Development and Relocation of Zhilan New Street

Shilin is adjacent to Keelung River, and it has been one of the earliest settlements in Taipei Basin, where many historic remains and space still remain. Shilin Community College is an important learning venue for the public education in Shilin and also the local cultural empowerment of Shilin. It is necessary to conduct an investigation and to obtain the understanding of Shilin related customs and infrastructure as well as the implementation of teaching and promotional campaigns. We believe that the buildings and vision of the city can be properly developed only when the residents gain insight into the city in which they live in. Our recent advocacy on “Learning in Shilin” is based on such concept.

This manual is includes the research results from “Learning in Shilin” and also the information for Shilin residents to be acquainted with Shilin. The entire manual could be used as a starting point for the residents or tourists from out of town to have an understanding of Shilin. The manual elaborates from the scenes and landscape of Shilin, including MRT Jiantan Station, Shilin Zhilan New Street, Jihe Road, Fude Temple, Cixian Temple, Pan Family’s Old Residence, etc.

We encourage all readers to walk, read and see along the course. We believe that it will be a profound experience to travel with a knowledge of the local history and culture of Shilin.

Where is Zhilan New Street

| 陳健一老師繪 |

 

Zhilan New Street refers to the area among Dadong Road, Daxi Road, Danan Road, and Dabei Road in the busy areas in Shilin now. These roads and the Cixian Temple (Mazu Temple) were from the Shilin Street Blocks developed in the late Qing Dynasty, between 1862 and 1874. The scope of the manual is marked with “Zhilan New Street” because it was derived from the old name of Shilin, “Bazhilan”, from the early days. It is called Zhilan New Street when compared with the “Old Streets” from an even earlier time (the area near Shennong Temple on Qian Street of Shilin).

The Shilin Night Market, Yangming Cinema and other places we are familiar with all fall within the scope of Zhilan New Street. Zhilan New Street in the early days was located by the riverside of Keelung River, but when Keelung River changed its course, the old river course became what is now known as the Jihe Road.

In general, Zhilan New Street mainly consists of Daxi Road, Danan Road, Dabei Road, Dadong Road, Cixian Temple, Shilin Market, Yangming Cinema, and Public Assembly Halls. There is also the Shilin Paper Factory nearby as well as Shilin Official Residence and Zhishanyan Rock.

Walk and read on Zhilan New Street

Apart from the dazzling collection of merchandises on the street, tourist are suggested to pay attention to the historic monuments and the space and sites with historical features when visiting Zhilan New Street.

This manual aims to provide a guide to the historic and spatial lessons of Shilin Street Blocks. Readers are suggested to follow the sites mentioned in the manual and visit them one by one. It is suggested to take the route from MRT Jiantian Station as the starting point to pass by Jihe Road, Cixian temple and then arrive in MRT Shilin Station. Temples, streets, water course, plaza, and public buildings that could be discovered with some significance from the historical significance on the development of Shilin region can evoke a sense of nostalgia.

A Sketch of Shilin’s Humanistic and Cultural Geography

Shilin comprises of the areas near Wenlin Road, Lanya, Tienmu and Yangmingshan. This section primarily elaborates on the humanistic and cultural development along Wenlin Road.

About 300 years ago, the Han people were active in the region between Shuanxi and Keelung Rivers. This area was later developed into a street, the area around Shennong Temple today (Shilin Qian Street). One hundred years later, many people moved to the lower Shilin by Keelung River, the area near the so-called “Zhilan New Street,” after having undergone some battles and natural disasters. The path from Wenlin Road and Tamsui today was a popular course for traveling between wharfs on riverside and Zhilan New Street. The spatial development of Shilin entered another stage of changes when the Japanese built railways during the Japanese Occupation. The areas of the roundabout today underwent continuous development, with the government administration institutions and train stations nearby while the Shilin Market was also built on the north side of Danan Road. Additionally the wilderness and the graveyard on the south side of the gutter, south of Dabei Road, developed into Shilin Paper Factory, leading the development of humanistic and cultural geography of Shilin into another epoch. In the 1940s when the Nationalist Government came to Taiwan, Jiantian area across from Zhilan New Street became the military restricted area and the official residence for Chiang Kai-shek, restricting the development of general residents and life. In the 1960s, Typhoon Gloria brought disasters into the Shilin region and the lower reach of Keelung River. As a result, the government then changed the course of Keelung River that was close to Zhilan New Street into the present course today. The previous river course was reconstructed into Jihe Road.

