (Wuku-Taipei, Chungkang-Peimen, Huilung-Taipei), Chihnan Passenger Bus #3, 221, 232, 235, 640, 513, 621, 257, 18 or Blue 2. Car: parking spaces are available nearby. Architectural style The Red House of Ximen is an octagonal, two-story Western-style structure built of red brick in 1908. Originally called the “Octagon Market," it was designed by Kondo Juro, an architect working for the Japanese colonial government's civil engineering department. Its prominent features are red brick walls, and ceilings of steel reinforced cement. Its roof, however, may be its most unique feature: it is built from a framework of metal trusses, with a radially symmetrical shape, like an umbrella. History Originally used as the neighborhood market of the Ximen area, the Red House was home to a previous “Red Theatre" in the past. In 1997, it was declared a Class 3 historical site, and in 2002 it was designated to be used as a venue for spoken-word and vocal performances. The Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government commissioned Paper Windmill Cultural Foundation to take charge of its operation. Brief introduction The first floor is an art exhibition space and gift shop, presenting a variety of cultural products, and providing the public with a host of alternative shopping selections. The Paper Windmill Cafe also provides an exceptionally valuable dining service. On holidays, it is frequently filled to capacity, and every day of the week, it is always awaft with the fragrant aroma of coffee. In the second floor theatre, the building's unique architectural structure of large steel beams and the charming old-style feel of its redbrick walls are displayed with nearly no decorative embellishment. The entire theatre has the feel of an old-fashioned teahouse. Seating is provided with special wooden tables and chairs, and hot tea provided by service personnel, allowing visitors to take in an evening of marvelous entertainment in the most relaxing manner imaginable. The theatre accommodates 200 people. Each performance is set for 8 p.m., so that no one needs ever to rush to a play again. ", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329771", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=40A646FCCB349432", "title": "Wistaria House", "Content": " Hours of operation 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays Contact information Telephone: (02) 2363-9459 Web site:http://wistariahouse.com/English/index1.html Address#1, Lane 16, XinSheng South Road, Taipei City Transportation Rapid Transit: Take the Xindian line, disembarking at Gongguan Station. Bus: Lines 284, 3, 15, 52, 18, 311, 505, or Chihnan Passenger Bus #1; disembark at either the "Civil Servant Training Center" or "Longan Elementary School" bus stops. History Wistaria House was originally an old, one-story Japanese-style house. After it was damaged by a typhoon, half of the exterior of the structure was rebuilt as a two-story, Western-style house in 1960. Although it is a hybrid of two different architectural styles, through the meticulous placement of implements, art pieces and furniture, and the blending of historical hues, it ingeniously melds the two together, even creating an aesthetic atmosphere all its own. Brief introduction Mr. Chou Yu first opened Wistaria House in 1981, one of the very first venues in Taipei for appreciating tea in a refined and artistic environment. The teahouse got its name from an old wistaria plant that grew along the front eaves. Wistaria House has gained particular renown for its promotion of the traditional art of the tea ceremony, and was innovative in establishing itself as a place for preserving traditions of culture, art and the philosophy of spiritual cultivation. In addition, it has been the meeting place of social activists and scholarly critics, and many cultural groups have on occasion met here for seminars and performances. This special combination has given Wistaria House a unique cultural and historical spirit and artistic charm.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" }, { "DataSN": "3329770", "ArticleType": "0", "FileName": "", "Link": "", "Source": "https://english.culture.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=546DBBFFD75F4602&s=61B08ECB92ED8CD3", "title": "Taipei Artist Village", "Content": " I. Hours of Operation Tue. to Sun., 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. II. Telephone (8862) 3393-7377 III. Web sitewww.tav.tcg.gov.tw IV. Address No. 7 Beiping East Road, Taipei, Taiwan V. Transportation: TRTS Blue Line, Shandao Temple Station VI. History: Taipei Artist Village once served as the Taipei City Public Works Department Maintenance Office, and later as the headquarters of the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. After standing unoccupied for many years, the building gained a new lease on life in October 2001. Taking established artist villages in New York, Paris, London and other international cities as reference points and blending in the unique local features of Taipei, the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs transformed this prime downtown venue, imparting it with a new look, and a new identity V Taiwan's first international artist village. VII. Introduction: Taipei Artist Village is a four-story building with a tranquil bamboo garden of lush greenery, located in the heart of the national government administrative district. Originally an office building, it stood unoccupied for several years, before gaining a new mission and an all new look, in October of 2001. Reflecting the growing trend of artist villages in many other major cities, the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs introduced Taiwan's first space where artists can interact with other artists V and the people of Taipei as a whole V sharing their talents and cultural insights. TAV brings together artists from a spectrum of fields V the visual arts, literature, music, film, performance and multi-disciplinary endeavors. Since Taipei Artist Village was established, the Department of Cultural Affairs has actively developed artist exchange programs with several cities throughout the world, forming a set of artist selection and exchange mechanisms that genuinely achieve international cultural and artistic interaction. As of December 31, 2003, a total of 57 artists from 24 different countries have come to live and create at Taipei Artist Village. Likewise, 27 artists from Taipei City have traveled to other artist villages, sharing their art in cities throughout the world. Although Taipei Artist Village opened its doors less than two years ago, it has already become one of the most important platforms for cultural exchange in Taipei, and indeed all of Taiwan. It is the island's only artist village with the true ability to bring about international exchanges.", "Files": [], "Links": [], "Pictures": [], "Movies": [], "Publish Department": "The Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs" } ]