AMWF Couple: first time in TV & opening bank account in Taiwan

Finally, the TV show we participated in was released on April 18th on three different channels. It was a short version, about 2 minutes long. Another longer version, about 11 minutes, will be released on May 1st and will be repeated weekly.

On the day the video was released, we received some page likes and messages. Since my husband was still in military training and couldn't use his phone, I managed to answer everything on my own. My husband doesn't usually help with messages unless there's something I really can't understand. We have a system and ready messages, so I only need to fill in details like cake flavors, date, and amount. We also use Excel to organize our orders, and it works well. When we first moved to Shanhua three years ago and suddenly got many orders, we weren't very organized 😂 But after gaining three years of experience, there's no amount of orders that scares me... unless it's too much for me to bake in a day. But the orders aren't usually that big.

Taiwan is very convenient because I often deliver cakes. I can simply walk to the nearest 7-11 or inform the delivery driver to come to our home. But if it's not a big order, I prefer to just walk to the convenience store and be free. Since I never know when the driver will arrive, I can't leave the house, especially when I have a child who loves to play outside.

Unfortunately, it's been a week since notifications from our Facebook page stopped showing on my phone. I can't fix it, and reporting the problem to Facebook seems useless... Why did it have to break during such a busy time? I'm unable to check messages all the time, but people who come to pick up cakes often send messages instead of using the door phone when they arrive.

In a few days, we will be going to a high school in Tainan to give a speech. I feel so nervous. I don't like speaking in front of people. Last time it was easier because it was mostly in Chinese, so my husband did most of it, except for a part in Polish. But this time, the speech needs to be 30-50% in English, so... I hope I'll be able to say anything at all. I felt nervous for the TV show as well, but after all, there were only two people in front of me and a camera, not 50 students.

This is my second time opening a bank account in Taiwan, this time at CTBC Bank (中國信託). It took forever, but the overall experience was better than Bank SinoPac. My husband called them to ask what we needed to bring, and they said we needed our Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), passport, and stamp (although it can be done without the stamp). However, they still checked the health insurance card later. They also wanted my husband's ID card (the back of the card has the wife's name written on it) just to prove that we are married. I always wonder why that matters.

They told my husband to book an appointment online to make the process faster. However, online booking doesn't allow foreigners to do it, and the ARC number didn't work. But my husband used his ID number instead, so if you have a husband, it's better to do it this way instead of going to the bank and waiting in line. After booking online, you have 7 days to go there, so it doesn't have to be the same day. We still went there as they said we could still open a bank account, even though their closing time is 3:30 PM (after this time, they only open for bank account services).

The whole process took about an hour. It was much simpler than SinoPac Bank, with fewer questions to answer and less paperwork to fill out. Plus, the information could be filled in English, not just Chinese! That's a big plus, as there's less translating for my husband to do. If you're going alone, there's also someone who speaks English and can help you with everything (at least at the bank in Yongkang, Tainan). The stamp is needed if you want to allow other people to withdraw money from your bank account. Otherwise, you can only do it yourself using your signature without a stamp. This bank can also help you open a stock account if you're interested, so you can have a 3-in-1 account for local currency, foreign currency, and stocks. They also helped us set up the online app and guided us through every step, so everything went smoothly. However, activating the stock account and applying for a credit card still need to be done separately. Overall, apart from the long waiting time to finalize the process, everything went smoothly. The staff provided great service, and the accountant was patient. I know it depends on the people and not just the banks, but I would recommend opening a bank account at CTBC over SinoPac.

I actually don't know how it is with banks here, as I've heard complaints from many foreigners who were refused to open a bank account, for example, because they didn't have a job. It was one of the questions for me as well. However, a bank is for keeping money, and even if you don't have an official job but someone will send you money, you still need an account. For the four years I've been living in Taiwan, I didn't have a bank account either. I was using my husband's credit cards. But it became more and more annoying when people transferred money to buy cakes, and I always had to ask my husband to check it. However, he has a job and often cannot use his phone for a whole day. Currently, it seems possible for me to apply for a credit card after having 200,000 NTD in my bank account.

Also, be careful where you park your scooter, even in places where everyone else parks. You can get a penalty. Oops, we got one for parking under the bank. Why, though? There was no other place to park, and there were already plenty of scooters there. Plus, there were no signs indicating that parking was forbidden. People always park on sidewalks or on the side of the road. If you've been to Taiwan, you'll know that space is very limited here, so people don't have many choices. Speaking of the roads, I feel like many drivers here are not great. Sorry to say that, but it's true! Quite often, when we want to cross the road, some scooter drivers or cars, especially blue trucks, won't stop. We could be in the middle of the road, and a woman on her scooter wouldn't even slow down. I wish I could feel a little safer crossing the road when the light is green, but... I doubt that will ever happen in Taiwan.