History Overview of Shilin

Shilin is located near by the north tributary of Keelung River – including the areas in Wai Shuang Stream and Southern Sulfur Creek as well as part of Yangmingshan area. It was where the Ketagalan, a Pingtu tribe, was active in the early days. The Han people appeared in the 17th century, and the number of Hans coming to Taiwan for reclamation increased in the 18th century, mostly consisting of people from Zhangzhou in China. In 1703, the people from Zhangzhou already reclaimed Qili’an, followed by Dongshi and Nanya. In 1720, Zheng Wei-Qian entered Shilin for reclamation and addressed Shilin at the time as Bazhilianlin. A few years later in about 1737, the population increased and formed the Bazhilianlin Village. During this time, people mostly resided near the confluence between Wai Shuang Stream and Keelung River or even the Zhishanyan region on inner land. In 1736, the Fudeyang channel was excavated to provide steady water source for cultivation in the Shilin region, providing a more stable environment for reclamation. In 1741, people from Zhangzhou expanded the former God of Land Temple near the Wai Shuang Stream bank and established the “Zhilan Temple”. After a few years, the areas around “Zhilan Temple” formed streets and became the streets with the earliest development in Shilin, also known as the Zhilan Old Streets called by the descendants. Zhilan Temple was later renamed to “Shennong Temple”. Zhangzhou people then built the Huiji Temple at Yuanshan Hill (Zhishanyan) in 1772 for people to enshrine their native god, the Sacred Prince, Developer of Zhangzhou. In 1859, Zhangzhou people and Qianzhou people were battling, taking the battlefield to Shilin and destroying all the old streets where Shennong Temple was located. Under the advocacy proposed by Pan Yong-ging in 1864, many residents from the old streets moved to Xiashulin and established many streets, forming Zhilan New Street later. At the same time, the statue of “Mazu” relocated from Wai Shuang Stream bank was enshrined in Cixian Temple for the residents to worship. The Japanese came to Taiwan in 1895, and Shilin then entered into a new stage of development. The “Zhishanyan Incident” took place in Shilin in January 1896 where six Japanese teachers were killed, affecting the song of Pan Yong-ging, Pan Guang-Song, who was later executed by the Japanese. In 1901 the Tamsui Railway was opened and a train station was established in Shilin. The Japanese designed a “Public Market” in 1915 while Japanese entrepreneurs founded “Taiwan Paper K.K.” in 1918. In 1920, the Japanese ruled Taiwan with more stability. They developed partial local self-governance and established street and village heads, as well as village offices.

The development in Shilin underwent another adjustment after the Nationalist Government came to Taiwan in 1945. First Chiang Kai-shek built the official residence in Shilin, and many military, public servants and teachers settled in the region. Many sites in the region was listed as restricted area for construction. In 1949, Shilin and Beitou were classified for jurisdiction under the Caoshan Administration Bureau. Caoshan was renamed as Yangmingshan, and the Caoshan Administration Bureau, the Yangmingshan Administration Bureau. In 1968, Shilin and Beitou were re-classified for jurisdiction under Taipei City, known as the “Shilin District” nowadays.

Bazhilan and Shilin

There is hot spring water gushing from the mountains in the north of Shilin, and such phenomenon is called by the Ketagalan people as Pattsiran, namely hot spring. The Hans translated the sound as “Bazhilan”, and the place was also known as “Bazhilin Forest” because of the massive quantity of trees. The place was renamed as Bashilianlin in 1741, namely “Bazhilin”; but it was renamed again as “Bazhilan” in 1764, abbreviated as “Zhilan” later. In 1871, the place was called “Zhilan Street” in Tamsui Prefecture’s Records while Zhilan Street which was at “XiaShulin” at the time was called “Shilin Street”, meaning many literati in Shilin with good and thriving literary development.

Shilin Street Blocks

The scope of Shilin District is broad, and our scope of exploration focused on the Shilin Street Blocks, known as the living areas between Wai Shuang Stream, Keelung River, and Mt. Jiantan. This area is the region with the most active for humanistic and cultural development in Shilin District and also the place with more historic characteristics.

Historical Guide to Shilin Zhilan New Street

MRT Jiantan Staion

The MRT Jiantan Station is divided into two sides on Zhongshan N. Road and Jihe Road. The Zhongshan N. Road is next to Mt. Jiantan, the hillsides close to the traditional Shilin streets. The Jihe Road is part of the scope of the old river course of Keelung River. This part of the river course was reclaimed into roads after Keelung River changed its course, known as the Jihe Road. Separated by Jihe Road, the temporary market for Shilin Night Market is built on the opposite side across the road to Jiantan Station. Currently the old location for Shilin Night Market is still under renovation and the Shilin Night Market will move back to its pervious location after completion.

