Jiaoban Mountain Villa Introduction
Jiaobanshan Villa Park includes several unique attractions such as the Combat Readiness Tunnel, Chiang Kai-shek Villa, Sculpture Park, and Camphor Storage House. The Jiaobanshan Combat Readiness Tunnel, built in 1963, was designed to protect the safety of the nation's leaders during times of war and to issue combat orders. Now that the military significance has diminished, it has become a popular spot for visitors to reminisce about the battlefields of the past. The shady pathway outside the tunnel features animal figures representing Taiwan's native species, such as the leopard cat, pangolin, and Formosan black bear. Entering the 20-meter deep tunnel, visitors will find a 100-meter long tunnel wall adorned with interactive 3D murals depicting military scenes from the 1950s, featuring slogans like "Never Forget the Battle of Julu, Loyalty to the Nation," along with incoming bullets and lurking enemy agents. Along the evacuation trail next to the Combat Readiness Tunnel, visitors can reach the Jiaobanshan Villa, which houses a wealth of images and audio-visual historical materials. These not only introduce Chiang Kai-shek's achievements but also showcase numerous precious artifacts related to his family members. Walking straight from the pathway in front of the villa, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view from the Siqing Pavilion, overseeing the Dahan Creek that winds through the terraced landscape, a spot often reminisced by Chiang Kai-shek of his hometown, Xikou in Zhejiang. Next to the villa, the country's first Sculpture Park features installation art created by 12 world-class artists, including pieces like “Greenhouse Proposal,” “Human-Shaped Fox,” and “Flying Dragon in the Sky,” perfectly integrated with nature. The park is also home to various tree species such as pine, cypress, plum, and bamboo. During the plum blossom season, the 2-hectare plum garden attracts numerous visitors who come to partake in plum viewing, picnicking, tea tasting, and dynamic activities like earth games, allowing them to appreciate the beauty of the flower season in both tranquil and active settings. Next to the visitor center, the Japanese-style building, Camphor Storage House, is currently the only remaining camphor hall in Taiwan. During the prosperous camphor industry in the 19th century, Jiaobanshan was an important source of camphor trees, which were harvested and stored before being transported to factories for processing. Continuing south leads to the ecological pond, where visitors can take a wooden path around the pond to enjoy the lush scenery created by various aquatic plants, such as Taiwan water bamboo, sedge, water lilies, and irises, providing a very pleasant experience. Adjacent to this is the Camphor Exhibition Hall (originally a guardhouse), which displays the camphor refining process and relevant historical records.