My husband finished his one-week military recall. Luckily, it was quite short as I saw in the news that it's usually at least two weeks long. Depending on your job, some people don't actually need to go, for example, those working for TSMC. My husband went there on Saturday, so the weekend was a bit freer as there weren't many people yet. He also got to use his phone twice a day, for about an hour each time. It wasn't as good during weekdays, with only a couple of minutes available in a whole day. On Monday, a few hundred people joined, so the available time became much more limited, as whatever they did, they had to wait in line.

During the recall, they woke up at 5:30 AM, gathered outside for the flag-raising ceremony at 6, and then had breakfast. From 8 AM until lunchtime, they had to attend classes. They also had to walk 4-10 kilometers, with the distance getting longer each day. Depending on the military level, it could be even 20 kilometers or more. Although they are not soldiers and only went there to recall information, everything is made easier, so nobody gets hurt 😂 Besides walking, they practiced cleaning guns, shooting, and recalling their knowledge in case of war. After dinner, they had some time to use their phones if the schedule allowed it. The last class was from 8 to 9 PM, after which it was bedtime. Depending on the shift, some nights they also had to get up at midnight for patrol duty around the military campus.

He came back on Friday night and then disappeared on Saturday for his work in Hsinchu... Being married to an engineer is sometimes hard, as I often have to stay alone at home. It's been already two months, but everything is delayed, so there are still a couple of weeks to go. I miss traveling; we rarely go anywhere for more than 3-4 hours. I already miss Taidong; it's been two years since we went there. Although thinking about passing through the mountains scares me a bit, especially after the numerous earthquakes this year. I've seen several videos of landslides and damaged cars, huge rocks falling. The thought of going to the east of Taiwan makes me both happy and worried at the same time. I hope there won't be any more lockdowns in Taiwan, though.

Lately, there have been more and more COVID-19 cases in Taiwan, and finally, the government has relaxed its strict rules a little. The daily cases have been over 10,000, but we don't need to scan QR codes or provide our names before entering public places, such as shops. That's a good change. The government wants people to download an app that will track their movements and notify them if they have come into contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19. I don't really want to download it, just like I don't feel like taking vaccines. But probably at some point in my life, I'll have no choice. Many places now require three vaccine shots; otherwise, you cannot freely go out of your home, for example, to the gym or bar. I miss the freedom and the life we used to have two years ago. Sorry, but I don't believe the vaccines are safe. They have only been used for the past two years. How can you guarantee that after 5, 10, or even 20 or more years, there will be no side effects? Yet, every government tries to play it safe by saying "we don't force you to take the vaccine," but if you don't have one, you cannot enter many places.

For the past three years, I've been cutting my husband's hair. However, he thought he wanted a change, and he thought cutting it would make it look better before the speech. Many people recommended a hairdresser, so he booked an appointment. He showed the hairdresser a picture of what he wanted. Oops... it turned out to be completely different. I was really angry when he came back home. In my opinion, he looked like an idiot. The haircut was not only much shorter than it was supposed to be, but also very uneven. After posting a comparison of the expectation and the actual haircut, many people laughed and joked about it. Some even said it looked like a 100 NTD haircut, but it actually cost almost 500 NTD.

I've been disappointed with hairdressers in Taiwan before. I wanted pink hair, but it turned out purple, and the color washed out after just a week. I thought about dyeing my hair on my own, but sadly, the hair colors I used to use in Poland aren't available here, and I'm not sure what I could buy. But it still wouldn't be easy without any help, especially since my hair is pretty long now. It would take forever to do it all by myself.

I try to ignore things, but sometimes people's behavior is just unacceptable. I can see a lack of education here so much. Parents don't correct their kids when they do something wrong. For example, my son was playing with a ball in the park, and another kid around the same age kept following him to take his ball away. The kid pulled it out of his hands and refused to return it. The kid's grandmother said absolutely nothing! It saddens me that people think it's okay, as they are just kids, and some will even tell you that it doesn't matter. When someone does something wrong, instead of hearing a "sorry," you will hear "it's okay" or "it doesn't matter," or the issue will be ignored.