The line was designed for Taipei-Tamsui Railway and when the Taipei-Tamsui Railway was suspended in 1988, the previous line was used as the current MRT line. Shilin Station was established for Taipei-Tamsui Railway near to Shilin Street Blocks. After the opening of MRT Tamsui Line in 1997, Shilin Station and Jiantan Station were then established for Shilin Street Blocks.

| 陳琼香學員繪 |

 

Jihe Road

Jihe Road extends from the Taipei Municipal Bailing High School and Chengde Road to the belt area on Shishang Road. It was the river course of Keelung River in the early days, but the Great Taipei Flood Prevention Renovation plan launched in 1961 changed the course of Keelung River next to Shilin Street Blocks to nowadays Bailing Bridge route in order to turn the river course away from the Shilin Street Blocks with dense population and to reduce the level of flood damage for residential areas during typhoon seasons.

Keelung River originated from Pingxi Township and flowed through Ruifang, Badu, Qidu and Shizhi before flowing into Taipei Basin. The river course meandered after entering the basin, passed by Yuanshan and then entered Shilin. The proximity to Keelung River provided convenience in fish yield and water-continental transportation, forming the flourishing prospect of Shilin Street Blocks.In particular, the Sanjiaodu area was where the water canal and Tamsui River connected with each other. This water canal was also known as the ditch between Shezi and Dalongtong. In the ancient time, people of Shilin followed this route to travel between Tamsui River, the peripheral waters and regions with high convenience. Now the ditch has been filled up while the course of Keelung River was also changed, eradicating the landscape from this region. Currently new constructions have been built on the old river course of Keelung River, Chengde Road in the south, Taipei Municipal Bailing High School, Jihe Park and National Residential Building in the center and Jihe River in the north.

Xiashuidang Fude Temple

The location of Fude Temple was the early location which is adjacent to Keelung River and the canals. With the water flowing from the site of Xiashuidang, Shilin Street Blocks were across from the Xiashuidang. The location of Fude Temple is close to Shilin Paper Factory, which was established during the Japanese Occupation. In even earlier days, the location for the paper factory was a graveyard.

In the early days, the front side of Fude Temple facing the Keelung River, and there was a bridgehead of a suspension bridge nearby, known as the Shezi Suspension Bridge. The bridge was used for residents in Shilin Street Blocks to cross Keelung River and to travel between the two sides of the river. The bridge is 152 meters in height and 4.5 meters in width, which was opened in 1939. The bridge was removed in 1979 when Keelung River changed its course, leaving areas for Jihe Road and Chengde Road. Xiashuidang was a water canal in the early days. The existing topological observation shows that the west side of the Xiashuidang was the bustling area in Shilin, and the east of the Xiashuidang was the graveyard, which served as the border that separates the two sides. Now the Xiashuidang is covered and such border distinction now becomes ambiguous. However, it is necessary to reconstruct and recall the early historic border and memories of Shilin people.

Danan Road

Danan Road is part of the Shilin Old Streets. Other than Danan Road, the scope of Old Streets also includes Dadong Road, Dabei Road, Daxi Road, Danan Road, Xiaoxibei Street, Xiaodong Street, Xiaonan Street and Xiaobei Street. The spatial constructions of these streets were completed around 1864. Before this, in 1859, there were severe battling incidents taking place in the Shilin region, destroying many residences. Later Shilin underwent a huge flooding disaster, and the residents were forced to evacuate and move to the current areas such as Danan Road, Dabei Road, Daxi road and Dadong Road.

The Danan Road where we stand on now is part of the Shilin New Streets which were developed later. The streets surround Mazu Temple, namely Cixian Temple and was built into a check-board shape with frontier pass and moat. It was rare for a block of streets in the Qing Dynasty with such comprehensive planning.

At the location where Danan Road which was near Keelung River in the ancient time, ferrries for lower Xiashuidang traveled not far here so a shipyard was thus established. Located on Danan Road facing Daxi Road, and there was the Pan Family’s Old Residence, known as the house of the advocator and builder of early New Streets, which belonged to Pan Yong-ging. Currently the Old Residence was severely damaged with the same vintage smell. It was identified by the municipal government as Class III Historic Site.

