Xinjie Elementary School Japanese Dormitory群 Introduction
In the bustling Yanping Road of Zhongli, the "Renhai Temple," which has a history of over a century, is always filled with worshippers. Besides this long-standing temple, the cultural landscape in the urban area is also quite rich. The "Japanese Dormitory," located within Xin Jie Elementary School, has been renovated and is now the first historical building situated on a school campus in Taoyuan. With the surrounding rich historical and cultural sites, Zhongli offers not only Hakka customs but also a delightful and light journey to appreciate historical beauty and local culture. Entering Xin Jie Elementary School, behind the newly built Chaoyang Building on the north side, there stands a long-established wooden Japanese building, whose nostalgic and rustic Japanese style attracts the attention of passersby. This Japanese dormitory, constructed in the 9th year of the Shōwa era (1934), was originally used as staff quarters during the Japanese colonial period. Later, during the reconstruction of Xin Jie Elementary School in 2003, this over eighty-year-old Japanese residence was discovered. Due to its well-maintained condition and preservation value, it was registered as a historic building in 2004 after being proposed by the Taoyuan Cultural Bureau to the Ministry of Culture, and restoration work began in 2005, taking four years to complete. The historical charm of this elegant building has caused many visiting tourists to pause for photographs and enjoy a brief rest on the open corridor in front of the dormitory, savoring a leisurely moment. Currently, the Japanese dormitory is a single-story wooden building, with a sloping roof that adds layers to its height, covered with black-gray cement tiles, enhancing its Japanese charm. The dormitory has courtyards both in the front and back, reflecting its former grandeur; the exterior walls are also well-preserved. The elevated floor, raised about sixty centimeters, allows for air circulation to avoid dampness and creates an open corridor, where one can sit and experience the living atmosphere of old Japanese houses. This space is arranged quite elegantly, making it not only comfortable to explore but also rich in Japanese style no matter which corner of the dormitory visitors choose to sit in. Additionally, the greenery along the path next to the dormitory further encourages visitors to linger. In spring, it transforms into a secret spot for cherry blossom viewing, sidestepping the crowds while experiencing a different cherry blossom charm. Moreover, the campus is equipped with interpretive signage for the Japanese dormitory, a time corridor wooden walkway, an ecological landscape pond, and guide signs for surrounding attractions, and has been planned as a space for community art activities and school teaching, making this charming old house part of daily life and removing the distance feel. If visitors have arrived at Xin Jie Elementary School, they might as well take a short walk to also casually visit attractions like Shengji Pavilion, Renhai Temple, Jiangxia Hall, Yuanhua Academy, and Yishitang, enriching their urban exploration with cultural nuance.
