Guangfu New Village Introduction
Wufeng District’s Guangfu New Village, the first new town in early Taiwan, is rich in military village flavor and a great place for wedding photography, as well as several film shooting locations. In the past, Guangfu New Village served as the dormitory for employees of the Provincial Government’s Education Office, Health Department, and a printing factory. Funded by American aid, the Vice Director of the Construction Department at the time, Liu Yong-Mao, visited the UK and brought back the latest "Garden City" design concept, integrating work and residential areas while designing a living space with low population density and a high ratio of green land. At its peak, there were over 400 households, with complete public facilities including schools, parks, and markets, offering an elegant environment and neat streets. The village housed Taiwan's first separate rainwater and sewage drainage system, holding special significance in Taiwan’s urban architectural history. Three years after the 921 Earthquake, residents realized the value of repurposing idle dormitories for public use, hoping to transform Guangfu New Village from "Provincial Government Dormitory" into a community living museum incorporating cultural creativity from artists, reflecting with the Earthquake Museum. However, the streamlined "Guangfu New Village" was divided among various central authorities, including the Ministry of Finance, Department of Health, and Ministry of Education, making management and re-utilization difficult. Additionally, under legal restrictions, community residents could not make changes to their living environments, which deteriorated further. Today, Guangfu New Village has been revitalized and given new life, transformed into a creative arts military village with a collective of 70 idealistic shopkeepers, where various installations and creative shops are found in the streets and alleys, inviting everyone to explore the footprints of time once again.
