Travel Date: 2024.01.06
Our first journey of the year led us back to Yunlin, where we explored Douliou. As the Lunar New Year draws near, the captivating glow of lanterns illuminates Douliu City, painting a vibrant tapestry of colors and warmth across this charming old street in Taiwan.
Douliou holds a special place in our travels, and today, we revisited familiar spots such as Douliou Old Street (Taiping Old Street), Japanese Dormitories, and other historical landmarks in the town. It's a delightful way to welcome the Lunar New Year amid the rich history and enchanting atmosphere of Douliou.
Taiping Old Street (太平老街)
In recent years, the Douliu Municipal Office of Yunlin County has hung up lanterns painted by school students on Taiping Old Street at the end of each year to create a lantern corridor, which has been well received. This year, the Municipal Office cooperated with 18 elementary and middle schools in Douliu City to create a lantern gallery in Taiping Old Street in Douliu City. There are 16,000 lanterns hanging on the street and Zhonghua Road!
The Douliu City Office held a lantern-turning ceremony at 6:30 pm on December 23, 2023. The exhibition will last until March 31, 2024.
This year, the festivities extend to the enchanting Taiping Old Street, where a few thousands lanterns grace the thoroughfare.
Taiping Old Street, with its remarkable 600-meter stretch from Douliu Circle to Douliu Post Office, is a living testament to Taiwan's rich history. Dating back to the Japanese era, the street's buildings showcase an architectural elegance rooted in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods. The Baroque-style structures, adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, carry the legacies of their residents etched in stone.
To safeguard these century-old monuments from the ravages of time, the Cultural Development Association and the city office joined hands for a historic street reconstruction plan. This visionary initiative involved unifying shop signs, enhancing leisure facilities, introducing greenery and ambient street lighting, and overall beautification efforts. The unique floor tiles, a testament to meticulous planning, transform Taiping Old Street into an open-air haven, seamlessly blending commerce, tourism, and recreation in Yunlin County.
Yunzhong Street Cultural and Creative Settlement (雲中街生活聚落)
The Yunzhong Street Cultural and Creative Settlement spans both sides of Yunzhong Street in Douliu City. The wooden houses in this area emanate a distinct Japanese nostalgic charm. Once neglected and abandoned, these old houses have undergone a thorough renovation by the county government, transforming into cultural and creative parks with unique characteristics that promote the local cultural and creative industries.
Within the park, you'll find various cultural and creative theme halls. For example, 'The Handmade Forest' showcases adorable potted plants, while the 'Future Classroom-Robot Workshop' offers children hands-on DIY robot experiences. Another highlight is the 'Vinyl Music Story Hall,' curated by retired professor Zhang Guangxun. With a collection of over 8,000 vinyl records amassed over 30 years, Professor Zhang invites visitors to listen to old songs and enjoy a cup of tea, creating a delightful journey through time.
Douliou Memorial Hall (古蹟 斗六行啟記念館)
Douliou Memorial Hall, also known as Douliu Xingqi Memorial Hall, was constructed around 1927 to commemorate Prince Yuren's visit to Taiwan in 1923. Originally named 'Douliu Memorial Mansion,' it functioned as a public meeting space, funded by a combination of local and official sources. Throughout its history, the building served various purposes, housing entities such as the water company, the Chiayi Supervision Office of the Highway Bureau, the Yunlin County Office of Industry and Commerce, the Military Public Education and Welfare Center, and the Central District Office of the State Property Bureau.
In 1999, the devastating 921 earthquake caused severe damage, leading to the classification of the building as dangerous. Recognizing its historical significance, it was registered as a historic building in 2001. Subsequent restoration work took place from 2005 to 2006, culminating in the renaming of the hall to 'Dou Liu XingQi Memorial Hall' in 2006.
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