Danan Road is located at the opera stage in the opposite side of Cixian Temple across the road. The operating time of the market was divided into two periods; namely a morning period and a night period with many booths. The market was a trade center for local agricultural products and livelihood supplies. The fish supply was transported following the ancient trails, from Jinshan area of the North Coast, to be sold in this region. During the Japanese Occupation, some areas in the region underwent renovation and became a public market. After the Nationalist Government came to Taiwan, the market became Shilin Night Market and other commercial areas to cope with the demands from several colleges and the consumption of their students. The local development also thrived significantly.

| 陳佳慧學員繪 |

Cixian Temple

Cixian Temple enshrines Mazu as its main goddess, and it has been the belief center of Shilin District. Cixian Temple was founded in 1796. The location of the temple was not at the current location but somewhere not far from the confluence between Keelung River and Wai Shuang Stream, namely near to No. 731 on Wenlin Road, Shilin Bridge. In 1859, people from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou battled severely, destroying the old streets. Pan Yong-ging then advocated for building up new streets by convincing many residents to move to the place of new street blocks. A statue of Mazu was invited to the newly built temple, now known as Cixian Temple. When “Cixian Temple” was built, there was a severe confrontation between Zhangzhou people and Quanzhou people. The strongly high tension led to the building of streets defense where even private residential defenses were built. Apart from Danan Road, “Cixian Temple” also formed a U-shaped corridor among the private residences. When enemy attacked through the corridor, there were routes for strong men from the private residences to go to the plaza in front of the temple and gathered into defense formation.

The Mazu Temple was surrounded by Danan Road, Daxi Road, Dadong Road and Dabei Road, of which the design was planned by the relocation advocator, Pan Yong-ging. His idea centered on the Mazu Temple, and chessboard shaped streets were developed to connect houses. The houses would rarely have windows in the backside to form a castle situation outward. The east and west wings come with Shangshuidang and Xiashuidang. Keelung River was on the south, and there were bamboo posts preventing the flood from hitting the riverbank at the wharf. Besides, at the location near to the wharf, where was known as the Pan Family’s Old Residence, a sentry tower was also built. All these created the solid defense for Zhilan New Street.

Soon after completing the construction of the neighborhood, local Zhangzhou people in Shilin region fought back the attack from Quanzhou people from Shezi on Keelung River and defeated their opponents. This was the first battle after moving to Zhilan New Street.

The construction of Cixian Temple started in the 3rd Year of the reign of Tongzhi Emperor and was completed in the 6th Year of the reign of Guangxu Emperor (1880). The project was initiated and achieved by PAN Yong-qing. He also served as the first committee chairman, and so did his son, PAN Guang-kai. The inscription of “PAN SHENG QING” still remains on a pair of dragon pillars located in front of the main hall of the temple.

葉宜秦學員繪|

Public Market (Shilin Market)

Situated on the junction of Shuangxi River and Keelung River, Shilin block facilitated trade in the early era of water transport in Taipei. Going upstream to Shuangxi, there were settlements as well as Pingdengli (Pingdeng neighborhoods); alongside the Huang River (Huangxi), one can find Nanya settlements and also some scattered households near Datun Mountain and Dalun Mountain (Dan Lun Wei Shan). The residents there would come down for shopping at the distribution centers located in the flatlands at the junction of water and land. Shilin block was an important distribution center for daily goods and agricultural products. Furthermore, seafood and mountain products from Jinshan near the seaside were also conveyed here to be exchanged. These conditions and environment all contributed significantly to the active development of the trading market at Shilin Street Blocks.

In the old days, people often traded in the front of a temple. With its convenient location near Keelung River and the devotion to Mazu who provides a relief for the soul, the temple courtyard of Cixian Temple naturally became a trading center. Later based on the local customs and marketplace tradition, the Japanese built a “public market” in the 4th Year of Taisho (1915). With the arrival of the Nationalist government in Taiwan, numerous military personnel, government functionaries and teachers were stationed in Shilin and created a new consumer population. Then, several colleges such as Ming Chuan, Soochow, Shih Chieh and Chinese Cultural University were established near Shilin, creating a new boost for the consumer market in Shilin. The Shilin night market near the Public Market followed this trend with many featured dishes earning popularity and a good reputation within a few years and thus became a place for gourmands to linger and indulge in the delicacies there.

As of now, Shilin Night Market has developed so far as to cover the area from Jiantan station of Taipei MRT to Dadong Road, Wenlin Road, Jihe Road and Danan Road. At nightfall, traffic jams, congested sidewalks and scuffling pedestrians have become a common sight in what has turned into the best-known night market in Taiwan as well as the biggest one in Taipei.

