After two years of renovations, the historic Taichung Shiyakusho building in central Taiwan’s Taichung City reopened in February as a cafe and arts center. Built in 1911 and used as a municipal office during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), the three-story Baroque-style structure was the first iron-reinforced concrete building in the city. An iconic landmark in Taichung’s old downtown area, it has welcomed large crowds since being granted a new lease on life, with long lines of customers often waiting outside to be seated in Café 1911 on its first floor.
“We’re a bit surprised to see our establishment drawing so many customers from home and abroad just a few months after its launch,” said Daisy Chang (張千瑩), manager of the cafe. “We attribute our runaway success to our efforts to offer an elevated dining experience in a classic setting.”
Café 1911 is operated by Rose House Group, Taiwan’s largest British tea shop chain. Only the first floor of the building is used for commercial purposes. The company has turned the second and third stories into an arts center that regularly hosts free exhibitions in fields such as photography, sculpture and installation arts. “Our main objectives are to promote the aesthetic and historical value of this century-old building and spotlight local art,” Chang said.
The historic Taichung Shiyakusho building in central Taiwan’s Taichung City has been converted into a cafe and arts center.
The Taichung Shiyakusho is among the 102 historic buildings under the jurisdiction of the Taichung City Government. Municipal authorities oversee a further 48 monuments and five cultural landscapes. The city is also home to two national monuments, which are administered by the central government.
In recent years, local authorities have made great efforts to renovate historic structures and promote their adaptive reuse through public-private partnerships, such as the arrangement at the Taichung Shiyakusho. “Our mission is to conserve and revitalize historic sites in order to safeguard our region’s cultural assets,” said Tang Kuo-jung (湯國榮), director of the city government’s Cultural Heritage Department. “Adaptive reuse programs can ensure the maintenance and long-term protection of historic buildings as well as boost the local tourism industry.”
Other buildings that have been renovated and repurposed include the Taichung Literature Museum, a former police dormitory complex completed in 1934; the Taichung Broadcasting Bureau, established in 1935 as a relay station and now a cultural and creative center; and the Natural Way Six Arts Cultural Center, built in 1937 as a martial arts compound.
Tang said his department has been able to renovate these and other historical structures thanks to financial support from the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and city government. He noted that, wherever possible, the buildings are restored to their original states using traditional materials and methods. “Through our renovation program, old structures have been given new life as commercial venues, workshops, or performance, exhibition and event spaces,” he said. “The buildings also provide a concrete connection to the past as they feature introductory materials, photos and guided tours that examine their history and architectural characteristics.”
An illustration depicting some of Taichung’s most popular attractions
Tourism Appeal
Citing the results of a 2014 survey conducted by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Tang said cultural and historical attractions are among the top reasons people choose to vacation in Taiwan, with tours of historic sites ranking third behind shopping and trips to night markets as the most popular activities among visitors.
“Cultural tourism, traveling for the purpose of experiencing the art, heritage and unique character of a place, has become increasingly popular,” the director said. “As Taichung is endowed with rich cultural resources, we have an excellent opportunity to expand this form of tourism to our city. We’re committed to helping visitors explore local culture in a manner that is at once educational and enjoyable.”
Wang Chih-cheng (王志誠), director-general of the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, said the city has abundant intangible cultural assets such as traditional crafts, festivals, rituals and performing arts, in addition to its physical attractions. These resources, he noted, are playing an important role in enhancing the city’s international appeal and visibility.
“The trend toward globalization is irreversible. However, before pursuing globalization, it’s important to emphasize localization, to identify and highlight a region’s unique cultural characteristics,” he said.
As part of its efforts to showcase the region’s artistic environment and heritage, the Cultural Affairs Bureau organizes a variety of festivals throughout the year. “These events can help revive local traditions while building community pride,” Wang said. “They’re an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable form of tourism promotion.”
Annual events organized by the bureau include the Taichung Traditional Arts Festival in February; the Taichung Mazu International Festival from March to May; the Taichung Light Festival in June and July; the Rock in Taichung Festival in September; the Taichung Jazz Festival in October; and the Taichung Arts Festival in November. Though they focus on different fields, these occasions all typically feature live performances, bazaars, interactive activities, firework displays and parades.
More than half of the troupes and musical acts that perform at the festivals are based in Taichung. By promoting the participation of local groups, the city government hopes to foster their artistic development and improve their chances of gaining international recognition.
The Taichung Light Festival is held at historic sites throughout the city in June and July.
Faith and Artistry
Among the most celebrated of the city’s annual events is the Taichung Mazu International Festival. Mazu, known as the Goddess of the Sea or the Queen of Heaven, is the most revered deity in Taiwan. There are estimated to be more than 10 million Mazu worshippers and 2,300 temples dedicated to the goddess around the nation.
The highlight of the festival is a nine-day pilgrimage held in celebration of the goddess’ birthday. The procession starts and ends at Taichung’s Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, which organizes the pilgrimage, and draws millions of participants every year. One of the largest annual religious events in the world, it was listed in 2008 as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Council for Cultural Affairs, now the MOC.
To help visitors explore the long history and diversity of Mazu worship in Taichung, the city government organizes a wide variety of activities around the procession. Twelve of the Mazu temples in Taichung are more than 100 years old, among them Dajia Jenn Lann Temple. To highlight these historic sites, the Cultural Affairs Bureau stages an event called A Century of Magnificent Mazu Temples, a series of traditional performances in genres ranging from Taiwanese opera to folk drumming at the 12 places of worship.
The city government also hosts activities and competitions to encourage public engagement in local customs and cultivate the city’s cultural and creative sector. These include Mazu-themed figurine-making, painting and writing contests, with the Cultural Affairs Bureau offering funding to the winners of the figurine competition to help them commercialize their designs.
“Mazu worship is not simply a religion but a blend of various cultural beliefs and economic activities,” the director-general said. “With huge numbers of people gathering in celebration, the festival brings abundant commercial opportunities for businesses such as hotels, food vendors and producers of Mazu-related cultural and creative products.” The Mazu festival, he added, excellently demonstrates how cultural tourism can foster international understanding of time-honored local traditions.
Spectators watch traditional performances in front of Fusing Temple in the city’s Dali District during the Taichung Mazu International Festival.
Diverse Facilities
Wang emphasized the city government is committed to promoting equitable access to cultural resources. “We believe that all residents, including those living in remote areas, should be able to enjoy artistic and cultural activities. As such, we stage festivals in districts across the city,” he said. “By doing so, we hope to cultivate public interest in art and culture as well as boost local production and consumption of cultural goods and services.”
The municipal government operates a variety of cultural facilities throughout the city. These include four arts and cultural centers—Dadun Cultural Center in West District; Huludun Cultural Center in Fengyuan District; Seaport Art Center in Qingshui District; and Tun District Art Center in Taiping District—as well as the Asia University Museum of Modern Art in Wufeng District and Fulfillment Amphitheater in Nantun District. Furthermore, the stunning new National Taichung Theater, located in Xitun District and designed by Japan’s 2013 Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito, will be officially inaugurated in September.
Wang said the scale and diversity of the city government’s arts and heritage programs highlight its commitment to transforming Taichung into a major cultural destination. “A growing number of tourists want to explore local cultures and support small businesses through attending festivals, sampling regional cuisines, visiting historic sites and participating in educational events,” he said. “Taichung is home to numerous historical attractions and dynamic festivals. Our hope is that the city can become a gateway into Taiwan culture for international visitors.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROSE HOUSE GROUP AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS BUREAU OF TAICHUNG CITY GOVERNMENT
ILLUSTRATION BY KAO SHUN-HUI