Xin Street Elementary School Japanese Dormitory Complex Introduction
In the bustling Yanping Road of Zhongli, the "Renhai Temple," which has over a century of history, is always filled with worshippers, attracting many believers to come and pay their respects. Aside from this historic temple, the cultural landscape within the city is also quite rich. Located within the Xin-jie Elementary School, the "Japanese Dormitory" has been refurbished to become the first historical building situated on a school campus in Taoyuan. Along with the surrounding rich historical and cultural sights, Zhongli offers a light trip that showcases local culture and history, in addition to its Hakka charm. Entering Xin-jie Elementary School, on the north side behind the new building, Chaoyang Building, there stands a historic wooden Japanese building, whose nostalgic and simple Japanese style attracts the attention of passersby. Built in the ninth year of the Showa period (1934), this Japanese dormitory was originally used as a staff dormitory for teachers during the Japanese colonial period. Later, during the school reconstruction project in the 92nd year of the Republic of China, this building with over eighty years of history was discovered. Due to its well-preserved condition, it was deemed valuable for preservation. After being submitted by the Taoyuan Cultural Bureau to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, it was officially registered as a historical building in the 93rd year of the Republic of China. Restoration began in the 94th year and took four years to complete. The antiquated historical charm encourages many visiting tourists to pause for photos, and they also enjoy resting on the open corridor in front of the dormitory, savoring a leisurely moment. Currently, the Japanese dormitory is a single-story wooden structure with a sloping roof that adds variation to its height, covered in black-gray cement tiles, enhancing its Japanese elegance. The dormitory has courtyards both in front and behind, showcasing its former grandeur. The outer walls are also well preserved; the floor and foundation were raised about sixty centimeters, and this elevated construction method not only promotes airflow to avoid moisture but also creates an open corridor. Sitting here allows visitors to experience the lifestyle ambience of old Japanese houses. This elegantly arranged space is quite pleasant to stroll through; regardless of the corner chosen to sit, the strong Japanese atmosphere remains. With greenery embellishing the path beside the dormitory, visitors are more inclined to linger here. In spring, this area transforms into a cherry blossom secret spot, providing not only an escape from the crowds but also an experience of a unique cherry blossom season. Additionally, the campus has designed explanatory plaques for the Japanese dormitory, a time corridor wooden boardwalk, an ecological landscape water pool, and surrounding point-of-interest signage, planning to serve as spaces for community cultural events and school teaching. This makes the old and charming building part of daily life, eliminating any sense of distance. If visitors are already at Xin-jie Elementary School, why not take a short walk to also visit sights like Shengjiting, Renhai Temple, Jiangxiatang, Yuanhuayuan, and Yishitang? This enriches the experience of touring the city with even more cultural essence.