My son took his ball and kept running away until he fell and cried. After that, the kid who had chased him took the ball happily to play with. Finally, the grandmother reacted, silently telling him that the ball wasn't his. Nevertheless, it was still me who left the park, feeling like I punished my son for the other kid's behavior. And it's not just kids who can be annoying. There is one grandma we often see in the park. We've been living here for three years, so we already know what to expect. When my son was smaller, she held his hand, saying she was going to take him home. Since then, he has tried to avoid her. Lately, she held his bike and started walking, saying she was going to take the bike home. She often touches our things as well. She took toys out of my son's bike, played with his car and ball. It's no surprise that kids don't respect things that don't belong to them when adults aren't any better.

I wish we won't need to wear masks soon. Sometimes I cannot recognize people, and it's so awkward! We went to the park, and there was nobody else playing around. Then out of nowhere, an older creepy guy stopped his car and followed us into the park, asking Adrian (I guess) to "come to uncle." We quickly walked away to another place. After a while, the guy got back into his car and picked up a child from kindergarten. After that, he still drove around the park calling us. I thought it was really creepy. Then, a few days later, we went to the park again, but this time my husband accompanied us. A guy started chatting with him and asked why I kept running away when he called us 😂 Oops... Sorry, sometimes I cannot recognize people when everyone is wearing a mask! It turned out to be an older guy who sells Taiwanese pancakes in town. We used to see him quite often until he changed the location of his business. I didn't do it on purpose, but he must think I'm strange for running away like that.

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Tainan Travel: Guantian Visitor Center - Siraya National Scenic Area

It was our son's birthday, so after celebrating at home, we wanted to find an outdoor place. He received a soccer ball as a gift and couldn't wait to bring it to the field. While driving around Gantian, we spotted a large grassland and the visitor center in the distance. It was our first time visiting this place. Initially, there weren't many people, but as the afternoon progressed, it became quite busy. People came here for walks, flying kites, and even picnics. The area is quite spacious, although there aren't many trees, so finding shade was a bit difficult.

Guantian Visitor Center - Siraya Tourist Center (西拉雅國家風景區管理處官田遊客中心)

The Guantian Visitor Center, opened in August 2020, covers an area of approximately 11 hectares. The park's landscape combines elements of "village settlements" and the Siraya culture, depicting the terrain of the Jianan Plain. It serves as a new landmark for local tourism, connecting major scenic spots such as the Wushanto Interchange on National Highway No. 3, Batian Yoichi Memorial Park, and Wushanto Reservoir, thereby promoting local tourism. The building's overall design follows the traditional settlement style of the Siraya people facing the water. In addition to providing complete facilities, the center also showcases local agricultural special products for exhibition and sales.

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday; 09:00 – 17:00

Who are the Siraya people?

The Siraya (西拉雅; Xīlāyǎ) people are an indigenous group in Taiwan. They historically inhabited the flat coastal plains in the southwest part of the island, including areas now known as Tainan City and Taitung County. The Siraya consist of at least four communities: Mattauw, Soelangh, Baccloangh, and Sinckan, corresponding to the modern-day districts of Madou, Jiali, Shanhua, and Sinshih, respectively.

As Plains indigenous people (Pingpu), the Siraya inhabited flat coastal regions rather than mountainous areas. Like other indigenous peoples in Taiwan, they are ethnically and linguistically Austronesian. The name "Taiwan" originated from the Siraya language, which is part of the Austronesian language family. Taivoan and Makatao were previously considered Siraya communities but are now recognized as independent indigenous groups based on linguistic discoveries, cultural features, and the self-identification of these indigenous peoples.

After the Qing Dynasty annexed the port in the Siraya area of Taiwan in 1683, the Siraya language gradually fell out of use due to a process of acculturation. The last recorded regular use of the language was in 1908 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Most Siraya families adopted Hokkien Chinese as their mother tongue, while Japanese and Mandarin Chinese were learned in schools as the government-mandated lingua franca. However, despite the linguistic shift, the Siraya have maintained many aspects of their culture. Some families in Xinhua Township, particularly in Tso-chen, Kou-pei, and Chiou-chen-lin, still identify themselves as Siraya. The Siraya Culture Association was established in 1999, and the teaching of the reconstructed Siraya language began in schools in 2002. In 2005, the Tainan County government formed a Siraya Aboriginal Affairs Committee and funded the development of a glossary containing over 4,000 Sirayan words, which was released in 2008.