陳梅花學員繪|

Pan Family’s Old Residence

Pan Family’s Old Residence is the former house of PAN Yong-qing, advocate, planner and designer of Shilin Block in the Qing dynasty. During the reigns of Xianfeng and Tongzhi emperors, Shilin residents suffered from war and destruction. Thanks to the persistence and hard work of PAN Yong-qing, they were able to resettle and rebuilt their homes at a new site. PAN Yong-qing was the key figure in Shilin’s one hundred year period development. Born in 1820, PAN Yong-qing built a Wenchang temple in Zhishanyan near the Old Streets, where he founded a school and taught as a teacher when he was still young.He later became a good friend of LIN Guo-fang, also originating from Zhangzhou, who was a descendant from the Northern tycoon family of LIN Ben-yuan. As a teacher of LIN family’s children, he traveled regularly between Daxi and Shilin. He then also contributed to the regional exploitation of Daxi and Mawudu, as well as the wasteland reclamation near Sanzhi and Shimen. The Cheng-Qu-Zhen canal in Shimen area was one of his works.

In the 9th Year of the reign of Xianfeng Emperor (1859), a serious conflict arose between Quanzhou and Zhangzhou people. Forces of Quanzhou poeple crossed the Keelung River to the Old Streets (near Shennong temple nowadays) and had the Old Streets destroyed. Numerous residents fled to Zhishanyan. A standoff between the two parties lasted until the Quanzhou people finally withdrew. PAN Yong-qing was attending an examination in the mainland at the time, but he returned as soon as he learned the news. Facing destroyed homes, the residents rolled up their sleeves, engaged in carpentry and masonry and went on to rebuild their homes. When construction was almost completed, a typhoon hit and Shuangxi Stream burst out of its banks, flooding the whole Old Streets (Old Town). Every house that was painfully built got swept away. Watching the scene, PAN Yong-qing found a place away from the water in the woods near Keelung River, like a reversed wok, with high grounds in the middle and lower on the edges: “The land over there is higher!” he said. Once the flood had receded, he persuaded the residents to the “Xiashuzhu” highlands near Keelung River, since Old Streets (Old Town) of Zhilian near Shuangxi stream can flood easily. “Where the terrain is higher, not easily flooded.It is near the larger river that simplifies water transport to other places such as Monga.” It did take some convincing before most people agreed and moved to a new land near Keelung River. In the meantime, PAN Yong-qing had conceived the idea of building streets in a checkerboard shape in order to facilitate transportation. Defense, drainage and related facilities were also considered; the construction of a wharf and ferry were not left out either. Other facilities such as a gate, watchtower and moat also had to be built. In addition, Mazu had to be welcomed into the neighborhood in order to gain recognition from the people for its construction. Diligently communicating with the residents and landowners and obtaining their consent, the infrastructure of the new neighborhood was completed within a few years and the residents moved in the so called Zhilan New Street. Thus the new era of Shilin had begun.

市場內頂水擋舊址(臺北市士林社區大學攝)

Dingsuidang

During the reign of Tongzhi Emperor, construction in Shilin Streets also included the Dingshuidang and Xiashuidang canals as a moat for defensive purposes. Here’s Dingshuidang, and to the west stands the PAN family’s old residence and Shilin neighborhood; to the north, one can find a paddy field detention basin between Keelung River and Dingshuidang. Not far away from the junction of Dingshuidang and Keelung River (Keelung Road nowadays), there is a mooring for ferryboats, and further upstream Dingshuidang canal, in the early days, ships could sail out from further upstream Dingshuidang canal. Today the canal has been covered and is now the passageway through the market. The covered canal leads to Dadong Road, Lane 101 of Wenlin Road; across the street near Yangming Theater on Wenlin Road, the waterway bordered some houses; following again in Lane 144 of Wenlin Road, near Zhongshan North Road stands a bridge and under this bridge there is an open waterway: Dingshuidang canal. Going upstream from Dingshuidang, the watercourse was covered. According to ancient maps, further upstream the canal followed Jiantan Mountain and extended in the direction of the Official Residence. The actual canal path has yet to be rediscovered.

