cultural heritage

Elevated railway project faces delays after historic train turntable discovered in southern Taiwan

concrete base of railway train turntable
Business and Economy 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Chiayi City’s elevated railway project was originally due to be completed by the end of 2025, but will likely face delays after a committee voted to preserve in situ a 116-year-old train turntable. The Japanese colonial era railway turntable was discovered while excavating the basement of the new Chiayi Railway Station in December 2023. A survey and study of the remnants by the Cultural Resources Review Committee determined that the turntable was built in 1908, and constituted a tangible cultural

Read more

Historic navy ship sold as scrap iron gets last minute reprieve

Military Affairs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A ship that began service in World War II, and was recently sold as scrap metal, may be kept as a historical monument after the navy decided to postpone signing a sales contract for one month. [See previous story: Veteran navy ship sold for scrap.] The tank landing ship Chung Hai ( 中海) was decommissioned in 2010 after 65 years of service with the ROC Navy. Since then it has been berthed in the Port of Kaohsiung. During its service

Read more

Historical Clinic Gutted to make way for Claw Machines

workers demolish a store front in Xinhua old street
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Cultural heritage workers in Tainan City rushed to save furniture and fittings dating back to the 1930s after workers moved in with jackhammers yesterday to turn the historical property into a claw machine shop. The clinic is located on the west side of the Xinhua Old Street, a section of Zhongzheng Road that was declared a historical precinct in July this year. Tainan City Sin-Hua District Community Association Secretary-General Hsu Ming-yang told reporters that the buildings on the west side

Read more

Dutch Era Well Restored in Yunlin County

Dutch well guken township
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Photos: UDN A village well dug during the Dutch occupation of Taiwan over 300 years ago, is being restored in Mayuan Village, Gukeng Township, Yunlin County. Village elders have fond memories of the well, which served as the village’s sole source of water until reticulated water was introduced in the 1950s. Workers are currently dredging the 55 meter deep well. Water will be tested for safety, and may be used for watering public gardens in the future.

Read more