Traditionally, the Siraya lived in villages that were often in conflict with one another. Women were responsible for agriculture and religious activities, while men engaged in hunting, warfare, and decision-making. Married couples did not live together, with wives residing with their parents and husbands in men's quarters. If they wanted to see each other, husbands would have to visit secretly. The Siraya had a unique practice where most women did not have children until their mid-thirties. If a woman became pregnant before that, an abortion was usually performed by the village shaman. Many women underwent multiple abortions during their lifetime because the Siraya believed that childbirth and child-rearing had a negative impact on success in warfare. Consequently, childbirth was postponed until the husband retired from being a warrior, typically around the age of forty, and his wife was a few years younger, still having a few years of childbearing capacity.

On February 14, 2006, researchers from Taiwan's Academia Sinica announced that they had deciphered up to 80% of the Sinkang Manuscripts, a set of documents written in the Siraya language from the 17th and 18th centuries. These manuscripts were part of the Dutch missionaries' efforts to convert the Siraya to Christianity. The Dutch studied the Sirayan language, created a romanized script, and began translating the New Testament. Copies of the Dutch translation of the Book of Matthew into Sirayan have survived, and several manuscripts are bilingual, containing both Sirayan and Chinese versions.

Address:

720台南市官田區福田路99號

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Changhua Travel: Historic Temples of Lukang

There are numerous temples, both small and large, in Lukang's old town, many of which were built around the 18th century. Due to time constraints and the large number of people, we were only able to view the temples from the outside, so there aren't many pictures.

Lukang Mazu Temple (鹿港天后宮)

Lukang Mazu Temple is one of Taiwan's longstanding temples with a history of nearly 400 years. It is recognized as a National Historic Site of Taiwan. In 1591, trade between Lukang and coastal towns in mainland China flourished, prompting local residents to raise funds for the construction of Lukang Tianzhu Temple. The ruins of the original temple can be found in Sanjiao Lane on the north side of the site. In 1683, due to the cramped space of the Tianhou Temple, the old temple was relocated to the current site for reconstruction. It took ten years to complete and was known as Shih-Zhen (later renamed Babaozhen). Its completion attracted a large number of immigrants to settle in the Changhua Plain, turning Lugang into a bustling immigrant town.

In 1725, due to the increasing popularity of the temple, wealthy merchants such as Shi Shibang contributed to expanding its land. In 1814, the Tianhou Temple fell into disrepair, leading merchants from commercial unions to jointly fund its renovation. By 1815, the reconstructed Tianhou Palace was completed. In 1923, the temple underwent a major renovation that lasted 14 years. In 1974, a large archway was constructed in front of the temple square, and the four-story Shengen Building was preserved for pilgrims. In 1990, the temple established the Mazu Cultural Relics Museum on the first floor of the apse, exhibiting cultural relics from the temple's long history. In 1994, a new ten-story pilgrim building was constructed, which opened in 1998. On October 1, 2019, the temple was upgraded to a "National Site."

Xinzu Temple (新祖宮)

Lukang New Ancestor Palace, officially known as Chijian Tianhou Palace, is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan that was built using official funds from the emperor. Due to its imperial construction, there is a "Civil and Military Officials Dismounting Monument" in front of the temple. The statue of Mazu enshrined in Xinzu Palace is known as the "soft body ma." While the head, hands, and neck are carved from wood, the body is made of rattan, allowing it to move its limbs. Additionally, the statues of the deputy gods, "General Jin's Clairvoyance" and "General Liu Shunfeng Er," on both sides of Mazu wear Qing Dynasty official attire, making them quite unique. Being an official temple, during the Qing Dynasty, officials were responsible for offering monthly sacrifices.

Chenghuang Temple (鹿港城隍廟)

Lukang Chenghuang Temple is a temple dedicated to the City God and was formerly known as Aoting Palace. It has been designated as a historic site in the county since 1985. The Chenghuang Temple in Lukang is derived from the Shishi Chenghuang Temple in Fujian, which, in turn, originated from the Yongning Chenghuang Temple. However, there are differing opinions regarding the temple's construction date. According to the "Temple Account," the temple was built in 1754. The presence of temple side gates known as "Gui Gui Cheng" in the densely populated street houses supports this claim. Another theory suggests the year 1839 based on the earliest surviving cultural relics in the temple, a pair of erected stone pillars.

In 1848, the temple was severely damaged by a major earthquake. However, as Lugang was still flourishing at the time, it received strong local support and was quickly rebuilt. During the Japanese occupation in 1934, the front portion of the City God Temple was demolished as part of city street corrections. It was replaced with a round gable street house facade and an asbestos roof. It wasn't until the completion of a renovation project that the temple gate was restored to its traditional form.

