Qiaotou Old Street (Yu Dengfa Residence) Introduction
Mr. Yu Teng-fa, who rose from humble beginnings, was born in 1904 in Kaohsiung. He was the first non-party elected county magistrate in Taiwan's local autonomy history and made significant contributions to Taiwan's democratic politics and the development of Kaohsiung County. In 1979, Yu Teng-fa was arrested by intelligence agencies in connection with the Wu Tai-an incident and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Non-party members from across Taiwan gathered at his hometown in Qiaotou to protest against the political persecution by the Kuomintang government, marking the first political demonstration during the Kuomintang's rule, known as the "Qiaotou Incident". In December of the same year, the Kaohsiung Incident occurred. To commemorate this unique and courageous pioneer of Taiwanese democracy who fought to assert the rights of the people against the ruling authorities, his former residence has been renovated and opened to the public. The display area is approximately 100 ping. The first floor showcases photos and personal items of Mr. Yu, highlighting his character of fearlessness against power and giving a voice to the people, as well as depicting the struggles necessitated by the political environment of that time. The second floor presents the significant "Qiaotou Incident" in Taiwan's democratic history, along with a timeline of Mr. Yu's significant events and an electronic book of historical materials. Remembering our predecessors and understanding past history is essential to recognizing the hard-won nature of democracy, which is worth contemplating and cherishing by future generations.
