202508/29
After three years of planning, restoration, and curation, the Taichung Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA Taichung) held a grand opening ceremony today (08/29) for the city-designated historical monument “Taichung Branch Forestry Office Residence.” The event welcomed representatives from the Taichung City Government, the Central Region Branch of the National Property Administration, local legislators, councilors, and local residents to participate and witness the restoration and opening of this nearly century-old historic site. Through spatial revitalization and reuse, the site showcases the development of forestry in Basianshan. Integrating light and shadow, artifacts, and everyday life, it guides visitors on an immersive journey through forestry culture across time and space.
The opening ceremony commenced with a powerful and revitalizing drum performance by the drum troupe Drum Creative of the Art, symbolizing the rebirth and regeneration of the residence through restoration. The most ingenious ceremony design element was the ticket punching using tickets from the “Basianshan Forest Railway,” which symbolized the official launch of the residence and the start of a new journey in forestry history and culture. Feng Chia University and the Centre of Woodwork Technology and Innovation of the National Taipei University of Technology were also invited to the event to showcase old historical photos of the surrounding area, creative works using domestic timber materials and pottery crafted using indigenous cinnamon. Visitors could thus experience the fusion of culture, nature, and craftsmanship design while exploring the exhibits.
In his speech, Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the FANCA, said that the residence was first built during the Japanese colonial period (1927), making it nearly a century old. In the past, it served as an important base for forestry personnel traveling on business between the Basianshan Forest site and the Fengyuan area, standing as an indispensable witness to the development of forestry culture. Since FANCA Taichung launched the restoration project in 2022, it has adhered to the spirit of “restoring old structures to their original state,” preserving the original components and the precious Formosan cypress wood as much as possible. This approach ensures that the residence’s historical features are preserved, restoring its architectural appearance to its former glory. The restoration and repurposing of the residence is not only an achievement in cultural heritage preservation, but also a new starting point. It is hoped that the residence can connect the cultural tourism resources of Taichung with the ecological tourism corridor of the Basianshan Forest Recreation Area, and become a new highlight for the public to learn about forestry history and experience cultural life.
Director Chang Hung-Yi of FANCA Taichung pointed out that to enhance public understanding of the residence, FANCA Taichung commissioned Associate Professor Yu Fong of Feng Chia University in 2024 to conduct historical research, interviews, and on-site surveys of forest railway relics, as to collect the context and stories of the residence and the Basianshan Forest. This research served as the foundation for planning the themed exhibition “Origins: Taichung Branch Forestry Office Residence.” Utilizing the existing Japanese-style architecture of the residence, dynamic lighting and projections recreate scenes from Basianshan Forest, transporting visitors back to the era of forestry operations and allowing them to deeply appreciate the unique charm of forestry history.
This exhibition, curated around the theme of “Origins: Taichung Branch Forestry Office Residence” unfolds through multiple zones detailing the residence’s historical background, cultural heritage, and profound connection to Basianshan‘s forestry development. The “Light and Shadow of Basianshan Forestry” zone employs unique dynamic lighting to recreate scenes and the atmosphere from the Basianshan forestry station’s past. “Industrial Memories of Yat-Sen Hall” highlights how the transportation of timber from Basianshan to the Fengyuan log yard led to the boom of the local lacquerware industry. “Poet Chen Chien-Wu and Literary Memories of Yat-Sen Hall” showcases how poet Chen Chien-Wu, formerly employed at the Basianshan forest station, founded the “Li Poetry Society” in his dormitory at Yat-Sen Hall,” which had a profound impact on the localization of Taiwanese literature. “Architectural Features and Future Development of the Taichung Branch Forestry Office Residence” showcases old building materials preserved during the restoration process and previews the facility’s future development direction. A documentary film of the restoration process fully documents the historic monument’s rebirth, allowing future generations to witness the efforts and achievements of the residence’s restoration.
In addition, a dedicated area within the residence serves as a “Forest Made” brand store, offering a variety of specialty products. These include potted native Taiwanese plants, indigenous cinnamon tea, and cultural and creative products made from domestic Taiwan red pine timber. There are also limited-edition products specially developed for the opening of the residence, including indigenous cinnamon sparkling water and indigenous cinnamon massage oil. This rich selection allows visitors to take home unique souvenirs symbolizing nature and forestry culture after visiting the historic site.
FANCA Taichung stated that the residence is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided tours will be available through online reservation, with two sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., each limited to 20 people. Reservations can be made in advance through the “Taiwan Forest Recreation” website (https://recreation.forest.gov.tw/). From August 29 to September 21, a series of “Forest Living” holiday activities will be launched every weekend. All are welcome to sign up at https://sites.google.com/icefish.space/hassen.