Sanshan Guowang Temple (鹿港三山國王廟)

Lukang Sanshan King Temple was established in 1737. Based on ancient architecture, it is speculated that the temple underwent two or three reconstructions throughout its history. In the 1910s, during the Japanese occupation, according to the "Temple Account," the Sanshan King Temple consisted of a three-entry building. However, by then, the temple's incense offerings had significantly declined. In 1929, due to urban corrections, the original Sanshan King Temple located on a planned road was forced to be demolished. It was then rebuilt at its current site using old building materials. In 1934, the road was widened from approximately 7 meters to 15 meters, requiring the demolition of the Sanchuan Gate and worship hall. Only the main hall of the temple remained.

Nanjing Temple (南靖宮)

Lukang Nanjing Palace is a county-designated historic site announced on July 14, 2000. The temple is dedicated to the immigrants from Nanjing County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. Construction of Nanjing Palace began in 1783, with the temple dedicated to Emperor Guan. After World War II, in 1969, businessman Zeng Jiqing contributed 50,000 yuan to assist in the renovation of the apse, which was completed in 1971. Following its designation as a historic site, the Nanjing Palace underwent another renovation in 2003. The temple consists of a wide single bay and includes the Sanchuan Hall and the main hall, forming a pattern with two entrances and one courtyard. The main door is adorned with the work of Lugang craftsman Wang Yihe, while couplets written by Zhu Qinan and Chen Baichuan flank the entrance.

Lugang Lungshan Temple (鹿港龍山寺)

Lukang Lungshan Temple is the main temple dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva and is currently recognized as a national monument. In 1647, immigrants from Quanzhou brought the statues of Xiangxiang Daxie Buddha from Quanan Longshan Temple to Da You Street in Lukang. In 1786, the Zen master moved the statues to their present location. Several reconstructions and renovations were carried out over the years, including a major overhaul in 1831. In the late 19th century, the Japanese military rented the back hall of Lukang Longshan Temple and established a school. In 1945, following Japan's surrender in World War II, the Chinese National Government took charge of Taiwan, and the temple was reorganized by the Tan Yue Organization Management Committee. In 1961, the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva was rebuilt, and the original Amitabha Buddha statue was moved to the apse. In December 1983, the Ministry of the Interior registered Lukang Longshan Temple as a national first-class monument (now a national monument).

Lukang Lungshan Temple is a large building and is considered one of the most complete examples of Qing Dynasty architecture in Taiwan. The temple covers an area of over 1,600 pings and follows an architectural pattern of three entrances and two courtyards. It consists of Shanmen, Wumen Temple (including the stage), the main hall (including the worship hall), and the apse.

Address:

1. Lukang Mazu Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮中山路430號鹿港天后宮
2. Xinzu Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮埔頭街96號鹿港新祖宮
3. Chenghuang Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮中山路366號鹿港城隍廟
4. Sanshan Guowan Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮中山路276號鹿港三山國王廟
5. Nanjing Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮埔頭街78號南靖宮
6. Lungshan Temple: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮龍山街100號鹿港龍山寺

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Changhua Travel: Historic buildings of Lukang Old Street

Lately, we've had very little time for travel. We managed to take advantage of our only free day by driving to Yunlin and leaving our son with his grandparents. Afterward, we headed to Lukang to enjoy some time alone. Since we rarely visit Changhua, I was quite excited to explore the old town of Lukang and try some new foods there.

Lugang Old Street  (鹿港老街)

Lukang Old Street is primarily composed of Yaolin Street and Putou Street. During the Dutch and Qing Dynasty periods, Lukang served as Taiwan's most important foreign business port and experienced prosperity through commercial development.

In 1934, during the Japanese occupation, urban corrections were implemented in Lukang. Tianlao Street (now Zhongshan Road) was widened into a large road, and the houses on both sides gradually transformed into modern concrete architecture. However, Yaolin and Putou Old Street, running parallel to Zhongshan Road, still retain the traditional pattern of Lugang Old Street. In 1986, the government designated it as the Lukang Ancient Street Preservation Area.

Lukang Old Street encompasses Yihexing, Xinzu Palace, Guihua Lane, and Lukang Public Hall, with a total length of over 500 meters. It preserves early storefront buildings and long-striped Fujian-style structures. The total length of the houses ranges from 40 to 70 meters, representing the architectural style from the Qing Dynasty to the early years of Taiwan's history. Lukang boasts the second-highest number of historic sites, second only to Tainan.

