Changhua Bank Headquarters and History Museum Introduction
The Changhua Bank headquarters in Taichung is located at the intersection of Taichung Boulevard and Liberation Road. Built during the Japanese colonial period, the architecture features a neoclassical style reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman columns, with an imposing appearance and exquisite craftsmanship. It is a well-known landmark in Taichung and has been designated as a city historic site. This bank was also the first privately funded bank established in Taiwan, holding significant cultural heritage value for preservation and research. It continues to serve as the operational branch of the Changhua headquarters, with a historical museum on the second floor that preserves documents and materials from that time, accessible by appointment. During the Qing Dynasty, the issue of land ownership was severe, and during the Japanese era, the Governor-General's Office implemented a massive public bond scheme to address tenancy issues. However, due to unfavorable compensation conditions, this initiative was unpopular, prompting many to sell their holdings for cash. To maintain the credibility of the public bonds, officials were sent to purchase them, while local figures were encouraged to use the bonds for business funding. Against this backdrop, in 1905, Wu Ru-Xiang from Changhua gathered local gentry from central Taiwan to raise 220,000 yen in lease compensation as capital, thus establishing "Changhua Bank, Limited". Lugang's Gu Xianrong was also appointed as a supervisor. Later, due to environmental demands, the bank moved to Taichung City, becoming one of the few large commercial banks headquartered in central Taiwan. The new headquarters was built in 1936, designed by Bai Cang Hao-Fu and Hatazawa Kisaburo, featuring a classical architectural style modelled after Western designs, with elegant floral decorations, rounded concrete columns, and sturdy iron doors. The high interior space reflects the architectural beauty of banking buildings at the time. After Taiwan's retrocession, the Nationalist government took over the shares previously held by Japanese stakeholders. In 1947, Lin Hsien-Tang was elected chairman, and it was restructured as "Changhua Commercial Bank". In 1998, the bank transitioned from a government-private partnership to a privately owned institution. In the garden near Liberation Road, a bronze statue commemorating Lin Hsien-Tang stands tall, making it worth a visit.