市場內頂水擋舊址(臺北市士林社區大學攝)

Wenlin Road

Wenlin Road was part of the early Beidan (Taipei-Tamsui) Trail. In the old days, people would crossed the Keelung River by ferry, either from the vicinity of Dingshuidang, or next to the current Sanjiaodu Ferry, then continuing over land on today’s Wenlin Road in the direction of the Tamsui River mouth. During the Japanese Rule, a railway was built alongside the north of Wenlin Road and a train station was built in Shihlin. After arriving in Taiwan, the Nationalist Government further developed the northern section of Zhongshan North Road which facilitated transportation from the Official Residence to the Presidential Palace and Songshan Airport. The land transportation in Shilin thus became more developed. The railway was later dismantled and replaced with Shilin and Jiantan stations of Taipei MRT serving this district, and the transportation in Shilin became even more convenient. With new industrial and environmental changes, the Shilin Paper Factory has been closed for years, but in the near future by allocating land for commercial use, a different development approach will be adopted.

已拆遷的陽明戲院/陳佳慧學員繪

The Era of Roundabout

In the 6th Year of Showa (1931), the Japanese built the roundabout at the intersection of Xiaobei Road and Dadong Road and the Village Town Hall in Shilin Street. During this period, the train station and public schools on the west side were also established. These important infrastructures located on the north side of Shilin Street (Zhilan New Street) characterized the spatial intention in which the Japanese had thoughts about the development of Shilin’s environment: probably with a focus on the north side of Shilin Street and at the foot of Jiantan Mountain, but at a certain distance from Keelung River and Shuangxi Stream. In the vicinity of the mountain, the terrain was higher and further away from the river with reduced the threat of flooding. Overall, the area composed of Street Village Town Hall, the roundabout and Shilin branch office illustrated how the Japanese intended to use this area as their focus on future neighborhood development. When the Nationalist government arrived in Taiwan, Street Village Town Hall was transformed into the District Office that was later relocated; the present site became the people’s Citizen Hall and a space dedicated to recreation, meeting and discussion.

|黃金安學員繪 |

Shilin Paper Factory

Built in the 7th Year of Taishō (1918), the Shilin Paper Factory was launched by the Japanese Ushiroku Shintarō who began to buy land and build the plant in the 8th Year of Taishō. The location depends on water, raw materials and fuel source; hence the Shilin Paper Factory was set up between Keelung River and Xiashuidang for its convenient water supply. Furthermore, the paper plant needed a lot of charcoal that could be supplied from the coal mine upstream Waishuangxi Stream; all above mentioned factors contributed to the establishment of the paper factory in Shilin. As far as raw material for the paper was concerned, straw was used in the early days, which could be easily acquired from Beitou, Shilin and Tamshui. The factory closed down many years ago, and the land has been converted to commercial use in recent years. In the near future the site will accommodate commercial buildings.

陳梅花學員繪|

Shilin Elementary School

Shilin Elementary School is the former Bazhilan Public School. During the Qing dynasty, in the heyday of education in Shilin, the local gentry had a bright vision for its local cultural development. In the early Japanese occupation period, the Japanese founded the Kokugo Denshujo (Institutes of Teaching and Learning National language (Japanese language)) in Zhishanyan. As it was too far away from Zhilan New Street for the juniors, the local gentry who paid very attention to their children’s education, envisaged the founding of a school between Zhilan New Street and Zhilan Old Street. Japan’s public education policy in 1998 was for Kokugo Denshujos and branch schools to be converted into public schools; newly established schools would have to be locally self-funded.

Local residents of Shilin thus took the initiative to make donations, and a total of 1186 donors participated in the event. Hence, Bazhilan Public School was founded and re-named as Shilin Elementary School after Taiwan’s retrocession. Its library and disciplinary office buildings remains in the style of Japanese Occupation, which is a representative of the old days.

鄧中強學員繪|

Shilin Old Train Station

The old train station was originally located in front of the exit No. 2 of the Shilin MRT station. Early in 1901, the Taipei-Tamshui line opened and became operational. The station was renovated in the 2nd Year of Showa (1927). Train traffic service was interrupted in 1988 and replaced by MRT Shilin station in later years. Ever since the building of the station in 1901, the traffic in Shilin has entered into a fast developing period.

Many products of local industries such as coal and straw mats were transported by railway. In addition, other entrepreneurs also benefited from this transportation opportunity and established factories. The Shilin Paper Factory is just an example. The Shilin Paper Factory was located at the end of Fude Road in front of the train station and was an important local business. Some lands in the vicinity of the old train station site remains the property of Shilin Paper Factory.

蔡麗玲學員繪|

主辦單位:財團法人崇德文化教育基金會 ( 臺北市士林社區大學 )

Organized by Chong De Cultural and Educational Foundation (Shilin Community College)

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