Moru Lane (摸乳巷)

With a history of approximately 200 years, Moru Lane consists of two adjacent long-shaped houses. The lane spans about 80 meters, with the narrowest point measuring around 70 centimeters. Originally, during the Qing Dynasty, Moru Alley was used by residents to dispose of sewage into the ditch of the old port. Throughout the Japanese occupation, the ditch was lined with red bricks and gutters, gradually forming the present-day passage.

Due to the narrow length of Lukang's long houses, several small doors within the lane provide access to the atrium and backyard on both sides. As men and women meet in opposite directions within the narrow lane, they must walk sideways to pass each other. The woman's prominent chest became a factor in this unique scenario. When men and women pass each other and brush against one another, the men may accidentally touch the women's chest. This gave rise to the lane's name, "Junzi Lane" or "Gentleman's Lane," while the average person refers to it as "Touching the Breast Alley."

Jiuqu Alley (九曲巷)

Jiuqu Lane refers to the curved roadways within the first market of Lugang Town. Jiuqu Lane also encompasses the narrow lanes of the town's main roads, serving three functions:

Windproof: After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Lugang area often experiences strong northeast monsoons known as the "Nine Winds." The curved roadways help to weaken the wind's impact.

Anti-theft: The curved and interconnected lanes disperse the strength of potential thieves, making it difficult to attack and defend against them.

Avoiding evil: It is believed that ghosts only travel in straight lines, so the curved lanes are thought to ward off evil spirits.

Lukang Culture Center (鹿港公會堂)

The Lukang Public Hall has been designated as a county-designated historic site since July 14, 2000. The site formerly housed the Xiajiao Guild Hall and the Wanchun Palace, which was dedicated to the prince of the Su Mansion. In 1919, the temple was demolished to construct the public hall. Following World War II, the public hall was renamed "Zhongshan Hall" and became the office of the Lugang District Party Office of the Kuomintang. In 1980, local residents raised funds to rebuild the hall, which officially opened on January 20 of the following year as the Lukang Elderly Guild Hall. In 2007, the Lugang Town Hall requested the elderly residents to move out to facilitate renovations of the old public hall. Despite the resistance, the restoration was eventually completed, and on March 13, 2010, it became the "Lukang Art Museum."

The Wanchun Palace, which was demolished to construct the Lukang Public Hall, was originally built in 1769. Following its demolition, the statues and other cultural relics from the temple were relocated to the Fengshan Temple in Lukang.

Half sided well (半邊井)

Banbianjing is located within the Wang family's residence. Its distinct feature is that one side of the well is inside the house's wall, while the other side extends outside the wall. In the past, digging a well to obtain water was a luxury affordable only to the wealthy. As a result, wealthy families in Lugang would dig wells near their homes, with one side of the well inside the wall for their family's use and the other side outside the wall for passers-by or less fortunate individuals to fetch water. Similarly, there are other half-sided wells found between two neighboring families. Nowadays, with the prevalence of tap water, almost all half-sided wells are closed and unused.

Rimao Hang (日茂行)

In 1765, Lin Zhensong, the owner of Rimao Hang, came to Taiwan from Yongning, Quanzhou, to engage in business and settled in Lugang. In 1784, Lugang was officially opened as a port, and it is speculated that Rimao Hang was established during this period.

In 1777, during the Qing Dynasty, Lin Zhensong made donations to establish "Jingyi Garden," a charitable organization in Lugang. This organization, through the collection of calligraphy papers, construction of burial mounds, collection of remains, and repair of bridges, benefited the local community and became the largest charitable organization at the time. Additionally, Rimao Hang was actively involved in local affairs, such as the relocation of the Longshan Temple in Lugang and the construction of the Tianhou Palace.

In 1788, after the death of his mother, Lin Zhensong returned to Quanzhou for the funeral and eventually settled there. Lin Tingzhang, the fifth son of Lin Wenjun, and his grandnephew Lin Shixian were elected to carry on the family's business from the Qianlong period to the middle of the Daoguang Dynasty. Rimao Hang was once the leading business establishment in Lugang. However, as the accumulation of silt in the river affected shipping, the business of Rimao gradually declined, and the family's participation in local affairs waned.

Address:

1. Lukang Old Street: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮埔頭街3號鹿港老街
2. Rimao Hang: 505彰化縣鹿港鎮泉州街70號鹿港日茂行

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