(Photo credit: 美濃文創中心 Facebook)
Chinese name: 美濃文創中心
Located at: Kaohsiung City (Southern Taiwan)
Year of Establishment: 2015
Address: 212 Yong’an Road,
Meinong District, Kaohsiung City
The Meinong Cultural and Creative Center is located in Meinong District of Kaohsiung City, at the intersection of
the old street Yong’an Road and Zhongzheng Road. It was the place where the Lin
brothers first led the people to settle in and develop Meinong during the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911). It was also the place where the Hakka volunteer militia trained. During the Japanese occupation (1895-1945),
the town office, the police station, the credit union, and the public school
were established here. It is Meinong’s political, economic, and education
center, and is currently the busiest and the
most lively neighborhood in Meinong.
The Meinong police station, built in 1902, was a Baroque-style building
with gun fortresses, bomb shelters, bell towers, octagonal windows, and washed
stone columns. Its walls are made of 13-groove tiles, which is a kind of common
tile produced in the early 20th century. After being exposed to sun and rain
for more than 80 years, it’s amazing that only six pieces of tiles were damaged
and replaced.
Before the merger of Kaohsiung County and City, the Meinong Town Office at one time had financial difficulties. The police
station and the Japanese-style police dormitory were on
the brink of being auctioned off. In 2008, it was listed as a historic
building.
Since 2013, the municipal government has invested more than NT$170
million in the renovation and reconstruction of
the historical space. In addition to restoring the
original features of the two historical buildings, the Meinong police station
and the Japanese-style dormitory, a new education and arts hall was built.
Surrounding environments including Shuangfeng Park Trail were
beautified, creating a historical site that is one of
the most important public constructions
for Meinong in 100 years. The Meinong Cultural and Creative Center,
which was completed at the end of 2015, has become
a new cultural base.
The Meinong Cultural and Creative Center provides books, reading space
and art services. The hall has a Meinong Study area that has a collection of
research and other books about Meinong, and has become a window for visitors to
learn about Meinong’s culture, industry and tourism.