Dongyin Zhonglu Living Room Introduction
Dongyin is a small island located just 18.5 nautical miles from China. It is not only the northern frontier of our nation but also the front line of tense relations. Such geographical factors have led to a cultural development on this small island that is deeply influenced by fisheries and military presence. Outside the Zhongcheng Gate lies the fishing boat dock that sustains the island's livelihood, while inside is a seemingly endless staircase known as "Zhonglu," which extends from the Zhongcheng Gate all the way to Dongyin Elementary and Junior High School. Before the year 1966, this area was the "city center" of the entire island, with many shops lining both sides of Zhonglu. Fishermen would rest at the fish stalls by the steps, and during the wartime administration, the military government was also located around Zhonglu, making the entire island's vibrancy and livelihood revolve around this staircase. However, after enduring the ravages of typhoons and the construction of public housing, the settlement center gradually shifted from Zhonglu to the island's inland areas. Once prosperous due to its port and people, Zhonglu could not withstand the population decline and has become a fringe of the settlement. The bustling businesses, factories, and fish stalls that once attracted many customers have now been left abandoned. In 2019, the Xianwei Island Cooperative emerged, akin to mushrooms sprouting after rain, igniting a sense of mission among locals and various agencies to revitalize Zhonglu. Today, with everyone working together, Zhonglu has shed its past of decline and transformed into a space that carries the stories of the island. We invite you to explore Zhonglu step by step. If you get tired, don't forget to visit the "Xianwei Island Cooperative" in Zhonglu, enjoy a cold drink, and chat with us about the stories of the small island. The "Xianwei Island Cooperative" is not a true cooperative but rather a local youth group established by several returning girls in an abandoned shrimp oil factory. It serves as a bridge between the public and social environmental issues through design aesthetics, creative cuisine, and environmental theater. It summons both new and original islanders to establish a community brand on this mysterious and "slow" energetic island. At the end of 2019, the world faced the seal of the pandemic, and the girls returned home to Dongyin from their dreams of studying and living abroad. During the long and endless wait, they built an island paradise for like-minded youth based on design, creativity, and cuisine. The Xianwei Island Cooperative focuses on cross-domain integration, enabling young people from different fields to find their rightful place through collaboration. Starting from an initial team of 8 unpaid partners, it has grown into a medium-sized organization with 20 members and 8 full-time partners by early 2025. The Xianwei Island Cooperative is divided into three entities: 1. "Xianwei Island Studio," which calls for art and public welfare. 2. "Tuya Tu Creative Integration Co., Ltd.," responsible for design and curation. 3. "Xianwei Island Café," which gathers various talents at the dining table. These three entities work together like a huge ark, requiring a helmsman to control different dimensions of thought while expanding horizons. At the beginning of each year, the Xianwei Island Cooperative sets an initiative theme for that year (2021: Dark Sky, 2022: Wartime Resolution, 2023: Marine Transportation, 2024: Slow City Heritage, etc.), and all activities and plans revolve around these themes. They aim to rejuvenate the island with a new industrial ark, positioning Dongyin—a border town of a slow city—within the international perspective over the next ten years, making it a representative local brand of contemporary Taiwan.
Cultural Map - Zhonglu
Cultural Map - Zhonglu 3
