Changhua Bank Headquarters and History Museum Introduction
The Changhua Bank headquarters, located at the intersection of Taiwan Boulevard and Liberty Road in Taichung, was built during the Japanese colonial period. The architecture features a neoclassical style reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman colonnades, boasting a majestic appearance and exquisite craftsmanship. It is a well-known landmark in Taichung, designated as a municipal historical site, and is one of the earliest banks in Taiwan established through private funding. This site holds significant value for cultural heritage preservation and research, and it continues to serve as a branch of the Changhua Bank. The second floor houses a history museum that preserves historical documents from that period, with visits available by appointment. During the Qing dynasty, the phenomenon of dual land ownership was severe. To address the issues of rental rights, the Japanese colonial government implemented a large public bond scheme; however, due to unfavorable compensation conditions, it was not well received by the public, leading many to sell their holdings for cash. To maintain the credibility of the public bonds, the government both purchased bonds and encouraged local elites to use them for investment in business ventures. In this context, in 1905, Wu Ru-xiang from Changhua gathered local gentry from central Taiwan to raise 220,000 yen in compensation for large landowners to serve as capital, establishing the "Changhua Bank, Co., Ltd." in Changhua, with Gu Xian-rong from Lukang elected as an inspector. The bank later moved to Taichung City to meet environmental demands, making it one of the few large commercial banks in Taiwan with its headquarters located in Central Taiwan. In 1936, a new headquarters was built, which is today's Changhua Bank headquarters in Taichung. Designed by architects Hakusho Koji and Hatakeyama Kizaburo, it reflects Western classical architectural styles, featuring elegant ornamental decorations, rounded concrete columns, and sturdy iron doors. The high-ceilinged interior design showcases the aesthetic appeal of bank architecture during that era. After Taiwan's retrocession, the National Government took over the shares of the former Japanese shareholders. In 1947, Lin Hsien-tang was elected as chairman, and the bank was reorganized as "Changhua Commercial Bank," becoming privately-owned in 1998. In the garden adjacent to Liberty Road, a statue commemorating Lin Hsien-tang stands, making it worth a visit.
