Taipei City Government is marking 130 years since the walls of the metropolis were completed with a celebration themed on bringing the West Gate back to life, Mayor Hau Lung-bin said March 6.
“When it was completed in 1884, Taipei became the first city in Taiwan to have a square stone curtain wall. The wall marked the start of the municipality’s rise to prominence as a political, economic and cultural center,” Hau said.
The old city was constructed with five gates. The West Gate and surrounding walls were later demolished during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945) to create space for traffic arteries. The local government will be holding celebrations centered on the gate’s former site, close to Exit 4 of the Ximen Metro Station.
The anniversary celebrations include artistic performances, an exhibition of old photographs of the city, street furniture design and a parade by antique city buses, in an effort to revive the atmosphere of the district around the gate in times gone by.
Hau said that the activities will use history as their basis, but since Taipei is World Design Capital 2016, the city government is extending its efforts to integrate cultural creativity and public participation.
“Carefully preserved culture and collective memory can help inspire citizens to make the city more competitive and open to creativity,” Hau said.
“In the past 130 years Taipei has seen huge political and social changes. The city’s appearance has greatly changed. The walls have been demolished and the stones long since disappeared, but Taipei has replaced them with a modern, more accessible city.” (SDH)
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