Tamsui Mansion (Meilun River Japanese Dormitory) Introduction
At the Mujin Riverbank on Zhongzheng Road in Hualien City, there is a whole area of Japanese wooden dormitories that served as residences for military officers stationed in Hualien during the Japanese colonial period. This neatly arranged group of wooden buildings forms a complete small residential area. The central "General's Mansion," built in 1936, was once the official residence of Lieutenant Colonel Nakamura, the highest military commander in the Hualien area. Unlike the other duplex-style wooden dormitories, the General's Mansion features a standalone design with its own yard and a higher base, indicating its superior military rank. In recent years, through the efforts of the government and local residents, the General's Mansion and the surrounding group of Japanese dormitories have been designated as county-level historical sites, and after renovations, they are open to the public for visits, with local volunteers providing guided tours to help tourists understand the historical significance of the General's Mansion. In addition to the antique appearance of the buildings, the interior decoration of the General's Mansion is also quite exquisite, with tatami rooms and long corridors filled with Japanese style, and even the cypress wood cabinets used back in the day remain intact, exuding a fragrant aroma.
